CHAPTER XXXV. 



HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTERS. 

 The author a judge in races — The trainer — Driver — Swipe — Big-head — 

 Early vs. late training — Toe-weights — Jogging — The mouth — Sta- 

 bling — Treating a warm horse — Time to succeed. 



IT has been said that " all money in trotters is in the hand- 

 ling." The management, handling, and driving the trot- 

 ting horse in his races, is as much of a science and requires as 

 much skill to do so properly and successfully, as that of almost 

 any other profession. It is a trade of itself. If the candidate 

 for this profession is not possessed of a natural taste, as well as 

 ability, for it, then he had better turn his attention to other 

 fields of employment. 



Although, as stated in the preface of this book, .1 am not a 

 professional driver in races, yet I have occupied the judges' 

 stand in many very good races, trotted by some of the best 

 horses and driven by some of the most expert drivers of their 

 time ; and from that standpoint, especially as it usually 

 devolved upon me to act in the capacity of " starter " in the 

 races, I have had an opportunity to learn very much as to how 

 horses should be managed and driven in their best work. But 

 the success in this business is not alone dependent upon the 

 driver, for in the " swipe," or care-taker of the trotter, really 

 depends nearly as much as upon the driver ; inasmuch as the 

 best driver would be unable to win purses with the best trotters 

 not in condition to trot. 



Were I in the business of campaigning a stable of trotters I 

 should be very particular in my selection of the proper men to 

 take care of the horses, as well as in the selection of the knight* 

 of the sulky to pilot them to victory. 



If a horse makes a sensational hit in a race the driver often 

 gets all the credit, while the poor swipe gets left. 



(271) 



