198 HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 



acters. Prophets now form a regular craft who work for a 

 weekly fee, or for percentages on successes ; they use the tele- 

 graph, and send letters to the sporting press. 



Propvilsion. The act of propelling or driving forward ; 

 the rapid stride of a trotting or running horse. 



There is no act of extension fvirtlier than the extension of the body 

 upon the thigli. It is not until tlie center of motion, or lieatl of tlie 

 tliigli lias passed over the foot that extension is possible. * * * 

 The act of propulsion begins from the moment that the hind foot 

 takes the ground and its contraction begins.— The Horse in Motion, 

 J. D. B. Stillman. 



Protecting" a Horse. A term referring to the act of 

 the judges in protecting the pole horse, when the field is scor- 

 ing, in not allowing any horse to come to the wire in advance 

 of him. 



Protest. Any complaint or charge made against any 

 horse, rider, driver or owner, or against the decisions of the 

 judges, upon any feature of the race or heat ; whether com- 

 plaining of a fraud or foul, or for the violation of any rule. 

 The protest may be made verbally before the purse or winnings 

 are paid, and reduced to writing when required ; charges to be 

 filed with the evidence, under oath, when so demanded. 



Public Race. A public race is defined to be any con- 

 test for stake, premium, purse or wager, and involving admis- 

 sion fees, on any track or course, in the presence, and under 

 the direction of duly appointed judges and timers. 



Pufliness. Softness. An indication of a strain or 

 injury to the tendons of the legs. 



Pullers. Horses that pull hard on the reins; those 

 having hard mouths. It is believed to be contrary to the facts 

 to say that a horse cannot pull hard and last. That they fail 

 to stay is often the fault of their riders and drivers. 



There is no cure for a pulling horse, however, like that of not pulling 

 . against him.— Joseph Cairn Simpson. 



Wlieii a horse pulls I do not think it at all expedient to get rid of the 

 pull by means of punishing bits, bridi)oiis, or such like devices. 

 The trotter that goes at his best rate, while pulling hard, had best 

 be borne with. If you iret rid of the pull by means of the appli- 

 ances just alluded to, you will soon get rid of some of the trot.— 

 The Trotting Horse of America, Hiram Woodruff. 



Pulling'. The act of slowing or lessening the sj^eed of a 

 horse during a heat, by the driver. If such act is performed 

 with a design to prevent his winning a heat or place Avhich he 

 is perfectly able to win ; or for the evident purpose of aiding 

 or perpetrating a fraud, such driver shall be taken from his 

 sulky and another driver substituted, the oifending horse pun- 

 ished, and the driver fined, suspended or expelled, at the dis- 

 cretion of the judges. 



