HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 59 



liable to be of weak constitution, deficient in stamina, and 

 when to this is added " mealy " legs, or legs lighter than the 

 rest of the coat, and a ligliter colored mane and tail, the weak- 

 ness is intensified. Black legs are preferable in a bay, and 

 with these the feet are generally more sound, and the horn is 

 more enduring. White legs and feet are objectionable, but not 

 so much so as mealy ones. Dark chestnut, bay, and gray are 

 preferable to light shades of these colors. Black and roan are 

 not so common. Bays, chestnuts and browns practically 

 monopolize the turf, and the darker and more solid the colors 

 are, the better are the animals. The bay is the best, most 

 fashionable and highest priced color for a horse, because it is 

 that which indicates the best breeding. 



Colors. The custom of ow^ners selecting their colors and 

 publishing them, originated at Newmarket in 1762, the 

 jockeys having before that worn colors but not as a proprietary 

 distinction. In this country, the New York Jockey Club in 

 1842, required that riders should be dressed in Jockey style, 

 viz : Jockey cap, colored jacket, pantaloons and boots ; but 

 colors as an owners' distinction are said to have been first 

 adopted at Fleetwood Park, N. Y. Colors are a source of 

 great individual pride on the turf in England and this country, 

 and are a source of enjoyment in the race on the part of the 

 public. The American rules require that colors selected by 

 ow^ners must be recorded by the secretary of the Congress, and 

 shall not be used by others except in case of death or after five 

 years' withdrawal from the turf. A list of all colors is obliged 

 to be posted in the office of the clerk of the course. 



Colt. A word specifically applied to a male foal. 



Coiiibinatlon Horse. A term applied to the American 



saddler, or gaited horse. 



Tlie breeders of saddle liorses have succeeded in producing a genuine 

 combination horse — one wliicli will go all the five recognized gaits 

 under the saddle, using tlie rack, running walk and canter to the 

 delight of the rider and the satisfaction of the horse, and will, 

 when Y>nt in harness, forget for the time being, that they ever 

 racked a rod, and will go a square, pure trot.— Tlie Breeders' 

 Gazette. 



ComMnatlon Sale. A public sale, or sale by auction, 

 in which several breeders, or owners, unite or combine a cer- 

 tain number of animals of their own, in order to make the 

 sale more attractive, and to realize better prices at a less cost 

 for commissions. The first American combination sale was 

 held at New York in 1877, but they are now very common. 



Coming". Said of a colt in training when he begins to un- 

 derstand his work and show speed. " He is a comer," or " he is 

 coming," means that the animal is fast developing as a trotter. 



