The record-union., 1894-12-28
SADDLES FILLED With AIR.
Principles Of Pneumatics Applied to
Running Horses.
A Chicago Mans Invention Likely
to Force the Greatly Desired
Raise In Weights.

Principles of pneumatics applied to the
present system of running races appear
at first blush so visionary that the incli-
nation is to pronounce the plan absurd.
Yet such thing is not only possible but
has been tried in a race and the test has
yielded such results that a revolution is
promised in the regulations of the run
ming game. The medium through which
this change is promised is pneumatic
saddle. The pneumatic saddle looks
like the ordinary racing saddle. Inspec-
ton shows it to be a pad which can be
filed with air through a tube beneath
the skirt, in the same manner as the
pneumatic tire is supplied with air, and
its principle is the same as that of the
bicycle tire. The saddle weighs three
pounds. When in use it relieves the
horse of the impeding dead weight he has
to contend with under the ordinary sad
dle
The race horse when in action is re-
tarded by the movement up and down of
the rider, and there is certain friction
along his back through this movement OF
the Jockey, whether the latter rests his
weight wholly in the stirrups or in the
saddles seat. The difference TO the horse
In the use Of the pneumatic saddle is esti
mated at from Ii to 10 per cent. A test
made upon a scale served to illustrate
the point. An ordinary racing saddle
placed on the scales with heavy weight
dropped upon it from a hight of six
inches registered one hundred and eigh-
teen pounds. The same weight dropped
from the same distance upon the pneu-
matte saddle registered one hundred and
two pounds. But better test OF the in-
Vention was in the eVen-furlOng race at
nf hn
Pop Gray, famous tor his sprinung quail
tiles, and Wauhatchie, known to local
race-goers as an ordinary selling platter,
Were among the entries. The spruter
Tar outclassed the platter and was con.sid
cred SO sure of the race that he W as backed
down TO one to TWO.
The ease with which the platter drew
away from the superior horse in hard
drive was the great surprise of the day to
the spectators. Under the present sys-
tenn OF weights many OF the tirst-class
jockeys are debarred through inability to
make weight. In consequence owners
are compelled to give mounts to younger,
less experienced and physically weaker
Jockeys or stable lads. There has long
been a sentiment, and a growing one, in
favor of raising the scale. The pneu-
matte saddle promises to be the medium
through which this change shall be
brought about. Through it the scale of
weights can be increased ten pounds and
and still relieve the horse of many
pounds less than he carries under the
present regulations. For instance, d
horse that under the scale must carry one
hundred ana twelve pounds, would, I'M
der the raised scale. be imposted one
hundred and twenty-five pounds. With
the ordinary saddle this would anchor
many speedy animals. With a pneu-
matte saddle and it's consequent reduction
in the dead weight impediment the same
horse would be carrying what would be
to him under the present system Of
weights one hundred and thirteen
pounds. These figures are the calcula-
tions of those who are enthusiastic and
who have watched the experiments with
the pneumatic saddle from the time it
was being prepared for use upon DR..
Rice in the Brooklyn handicap.
The opinion OF conservative racing men
is that the pneumatic saddle is destined TO
work great change i'll the present regu-
lations through its saving TO the horse of
the concussion that now impedes his
progress in hard race. Fred Foster has
been experimenting for weeks at the
Harlem track with the new saddle, which
is the invention of John A. NJ etcalf Of
this city.
a later Improvement in the pneumatic
saddle IS an aluminium belt which passes
directly over the pummel. This belt
contains number of pockets similar to
those in cartridge belt. AS mercury is
the heaviest of known substances for it's
bulk it is Intended to make weight with
mercury cartridges, each of which will
weigh one pound and fit into the belt
as do cartridges into the belt of the
militiamen. 1t is expected that the use
of the pneumatic saddle will result in
the Jockey Club and Turf Congress TAX
ing cognizance of the matter and ulti-
mateiy cause these organizations to raise
the scale of weights.-American Livery
man.