56 THE RACE-HORSE. 



inexperienced observer as to the real state of their 

 organs of respiration, by an appearance of difficulty 

 of breathins:, which, in reality, they do not possess. 

 The term for this apparent defect is, in one in- 

 stance, hard breathing, or high-blowing, and in 

 another " cracking the nostrils,"' Of the first de- 

 scription was the celebrated Eclipse, whose breath- 

 inc^ in his gallop could be heard at a considerable 

 distance ; and of the latter (still more common) 

 may be reckoned many of the best racers of past 

 and present days. Indeed, a race-horse cracking 

 his nostrils in his exercise, and snorting well after- 

 wards, are considered indicative of goodwindedness. 

 On the other hand, when a race-horse becomes a 

 roarer, which is a common effect of a severe attack 

 of the epizootic, called the Distemper, he is rarely 

 able to struggle in a race, although there have been 

 several instances of winners under such very un- 

 favourable circumstances. 



Temper. — Temper is a property of much import- 

 ance to the race-horse, subject as he is to its influence 

 under more trying circumstances than most other de- 

 scriptions of horses. In the first place, his fine and 

 nearly hairless skin, softened and cleansed as it is 

 by frequent copious perspiration, is so highly sen- 

 sible to the friction of the wisp and brush, as to in- 

 duce him to try to rid himself of his tormentor, by 

 attacking the person who is dressing him, and thus 

 becomes vicious in the stable. It will also be re- 

 collected that he is at tJiis time, perhaps, in the 

 very highest state of condition and good keep of 



