Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-05
HORSE TALk.
TechnicaIities Of The Turf.


There is a iargoa Of the turf quite in
comprehensive to transporting readers,
which may be interesting to elucidate.
A hurdle race consists Of riding round a
mile course twice, and jumping over eight
hurdles. The hurdle consists ola range Of
fence rails, four feet high. stretched across
the course at equal distances and sur
mounted by brush, which makes the jump
a foot or two higher, and yield 10 the
horses foot III case he should not clear it.
A handicap is where a Judge is APP
pointed TO determine The weight horse
should carry in the race, which he settles
according 10 the age or strength of the
horse. If r5der is not sufficiently heavy,
he wears additional underclOthing, or thin
plates of lead slipped into the pockets of
his saddle, until he reaches the required
figure.
If the race is for $500 that sum is sub
scribed 10 equal amounts BY the owners Of
the horses 500 goes to the second horse,
leaving but $500 for the winner.
" No entrance charge signifies that
nothing ia to be paid for entering the
horses on the list, which is often done in
other races.
The letters "b. h." signify bay horse,
I" blk. M" black mare br. G." brown
gelding, {" b. c." bay colt, sch. f." chestnut
FLY, "g. c." grey colt. Sorrel, cream
colored, and piebaid are abbreviated re-
specially g. C. and ?.
Aged" means that a b re or a mare is
over seven years. At FIVE ey are consid-
cred grown, aud are called vtheir names.
Before then they are col orfllies.
A steeple chase is tax, from an old
English term, where pell-nelI race takes
place for a church at a distance whose
steeples are to be cleared in this course, and
small rivers to be swan. In such contests
upon the race courses, fences or hurdles
are improvised, behind which latter, bitches
varying from six to twelve feet in width
are dug, These are not on the line of The
course, as they would ObstrlCt subsequent
races, but are either outside or inside of il.
Rough grounds outside Of the direct line of
the course are chosen, and tie road not be-
ing az distinct as former, Is liable 10 be lost,
In this case a horse has TO Tetrace his stems
and start from where he diverged. Horses
in steepIe chase usually 90 round the
course three times making three miles.
A sweepstakes is where The purse ia
made up By the running horses and car
ried off by the winning horss. The follow.
ing is a notice of this description race:
"a sweepstake Of three Years olds; two
mile heats; 500 entrance; $50 forfeit;
$500 added usual penalty for winner,
The figures means that Sl0O is paid by
each horse on entering the course; $50
forfeit in case he does notenter after giving
notice to do 90, and$40O acded to the en-.
trance money won by the waner, which is
subscribed by all the horses A penalty Is
paid BIZ the winner in the ,hape of more
entrance fee than any other horse, as NAV
be agreed upon.
premium of $500, for all ages, with
allowance to beaten horses, means that
this sum, subscribed by the horses, will be
given to the winner with lighter weights
for those beaten during the previous races
of the day than are awarded to the others.
A selling race ia when thewinning horse
is sold Immediately at auction. II he
brings over stated amount the surplus
money sometimes goes to the club.
JOCKEYS who regularly hira, are paid at
the rate of $500 to $500 year. finding
themselves. They often, also, receive
percentage on winnings, il case they are
first in at race When hired for one race,
their rates are according TO Repatriation,
and in case Of success percentage is also
added.