EVERY MAN Hlfi OWN TRAINER. 143 



four or five seconds more speed out of them, and the horse 

 would seem to do it as easy, and in fact, more so than he did 

 the heat before in 2:30. We all know no one man is calcu- 

 lated to drive all kinds of horses. We all have our choice of 

 a certain dispositioned horse to drive. I have often seen 

 what would be called a common driver that will get more 

 speed out of a certain horse than an expert, though his man- 

 agement through the race might not be as good as it is not 

 always speed that wins. I have seen many a race won with 

 good management and generalship. 



I think Dan Mace was possessed of more of these quali- 

 ties than any man I ever saw behind a trotter. He was quick 

 of apprehension and could adapt himself to the surroundings 

 and be ready to take advantage of every little point that 

 would be to his advantage. I have often heard him say to 

 other drivers in a race to whom he was friendly, don't go here 

 or don't go there, in large fields of horses where he thought 

 the changing of theii' positions would be detrimental to them. 

 He always seemed to have his thoughts about him and could 

 take a correct survey of the field at a glance and seemed to be 

 willing to impart his knowledge to his friends. 



Another necessary point is when you are having a close 

 finish and your horse is a little tired and it becomes necessary 

 to use your whip, to keep a good hold of him, as that keeps 

 him encouraged. When you hit him with the whip pick his 

 head up at the same time and he will keep going, whereas if 

 you should let go of his head the horse will seemingly say, 

 " My driver has given i^ up and I will, too," and you will lose 

 a heat that you might have won if you had kept driving. It 

 is not safe to let go of the head until within one stride of the 

 wire, then by dropping the reins on his back he will straighten 

 out his neck and win the heat, which could not be won in any 

 other way. 



I think I have seen John Splan drive as desperate a finish 

 as any man that ever sat behind a horse. 



Another point to watch closely is the cooling out be- 



