HAN^DBOOK OF THE TURF. 93 



izing is of quite recent introduction, although surface firing is 

 one of the oldest arts in vetei-inary practice. Percivall, the 

 father of modern English veterinary science, said of it : " By 

 the firing irons have horses, originally worth their hundreds of 

 pounds sterling, been raised from the knacker's price to their 

 former value. By the iron has many a broken-down hunter, 

 and many a racer, been joyously restored to his station and 

 rank in the field, where his proudest laurels have been won." 

 As to its value in modern practice The Horseman says : 

 " Scarcely a string of campaigners goes home in the autumn 

 without one or more of its members requiring a visitation of the 

 firing iron. It is extraordinary that this efficacious adjunct to 

 the veterinarian's kit of tools is not more generally used on the 

 legs of light harness horses. Its benefits are lasting and it should 

 often be resorted to as a preventive as well as a curative 

 measure." 



Flag-, Dropping- the. The signal for the start in all 

 English and most American running races ; also in shutting 

 out horses at the distance post. 



Flagged Out. The steeple-chase courses from point to 

 finish of a fair hunting country are always flagged out, or indi- 

 cated by a series or line of flags marking the course to be run. 



Flagman. A distance judge. 



Flank. That part of the side of the horse which is free 

 from bone and which thinly covers the intestines. Placed 

 between the loins above, the ribs to the front, the thigh and 

 point of the hip to the rear, and the belly below. 



Flat. [Eng.] The level part of a course, some parts of 



which are made on up and down grades. 



In a race across the flat Clincher gave six pounds and an easy beating 

 to Conipass.— The Badminton Library : Racing, the Earl of Suffolk 

 and Berksliire, and W. G. Craven. 



Flat. A term sometimes used in announcing the time in 

 a heat where there is no fraction, as 2:23 flat. But so used it 

 is i^edantic and has no significance. 



Flexor Tendon. A muscle whose function is to bend 

 or produce flexion, as opposed to extensor. 



Flight. A single hurdle is called a '< flight." 



Flighty. Said of a horse that is uncertain and not to be 

 depended ujDon in a race ; unsteady. 



Float. A single-cut file for dressing the surface of the 

 teeth. It is usually made adjustable, having a removable file 

 and hinged joint, so that the face of the file will rest on the 

 table of the teeth. 



