HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 197 



Post to Finish. A term applied to the whole heat or 

 race, especially on the running turf, and referring to the course 

 of the race from start to wire ; as, <'an honest race from post 

 to finish;" a square, handsome race all through. Also em])rac- 

 ing the rules relating to the trotting or running of a match or 

 heat, as to riders, drivers, starting, fouls, finish, etc. 



Posterior Extremity; Posterior Member. That 

 which is situated behind; the opposite of anterior, meaning 

 before. In scientific language its meaning is the hind leg or 

 hind limb of the horse. 



P. P. [Eng.] These letters in the announcements or 

 programmes of the Grand National Hunts, indicate that the 

 race advertised takes place from "point to point" of a fair 

 hunting country. 



Prance ; Prancing". The rearing or capering motion 

 of a horse ; said of a horse in high fettle, that he is prancing ; 

 riding with a proud step. 



Prepotency. The power of transmitting; ability to 

 produce; superior influence. 



The clear and uninterrupted succession of trotting qualities is what 

 makes prepotent sires. — Wallace's Monthly. 



When one parent alone displays some newly-acquired and generally 

 inheritable character, and the oftsprin'g do not inherit it, the 

 cause may lie Ui the other i^arent having the power of prepotent 

 transmission.— Animals and Plants under Domestication, Charles 

 Darwin. 



Private Sweepstakes is one to which no money is 

 added, and which is not publicly advertised previous to the 

 engagement being made. The racing rules say : " One made 

 by the owners of the horses engaged without having been pub- 

 licly open to any others." 



Produce Race. A match for which horses are named 

 by whose produce the race is to be run ; the entries for such 

 race specifying the dam and sire or sires. 



Propellers. The hind legs of the horse in distinction 

 from the fore legs, which are termed the weight-bearers. Each 

 limb is required to support the body and act as propeller in 

 turn, and Prof. Stillman says the anterior one does more than 

 its share of both offices. 



Propping". A form of restiveness similar to kegging. 

 It is a vice. 



Prophet. [Eng.] A tipster ; one who obtains information 

 concerning horses, races and probable winners, in advance of 

 the occurrence of the race. A business which was formerly 

 a regular profession carried on by means of disguises by men, 

 (and women too), who were able to assume a variety of char- 



