HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 195 



Total, 100 



Point of the Hip. The bony surface, more or less 

 prominent, which is a little to the rear of the last rib; the 

 anterior point of the pelvis. 



Point of the Shoulder. The prominent bony angle, 

 on each side of the chest, a little below the junction of the neck 

 and shoulder. 



Point of the Tree. The wooden continuations of the 

 gullet plate of a saddle. 



Point to Point. [Eng.] A phrase describing a race 

 to take place from one point of a fair hunting country, to 

 another given point ; which is not to be named till the time of 

 starting, and is then to be named by a committee previously 

 selected for the purpose. 



Pointer. An item of important information on a race, 

 obtained in some surreptitious manner, which may be used 

 with advantage by the person to whom it is communicated. 



Pointer. Any unnatural position assumed by the horse's 

 foot, w^hen standing, or any altered action which indicates 

 lameness, is said to be a " pointer," or indicator of such trouble. 



Pole. The guard-rail on the inside of the track or course, 

 often called the hub rail. When a horse is given the pole, he 

 has the inside when the field starts. Posts erected at the quar- 

 ter on a half-mile track, and at the quarter, half, and three-quar- 

 ters on a mile track, for the purpose of catching the time made 

 by horses at those points in a race. On many courses, poles or 

 posts are erected at each furlong — eight to the mile. 



Pole Horse. The pole horse brings the field down to 

 the wire, after which he has no rights over the other horses; 

 but he has the right to the pole, provided he can keep it. The 

 horse winning a heat takes the pole, or inside position, at the 

 succeeding heat, and all other horses in the field take their 

 positions in the order assigned to them in judging the previous 

 heat, and so on until the race is finished. 



Poll. That part of the horse's exterior which is on top 

 of the neck, immediately behind the ear. 



Poll Evil. Whether resulting from an injury, or a dis- 

 ease between the bones of the neck, it is a legal unsoundness. 



Pommel. That part of the saddle, often called the head, 

 which goes over the withers. 



