HANDBOOK OF THE TUKF. 223 



Salute the Ditch. [Eng.] The ditch at Newmarket, 

 Eng., was an object of regard with old tui'fmen. It is sup- 

 posed to have been the remains of an ancient Roman fortifica- 

 tion, or an entrenchment which divided the Eastern and 

 Western Anglican tribes. From the historic associations con- 

 nected with it this ditch became an object of regard, and in 

 by-gone times it was the custom with all turfmen in passing 

 by it to "salute the ditch." 



Salute the Judges. At the close of a heat all the 

 drivers and jockeys return to the front of the judges' stand and 

 salute the judges, receiving in return their recognition, before 

 dismounting. While all the rules prescribe that no rider or 

 driver shall dismount without the consent of the judges, this 

 salutation is a graceful act of mutual recognition. 



Sandals. [Eng.] A plate or bar shoe made to buckle 

 upon the foot of the horse, in case of accident by which a shoe 

 was thrown, serving as a very good substitute for the lost shoe 

 when on the road or in the field. In earlier times it was the 

 custom for riders and hunters to carry one or two of these 

 sandals in the pocket when starting out for the hunt. 



Sand - crack ; Quarter - crack ; False Quarter. 

 Fissures or lesions in the horn of the wall of the foot. Quarter 

 cracks on the lateral parts of the wall nearly always affect the 

 fore feet. The inside quarter is more liable to the injury than 

 the outside one, because the crust is thinner, and when in motion 

 it receives a greater part of the weight of the body. Toe 

 cracks are more common in the hind feet. All fissures of this 

 ki^d constitute an unsoundness. 



Sandwiched Race. A race, the heats of which are 

 sandwiched in between those of another class. Such sand- 

 wiching of heats is allowable, but in these cases one race of the 

 two must be finished before another can be started. 



Sash. When two horses from the same stable run in a 

 race, the jockey riding the secondary horse is distinguished by 

 a sash. 



Save the Distance. For a driver to land safely within 

 the distance flag when he cannot win, or for any reason does 

 not want to win the heat, is to "save his distance"; to save his 

 horse from being shut out. 



I drove my mare all this time with a view of simply savingher distance, 

 and I noticed that most of the other drivers were Imslliiig their 

 horses as though they were in a hurry.— Life with the Trotters, 

 John Splan. 



If yon dro]) so far back in the first quarter or half that you will have to 

 drive fast in the last half to save your distance, you "have not gained 

 anything. Get away well with the field and drop back gradually, 



