RACE-HORSES IN INDIA 175 



of the season, when there is little to be won with them, on 

 account of the most important maiden races having been 

 already decided. In England a young one can be kept at 

 work for six months before he runs for his first two or 

 three-year-old events, but out here the hot weather allows 

 but little more than three months during which to prepare 

 a maiden, without suffering many of the best stakes which 

 are reserved for his class to pass by uncontended for. We 

 should not lose sight of the fact that it often takes more 

 time to teach a horse to gallop than to get him into 

 condition. 



As it requires at least two years' conditioning to 

 enable a horse to live amongst the first flight in "the 

 Shires," it will certainly require no shorter period to bring 

 a young one — probably fresh off the ship — fit to race over 

 a distance in India. 



Small, compact horses mature earlier than those of a 

 larger and looser frame, and consequently may be run at 

 an earlier age. Sluggish horses can almost always both 

 stand work better and stay longer than impetuous ones. 

 Old horses require usually less work to get into galloping 

 condition than young ones do, though they take more time 

 to put up muscle. 



In India, horses are rarely trained specially — as in 

 England — for one particular race, as there are few events 

 worth an owner's undivided attention. In this country, 

 the usual practice is to give horses, within certain limits, 

 more of a general than of a particular preparation. How- 

 ever, one should never sacrifice the speed of a flyer by 

 giving him long work, when it has been proved that, fit 

 and well, he is unable to stay a distance. 



