EVERY MAN HIS OWN TRAINER. 99 



any gait but a trot. Thompson shot away from me like an 

 arrow, opening a gap of fully ten lengths to the quarter pole, 

 but the old mare got warmed up by that time and commenced 

 to close on him, and finished close up in 2:22. I was consid- 

 erably dissatisfied with the send off and told the judges so, 

 and insisted on their sending me away on a trot next time. 

 One of the judges looked at me and said, " Jack, your mare is 

 so sore she can't hit a trot, it's no use." But I insisted there 

 was, and said, " The race is not over, and I will do him yet if 

 you will let me away on a trot and give me any kind of a 

 send off." I went and got some hot water and a soaking-tub 

 aud put Kite into it in front, and covered her up warm. I 

 did not rub her body any to speak of, just straightened her 

 hair and rubbed her legs thoroughly. I kept her in the hot 

 water until the bell rang — in fact, harnessed her and put the 

 boots on her while she stood in the tub. I brought her out 

 and hitched her as quick as possible. Jimmey Goldsmith had 

 drawn his horse Walnut and Thompson was out there waiting 

 for me. I found that my mare was greatly improved. We 

 went right up and came down for the word, and I think we got 

 it the first time to a good start. Thompson took the lead, 

 but I kept close to his wheel and when near the three-quarter 

 pole went right up to his head. There Sneider commenced to 

 use his whip, I said to him, " Don't punish your horse, for it 

 will be no use ; I am going easy." When we rounded into 

 the stretch I moved along and won the heat in 2:21^, which 

 was the fastest heat ever trotted in Orange county, N. Y., 

 and they chalked it upon the blackboard to that effect, and 

 Kitefoot was loudly applauded. The race was then virtually 

 over, as Thompson was done, as well he might be, for he had 

 went three corking heats. I won the next in 2:28^ and the 

 fifth heat and race in 2:30|-. 



She went into winter quarters in good order and I win- 

 tered her as I did the previous year. In the spring she came 

 out in good shape for her as she was not a mare that could go 

 out and show you much speed without preparation. We all 



