w 



W. This letter, in connection with the names of horses 

 in summaries of races, and in the trotting and pacing registers, 

 indicates that the race was to wagon. 



Wagon, in turf language, always refers to what is 

 known as a skeleton. 



Wag-oii Trotting". World's record to the close of 1893. 

 One mile : Guy, bl. g. by Kentucky Prince, dam, Flora Gard- 

 ner by American Star, (14), 1893, against time, 2.13. Two 

 miles : Dexter, br. g. by Hambletonian, dam, Clara, by Amer- 

 ican Star, 1865, against time, 4:56^. Three miles: Longfel- 

 low, (pacer), ch. g. by Red Bill, dam unknown, 1868, (in a 

 race), 7:53. Five miles: Longfellow, (pacer), ch. g. by Red 

 Bill, dam unknown, (in a race), 1870, 14:15. Ten miles: 

 Julia Aldrich, ch. m., breeding miknown, (in a race), 1858, 

 29:041. 



Waist. The narrowest part of the seat of a saddle — 

 about midway between the pommel and cantle. 



Waiting. A waiting race ; not forcing the race at the 

 start; the practice of running slowly at the start of a race 

 allowing the horses to lead, to see how the other horses are 

 going. It is sometimes a good rule to wait. The rider can see 

 how the horses are going and then can remain for the present 

 w^here he is, or go in front. Again most horses go better and 

 settle down in their gallop sooner with a lead than without one. 



Waiting in Front. A term used in running races 

 where the driver is obliged to wait in the front lead, on account 

 of having a horse that cannot be kept behind without more 

 being taken out of him than the extra speed would do were he 

 allowed to go freely. This is to be understood as saying that 

 the rider should merely keep in front without forcing the run- 

 ning on his own account, and should simply conform to the 

 pace of those immediately behind him, until the moment 

 arrives for him to make his effort. But he should never keep 

 back at the risk of fighting for the finish. 



The art of waiting in front is a ereat one to learn ; for if occasion slionld 

 arise, it may often be practiced with tlie utmost advantage.— The 

 Badminton Library : Racing, The Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire, 

 and W. G. Craven. 



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