Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-27

Coney Island, was, in its day, the resort not
only OF famous horsemen, but of notabilities
OF every degree as well. His brothers,
William and Isaac, also figured prominently
as trainers and drivers. Contemporary with
them was William II. Doble, of Philadel-
phia, a horseman of remarkable ability,
whose sons, Budd, Charles and young
William, were all noted reinsmen,
especially Bud. The Maces, Dan
and Ben, inherited their wonderful
skill from their father, Daniel Mace,
Boston dealer in and handler of road and
race horses. The son Familiarity known as
Dan Mace, has aptly been termed the
Wizard of the Sulky' Brought up as a
boy in the old school of training, he grad
uated from it and became the greatest ex-
ponent of the present method of handling
the trotting horse in the sulky, to wagon
and under saddle. He discarded sweating
under blankets long and repeated severe
trials, and adopted the more scientific
course of building up the horses strength,
putting him in condition gradually by
moderate work and saving his powers for
some great race. Driving was with him
fine art. He could inspire the horse with
confidence from the start, thread his way
the wire a winner, with tremendous rush
at the finish. Another driver of the modern
or scientific school is John Splan, who has
been a close student OF Mace's tactics, and
has, in my judgment, more of the natural
gifts of a great driver from start to finish,
than any man living.
SYMPATHETIC DRIVING.
'My own system in driving is to enter
10 Nlafo 4l,,,r
never call upon him to trot when he is out
of condition, or try to make him do more
than he is able to do. In training horse it
is best to have him exercise moderately
every fine day, but once or twice week is
often enough to drive him at speed. Choose
day that is free from dampness or piercing
winds. Let the horse be sent preliminary
spin before sending him along, say a half
mile, at his best rate. Speeding against
other horses. on road or track commonly
called brush, see that your horse is going
level and true, that he has an easy and fair
hold of the bit and is on his stride, before
asking him to measure PAGES with your
neighbor's horse. A sudden start and over
anxiety on the part of driver and horse has
demoralizing effect on both, particularly
if your friend is in jubilant mood and looks
back at you tantalizingly. When you range
alongside your competitor do not be in
too big hurry to pass him. Remember that
the other mans horse may have nearly as
much speed as your own, and the cool head
and steady hand is necessary at this juno
ture. Also when you pass him do not be in
haste to draw away or, as the saying is,
make a showing of him. Impudent
drivers on track and road often beat them
selves by exhausting the power of the horse,
so that he is not able to finish when tackled
by the game horse, driven with judgment
and his speed properly rated. Do not over
match your horse by persstently trying to
beat horse that can play with him, and do
not speed him too far. Driving horse to q
standstill or even until he begins to lose
heart and interest in the effort, will surely
take away his speed. This kind of training
and driving makes 2:30 horses improve back
ward and become 2:40 horses in a little
while.
A TRoTTER'S LIMIT.
EVERY trotter has his ultimate limit.
Nature has destined some to reach the 22O
mark, with others she has drawn the line at
2:S0, and with select few 2:10 to 2:15 are
the bounds. Many horse never reaches
his goal of speed because of improper and
severe handling. For example, an impetu-
Gus driver, known as a hustler takes in
hand willing young horse. Both are full
of 60 and overdo themselves. A reaction
comes and nature calls for rest and recupera-
tion, but more work and faster is demanded.
The horse is overmstched in a race, but the
driver does not spare him-not he. why,
bless you, Mr.. Owner, he says, this horse
is short OF work, and I'll beat the party with
him at the next town. If he does it is a
heart-breaking race, and improvement stops
for the season, perhaps forever. The wait
and-win' driver will put his horse in condi-
tion gradually, and bring him along by easy
stages until he is ripe and seasoned to live
the pace against his peers. This is the time
to strike and win; but even then do not force
the horse to over-exert himself by more
than one whipping finish. Few mares and
geldings should be subjected to the cutting
lash. Now and then the naturally dull or
tagging energies of stallion must be reused
to action by the whip, but its continual ap-
plication is unwise. A sharp cut now and
then with the dread of more will bring forth
the best efforts of the dull horse. The voice
and rein are greater inspirers of increased
efforts than the whip. As last resort,
when all seems to fail, smart cut and
lifting at the same time, with letting 90 of
the horses head, not too sudden, will enable |
you to win by neck, head or an eve lash.
There's an old fellow named Kyger who |
came out of the woods some time ago with a |
really wonderful mare named Kit Avery,
who has race record of 2:18k, and could |
lower it if she were put in decent hands.
old Man Kyger, as he is called, is known
on every track in the country. He uses his
whip from start to finish, and I've even seen
him whipping after the horse has passed |
under the wire. He's almost spoiled the
mare already, and she'll be completely
ruined before long. Then he'll 60 back to
the woods from which he came"