28 RACE RiDEU. 



RACE RIDER. 



To become a valuable and a good race rider, requires 

 more capacity, judgment, experience, and honour, than 

 are often found in boys in the habit of riding. And 

 no person can be successful on the turf, unless he can 

 place the utmost confidence in his rider ; whose in- 

 tegrity and honour it would be advisable frequently to 

 put to the test. Boys are sometimes so young, foolish, 

 and destitute of principle, as to receive bribes and 

 promises : preventing the best horse from winning, to 

 the disgrace of all concerned, and the serious injury 

 of his owner ; who, in such cases, never should fail to 

 make an example of all persons engaged in the villany. 



A good race rider will have the pad of his saddle 

 wet, before he mounts, to keep it firm in its place ; he 

 will try his stirrups, and prove them long enough to 

 raise himself about two or three inches clear of the 

 saddle : he will then tie his bridle a length that w^ill 

 allow his horse, when he bears him gradually and 

 steadily, to run at his ease, without being jerked 

 or jostled ; he should never make a false start, but 

 come up even and go off smoothly, without fretting or 

 causing his horse to rear ; and above all other things 



