The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-14
The Technicalities of the Turf.

ucES IS n ldfkOu Vi tnC sufi IuitC
prehensible TO non sporting readers, which
it may be interesting to slucidate.
A hurdle race consists of riding round a
mile course twice, making two miles, and
jumping over eight hurdles. The hurdles
consist of a range of fence rails, four feet
high stretched across the course at equal
distances, and surmouuted by brush, which
makes the jump foot or two higher, and
Yields to the horses foot, in case he should
{ not clear it.
A handicap is where jump is appointed
| to determine the weight that horse should
carry in the race, which he settles according
| to the age or strength of the horse. If a
rider is not sufficiently heavy, he wears addi-
| tional Undertaking, or thin plates of lead
are slipped into the pockets of his saddle,
until he reaches the required figure.
If the race is for $500, that sum is sub
scribed in equal amounts by the owners OF
the horses, $l00 goes to the second horse,
leaving but $500 for the winner.
"No entrance charge" signifies that moth
| ing is to be paid for entering the horses on
the list, which is often done in other races.
The letters 'b. h." signify bay horse, "blk.
m" black mare, ''br. e." brown gelding, 'b.
c." bay colt, 'ch. f." chestnut FLY, "g. c."
gray colt. Sorrel, cream colored and piebsld
are abbreviated respectively by s., C. and p.
Aged" means that b horse or mare is
| over seven years. At five they are consid-
cred grown, and are called by their names.
| Before then they are colts or FLIES.
| A steeple chase, taken from an old Eng
lish term, where pell-mell race takes place
for church at distance whose steeple is
conspicuous. Hedges. fences, gates and
bitches are to be cleared in this course, and
/ ofeo r.,
| upon race.courses, fences or hurdles are i'm
| provised, behind which latter, bitches, vary
| ing from six to twelve feet in width, are dug.
These are not on the line of the course, as
they would obstrnct subsequent races, but
are either outside or inside of it. Rough
ground outside of the direct line of the course
| is also chosen, and the road not being so dis
| tinct as the former, IS liable to be lost. In
| this case a horse has to retrace his steps,and
start from the point where he diverged. Hors
es in a steeple chase usually round the course
three times, making three miles.
sweepstakes is where purse is made
up by the running horses and carried off by
the winning horse. The following is a no.
| tice of this description of race "a sweep
! stakes of three-years-olds; two miles $l00
entrance $50 forfeit: $500 added usual
penalty for winner" The figures mean that
| 500 is paid by each horse ON entering the
course $50 forfeit in case he does not en-
ter after giving notice of intention to do SO,
and $400 added to the entrance money won
| by the winner, which is subscribed by all
the horses. A penalty is paid by the win
ner in the shape of more entrance fee than
any other horse, as may be agreed upon.
| Nursery stakes are for colts and FLIES oil
two years or under, for mile race. The
name is a suggestion of their juvenility.
premium of $500, for all ages, with al.
lowanee 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 the others.
selling race is where the winning horse
Is sold immediately at auction. IF he brings
over a stated amount the surplus money
sometimes goes to the club.
A phrase like the following is incompre-
hensible to many: "Mr. VIM. Parrot en-
tiers b. C. Jimmy, by Rushlight, out of dam
by imp. Lightning" 1t means that the bay
colt Jimmy is sired by Rushlight, from a
mother who was sired by the imported horse
Lightning.
Il Jockeys, when regularly hired, are paid al
the rate of $500 to $500 year, finding
+ themselves. They often, also, receive .
percentage on winnings, in case they are
? hrst in at a race. When hired for one race
.heir rates are according to reputation, ant
died.