MANAGEMENT AFTER RUNNING. 339 



bears the blame of letting a dog out of slips, whereas the 

 trainer is really in fault. The object of this is to cause the one 

 with the loose collar to get the advantage of his antagonist in the 

 slip, and to effect this the trainer risks his getting his head out. 

 This ought not to be allowed; the slipper is the proper judge of the 

 requisite tightness, and no interference ought to be permitted. 

 Many a time I have heard a trainer call out ( You are choking my 

 dog ! ' when the collar was actually dangerously loose. Of course 

 a practised slipper like Raper would not be induced to listen 

 to such an attempt to mislead him, but there are others who are 

 easily bullied into compliance with any remark of this kind, and 

 upon such only is it attempted. In down countries a horse should 

 always be provided for the trainer to take up his dog with, and many 

 a stake has been lost for want of this assistance ; the dog, already 

 exhausted perhaps by a severe course, getting another hare before 

 he is taken up. At Altcar and the other Lancashire meetings men 

 are always to be found who know the ground, and will pick up the 

 dog whichever way he goes ; but in important stakes it is well to 

 trust as little as possible to chance aid of this kind, as it some- 

 times happens that they are bribed to give something injurious 

 to the animal before the trainer can get to him. As soon as he is 

 reached his mouth should be sponged out, and he should be 

 quietly led, without his clothing on, to a sheltered situation, where 

 he should be well frictioned till he has got his tongue in, and is 

 all right in wind, when he may be clothed and taken to his cart. 



The following directions will apply to the various circumstances 

 likely to occur at this time : - 



z 2 



