Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-13
HOW RACERS ARE TRAINED.
a Morning at Ivy City with the Thor
oughbreds.

No FOE IHE sfBlN6 NEETING-A DAY AT THE
TRAcK-How HORSES ARE TRAISED-TBE TINE
AND CARE NECESSARY TO MAKE THEM "FIr."
1t il really remarkable" said gentleman
fond OF racing to a STAR reporter few days
ago. how very few of the thousands of race
gOers IN this country even slightly ac-
qualnted with the minute and intricate details
the great, never-ending care and labor of train
ing and preparing race horse for his work.
On race days, as we see them parade before the
stand on their way to the starting post, full of
life and fire, their coats glistening like satin in
the bright sun. their every muscle standing out
like cords Of steel. their eyes bright with the
light Of health, little thought do we give of the
skill the labor, and the care necessary to pro-
Guce such triumph of the art of training. OF
that We never think. and yet we come to feel
that some how other horses need only to be
fed and they viii run then as natural conse-
quence. training or no training. Run out to
Ivy City some fine morning, young man, and
See for yourself"
knowing how popular racing has become
here in Washington. and feeling sure that de-
scTiption of the manner III which the horses are
kept and trained and of the daily life of rae
ing stable would be of general interest, The
STAR reporter paid visit to Ivy City, and the
following viii interest not only those addicted
to the sport of kings" but every lover of the
nOb!est OF animals.
when the fall meeting closed at Ivy City last
November all of the two or three hundred
horses then there. with the exception OF three
stables. left that beautiful track FOR their win
ter quarters or to continue their
struggles at New Orleans or at the jersey
tracks. Those remaining were the stables OF
Davis Hall, ". t. Jennings and +. ID. McDer-
mott. Uessrs. Davis 4 Hall were quartered in
machinery hall stable, and Jennings and Nc
DermOtt in main building stable. These two
stable buildings, by the way, are considered
the finest of Their kind in the country. They
of brick. and were originally built for the
exhibition of the annual fairs once held On the
grounds at Ivy City. But those fairs never
proved successful financially. and the race
meetings always have, the buildings were re-
modelled and converted into stables. The
buildings are so arranged that each horse
stabbed may enjoy the luxury of a box-stall
about II feet square. and the stalls so
placed in the center of the buildings that be-
tween them and the outer walls there Is ar
ranged ''walk-around' of nearly an eighth of
a mile. Besides these splendid accommodate
tons for the horses, there are sleeping-roOms
for the stable attendants and store-rooms for
feed, &c.
WINTER TREATMENT.
Into such fine quarters did the racing stables
mentioned go when the fall meeting closed and
there they have been ever.since. OF course, as
these horses were not to be raced till spring.
there was an immediate let-up in their train
first week III March they were simply grOomed
and gently exercised under cover. being taken
ont on bright warm days for walk. Those
that were amlSs when the season closed were
carefully treated and constantly watched for re-
suits of the remedies employed, nothing
being left undOne to bring them around all
right. The modes OF treatment and the
remedies varying as greatly almost in the
treatment OF the ills this mortal flesh is heir
to. One treatment, that of - firing" is one
not now used in treating humanity. but is
very similar TO a practice once in existence
As may be imagined from the term
- firing is 4 rather heroic treatment, and Is
resOrted to in extreme cases only. 1t is per-
formed by heating an iron bar to a white heat
and touching the lame leg with the end of the
bar. driving ii well i'll. or by crossing and re-
crossing the affected parts.
As the winter merges into spring the stable
Is invariably increased by the arrival of the
twO-year-Olds. which also greatly increases the
care and labor of the trainer: for the
thoroughbred races first a twO-year-old and
he must at that age therefore be treated as a
novice. He Is at once associated with the older
horses, and by such association soon learns
what is expected of him.
SPRING TRAINING.
So far. the daily routine of the stable has
been dull and listless both for horse and trainer.
but tine spring has now come and the time has
arrived for the horses to begin their premi-
nary work of preparation for the coming sea-
son campaign. or, in the language of the
stable. for them to be taken up" Early every
morning now the horses are blanketed and
saddied. and, with a stable boy
Generally very small specimen of
African descent on each animal,) are taken out
and walked and slowly trotted for an hour or
so. Then back to the stable they go, where
they are cooked out by being led i'll a slow
walk round and round the walk-around. This
cooling out process is q very important
feature of training. and if sloyenly
or too hurriedly done is certain TO re-
suit disastrously to the horses future de-
velopment. Its duration depending altogether
upon the amount of exercise given and the
animals temperameDt-sOme horses. not unlike
some people. heating more quickly and cooling
less rapidly than others, and vice versa. After
being cooled out, which in ordinary cases
takes half an hours time. the horses are led to
their stalls. thoroughly cleaned and grOomed,
vigorously rubbed down. closely examined tor
lameness, swelling, or other troubles. and then
left TO themselves III peace and quiet until
about O'Clock in the afternoon. when they are
slowly walked for perhaps hour. cooled
out" again groomed ana thoroughly rubbed,
and put away for the night. They are fed oats
and hay principally, but no iron-bound rule is
observed i'll this matter. Their bedding con-
sists OF best straw. and in it they stand knee
deep. Such work goes daily on. the amount Of
II being each day gradually increased.
WORK on THE TRACK.
All this time the track, on which the horses
have not yet made their appearance for the sea-
son, Is being each day. ON which the weather
permits, narrowed from morning till night
that al! the frost may be gotten out of it, and
the going made soft and springing. The track
Is so advanced now that the horses NAV safely
gaiIOp slowly over II. and the heart of the
trainer is UNNECESSARILY gladdened, for now
viii begin the work which viii really make or
unmake the sJccess of the stable In the daily
exercise OF his charges. more skill is necessary
than can Se found IN the riding of mere stable
boys. and II is about this time that the stables
regular jockey or jockeys report for DUTY
Some stables are, of course. unable to maintain
regularly retained jockey. and must there
fore. depend entirely upon their stable boys
while other stables. fully able, but averse to
engaging jockey for the season, preferring to
pick him only when required. also depend en-
tirely upon their stable boys to exercise their
lie jockeys by the season, they now report.
BEGINNING THE DAY.
Daybreak finds the stable astir. and while the
horses are enjoying Light feed the boys and
men are partsking Of their first meal of the
day. OF course. every stable has as a general
thing. it, cook. and The STAR man can person.
ally testify 10 the high regard In which the ef-
forts of this functionary Is held. both by the
stable and also by visiting partakers of its hos
pItaIty. Breakfast Is soon over, for those who
90 justice to 1t believe justice should be Tin
such a case. at least. swift and sure. and the
horses are saddled and taken out upon the
track. II the day be a raw, cold one. they
appear blanketed. but if il be warm and pleas
A III IL.