FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



handles himself ably against the watch, is nicely 

 schooled, hard and full muscled, bright, and eat- 

 ing and doing well, he is as good as hands can 

 probably make him, and ready to appear under 

 silk. He may fall, or " run green," and he will 

 probably have to learn the "tricks of the trade" 

 generally, before he becomes a safe betting propo- 

 sition ; but, beaten or not, he will have a better 

 foundation for future operations than many of his 

 seemingly formidable competitors. 



196 



