588 HISTORY OF THE 



game played before them. This finesse, however, 

 may be easily carried too far, and, no doubt many 

 a race has been thrown away by it. 



The famous Chifney is accused of practising 

 this waiting game even to a failing. To do it 

 properly, requires consummate skill in the jockey, 

 who should not only be able to judge of how the 

 pace is telling upon the other horses in the race, but 

 how it affects his own ; and nothing but natural 

 aptness, joined to the greatest practice, can gain 

 this valuable acquirement for the rider. It is this 

 knowledge of pace, which enables the accomplished 

 jockey to win his race, by just as much as is 

 sufficient ; thereby, not unnecessarily exposing the 

 powers of his horse ; a nicety which is highly es- 

 teemed by his employers. 



Gaining the whip hand, is another point the 

 jockey should endeavour to obtain at starting, as 

 this not only enables him to save distance at any 

 turns in the race-course, but gives him the use of 

 his whip with his right hand at any period of the 

 race. But as he cannot always obtain this, he 

 ought to be able to use his whip with the left hand, 

 should circumstances require it. 



As the jockey will have to ride horses of various 

 tempers and dispositions, the manner of managing 

 each peculiar one, so as to make the most of him 

 in a race, is a matter of no small importance ; for 

 it is in vain for the rider to expect any success 

 with horses of ill temper, unless he can keep his 



