THE RACE-HORSE. 557 



consider the temper and capacity of his own horse, but the 

 speed and capability of his rivals ; and a part of his nice 

 game is to avail himself of the advantages presented to him 

 by the deficient powers of the rival horses, or the faults of 

 the riders. His eye is directed to all their movements ; 

 while to the observer he seems intent only on the part he 

 has himself to perform. He seeks to gain the race, but with 

 no more expenditure of his horse's powers than suffices for 

 the end. If his own horse possesses superior speed, but less 

 endurance, his game is not to urge his rival forward, but to 

 wait until he reaches the distance at which he knows his own 

 superior speed will bring him in. If, on the other hand, his 

 horse has greater endurance, but inferior speed, he reverses 

 the manoeuvre ; he presses his rival to his utmost powers, 

 and trusts to the property which his horse possesses to carry 

 him in first to the goal. But when the distance to be run is 

 very short, the artifices must be modified in a corresponding 

 degree. In this case, it is important to get the horse the 

 soonest possible on his utmost stretch, so that space may not 

 be gained by the rival. No rules, however, can be given to 

 suit all the cases that may arise. There are jockeys so per- 

 fect in their art, that nearly every thing is trusted to their 

 judgment ; but there are numerous cases of others less skil- 

 ful, as when boys must ride on account of the very light 

 weight required, and then specific instructions are given by 

 the training groom, founded on his knowledge of the horse, 

 of the ground, and of the capacity of the rivals. There is 

 always on the turf a certain number of jockeys of reputation, 

 whose professional services are in continued request. These 

 persons are frequently engaged to ride various races in a 

 day, and are often required to make rapid and distant jour- 

 neys from place to place. 



To adapt the jockeys to the weights required, the process 

 of wasting, as it is termed, is in use. The means used for 

 wasting are, abstinence, walking exercise, sweating, and me- 

 dicine ; the degree in which each is used depending on the 



