My Racing Adventures 



" purler " may bring us to earth at any moment. 

 The rebound is never pleasant. 



My father's practice was to try his yearlings 

 prior to 1st January in view of the entries, and 

 I rode in nearly all those gallops. The distance 

 was about 3j furlongs. If we got a young 'un 

 to beat a decent - selling plater at 2 st. 7 lb. 

 we were satisfied, having a conviction that, with 

 ordinary luck, the juvenile was sure to win a 

 race of some sort. We did not employ the 

 time-test in those days. Yet, in my opinion, 

 the results worked out just as correctly as 

 they do according to the clock ; owners were 

 not afraid to bet at the psychological moment 

 with infinite animation ; the pencillers were 

 occasionally touched up to a pretty tune. It 

 is probable that the system of timing gallops 

 has not done them any serious harm. 



The statement has been advanced that if all 

 trials came out accurately on the course, if the 

 form were reproduced with mathematical pre- 

 cision in both places, there would soon be no 

 bookmakers in existence. I scarcely agree with 

 that idea. In many races there are several well- 

 tried competitors who are fancied by their con- 

 nections, thus creating a brisk market, and giving 

 an appropriate zest to the festivity. We can 



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