202 TALES OF THE TURF. 



lapped on to each other at the edges lengthwise and nailed 

 together. It is hitched to at the centre and dragged 

 around the track. Simply as a means of crushing the 

 small lumps of earth and smoothing the track, it is, pos- 

 sibly, as effective as the scantling flote, but it does not 

 rid the track of pebbles, for it rolls right over them, 

 whereas the flote carries them to the outside fence; but 

 the principal evil is that, as its length on the ground is 

 but three or four feet, it cannot bridge any waves made 

 by the Griffin scraper or by small wash-outs, and down 

 it goes into each little chasm, rendering them deeper and 

 broader, and, as an inevitable result, you soon have a 

 wavy track to make profane men of our Christian 

 drivers. 



Buildings. 



The distance stands should be located at the outside 

 of the track. Quarter, half-mile, and three-quarter poles 

 should be painted bright red and stationed at the proper 

 places at the inside of the track. On a direct range to 

 them from the judges' stand, similar poles should be 

 erected on the outside of the track also. Eighth-mile 

 poles are also a convenience at times, though not a neces- 

 sity. 



The Judges' stand should be set back from the track 

 about ten feet and on a mile track, about three hundred 

 feet from the turn ; on a half-mile track, about one hun- 

 dred and seventy feet. It should be on the inside of the 

 track. I am aware that this is a counter opinion to that 

 advocated by many, but firmly believe it is the proper 

 place for it. The argument used against it is something 

 about the judges' view of the pole horse being "f ore- 

 shortened," whatever that means in this connection. If 

 it means anything, why wouldn't their view of the out- 



