270 TALES OF THE TURF. 



novice in this country would have "put the copper on" 

 in his betting, under the circumstances, and been able to 

 tell the real reason for defeat after the race. 



There is a signal given in the paddock when a cer- 

 tain race is called, so many minutes are allowed to get 

 ready, then the next signal is to go through the track 

 gate for the starting post, which is on the back-stretch 

 and quite a half-mile from the stand. So many minutes 

 are allowed for warming up, and on the third signal every 

 horse must be in his position to take the word. If a 

 minute behind he is "lost in the shuffle" and not allowed 

 to start, and besides his driver is disciplined. 



In "warming up" most of the riders use lamentable 

 judgment. They will "hazarack" their horses up and 

 down at their highest rate, then go directly from such 

 exercise to the post, their charges winded before the real 

 race commences. What seems extraordinary is that they 

 do not appear to learn from the example set by such suc- 

 cessful men as Brown and Weeks, whose methods are so 

 radically different. Yet all look upon Brown as a sort 

 of wizard in the business, and his ability receives great 

 homage from the native trainers, without, however, hav- 

 ing the effect of teaching them the superiority of his 

 methods. They appear to regard his ability as an occult 

 faculty born in him, and do not ascribe his success to 

 superior methods of training and driving. Another strik- 

 ingly singular matter is the great difference in the speed 

 of the contestants in a race. It is not an unusual thing 

 to see some of the horses more than half a mile behind 

 the leaders at the finish, yet they come straggling in un- 

 der whip and spur to the last inch of the course. I am 

 not sure but that the French rule requires this ; at all 

 events it seems the practice. 



