LIFE WITH THE TKOTTEKS. 441 



ting a colt acquainted witli the surroundings than anything 

 else at present. 



If you can use what speed you had at home you will do 

 well, and need not expect to gain much by training while 

 here. You must get the colt thoroughly acquainted with 

 the track. It is of different soil, the turns are much sharper 

 and it is only a half-mile. All these things make a great 

 difference with a youngster, and not so much with an old 

 one. On Wednesday work him out following the same 

 general directions, being governed by your colt's disposi- 

 tion, regarding how much sharp work you give him. Have 

 him led out in the afternoon while the races are in progress, 

 that he may see the crowd and know where aU the noise 

 comes from. In this way by Thursday afternoon you wUl 

 be astonished at how well he will act. Thursday morning 

 give him his usual jog, also scoring ujj a little in company. 

 Have him fed a little earlier at noon, look his boots over 

 carefully, see that they are soft and pliable, and if any 

 stitches are needed. Examine the shoes and clinches, as it 

 may be necessary to have a nail taken out and a new one 

 in. Have everything ready to come out promptly when the 

 bell rings. Keep it uppermost in your mind that a little 

 delay on your part may destroy the pleasure of a great 

 many peojjle, and is annoying to the judges and subjects 

 you to a penalty, which in justice to the people who pay to 

 see the entertainment should be strictly enforced. This 

 meeting has been advertised, the people have been solicited 

 to attend and are asked to pay admission fees; in this way 

 they become partners in the business, and it is due them 

 that the programme shall be fulfilled promptly, honestly 

 and expeditiously. A few minutes after the bell rings, Ave 

 find that out of the fourteen entries made in March only 

 five make the last payment and come out for the word, and 

 five starters in a yearling race is a good many. As a rule 

 I would rather start in a field of ten with an old cam- 

 paigner. 



The judges draw for position, and assign you next to the 



