DRIVING, RIDING, HUNTING, RACE-RIDING 409 



Simon Pure of the stable lies a little back, watching" his 

 opportunity of tackling " A," the moment the mount of the 

 latter shows symptoms of faltering. If this is skilfully done 

 in all probability " A's " horse will be unable to resist the 

 challenge of the rival, and will lose the race. Even if " A " 

 has to be out-manoeuvred single-handed the same tactics 

 must be pursued, the rider of the other horse keeping 

 sufficiently near to be able to go up at once and race against 

 it, directly " A's " horse shows any signs of slackening its 

 pace. If no opportunity is given for an " easy," even for a 

 few strides, "A's" mount will be unable to keep up the 

 pressure, and will be beaten accordingly. 



In another case " B " may have a habit of always keeping 

 in the rear during the early part of a race, and then trying 

 to win by a rush at the finish. He also can often be 

 mancBuvred out of the race. The rival jockey will go to the 

 front at once, and, if the pace is poor, will take up the 

 running, perhaps with a lead of two or three lengths, with 

 the sole object of stopping the pace. If the other jockeys 

 have waiting orders, or have not been told to see that there 

 is a good pace, they will probably be content to keep their 

 places behind till half the distance has been run ; and if 

 the leader is then on the alert, and immediately notes when 

 the others — especially " B " — are increasing their speed to 

 come up alongside him, and then instantly forces the running 

 to the utmost, he turns the race into a sprint from that spot, 

 with the advantage of several lengths start of " B." 



Another example may be adduced of a jockey, " C," 

 having a fancy for coming up on the rails, always trying to 

 creep up alongside them when getting on terms with the 

 leaders. By drawing away a little from the rails an appear- 

 ance of an opening may be given, but the moment " C " is 

 induced to make a rush for his favourite place the leader 

 retakes his position on the rails, thus baulking " C " in his 

 endeavour, when it is probably too late for him to draw back 

 and come on the outside. Again the race may thus be won 

 by an inferior horse, but an abler jockey. 



"D," who has a trick of coming with a rush at the 

 end instead of going up to the leaders in good time, 



