HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 183 



Overhead Rein; Overdraw Check. A check or 



bearing rein that passes over the head of a hoi'se between the 

 ears, and thus to tlie bit, used with an overcheck bridle. The 

 use of sucli a check is altogether a matter to be reguhited by 

 the disposition of the horse. Judiciously used, an overhead 

 check need be no more distressing or injurious to the horse 

 than a side check; while some drivers assert that it is impossi- 

 ble to handle some horses without the overhead rein, and that 

 such a check is especially necessary for a mixed gaited colt. 



Overreach. Where the shoe of the hind foot strikes 

 and injures the iieel or quarter of the fore foot. It rarely occurs 

 except in trotting and running horses, and in trotters generally 

 takes place when the animal breaks from a trot to a run. It 

 results from the faulty conformation of the horse and is neither 

 an misoundness iior a vice. 



Tlie hind foot should be the last to leave the ground. The early start 

 of tlie fore foot enables it to clear the way for the hind one on 

 the same side to advance to the support of the center of gravity in 

 its turn witliout being hit by it, or overreaclied, as it is technically 

 termed. The fore foot being dilatory, or having a more circiii tons 

 route to travel, or the disproportion in the length of the body to 

 that of the legs, exposes the fetlo(;k and heel to injury from the shoe 

 of the hind foot: but generally the hind foot is pushed under the 

 forward one as the latter rises. — The Horse in Motion, J. D. B. 

 Stillman. 



Over the Sticks. Running a hurdle race. 



Overweig'ht. The law of the trotting turf provides 

 that if the weight of any driver exceeds twenty pounds the con- 

 ditions or rule of the race, the judges may, if they have reason 

 to believe that such extra weight was imposed on the horse for 

 an improper purpose, substitute another driver of suitable 

 weight. By the American racing rules a horse is not qualified 

 to run witli more than five pounds overweight ; and if he carry 

 more than two pounds which has not been duly declared and 

 announced by the clerk of the course, he is disqualified. 



Owner. By the rules of the American Turf Congress, 

 an owner includes part owner or leasee of a horse, and proof of 

 ownership must be given when required, or the horse becomes 

 disqualified. If a jockey is an entire owner of a horse or 

 horses he shall only be permitted to ride his own horses. 



Owners' Handicap. A race in which the owner fixes 

 at the time of entry the weight his horse is to carry. 



Owners Up. A term denoting that in the race to which 

 it is applied, the owners of the horses entered for it, are to ride 



