Evening star., 1897-07-31
RIDING A RACE HORSE.
Tod Sloan Tells How 1t ShOuld BE
Done.
IT,.

Tod SlOan Tells How 1t Should BE
Done.
From the New York World.
Riding a race horse is an art, and I feel
that 1 learn more about it every time
have a mount. Ever since MY maiden race
1 have studied the horse, and how to man.
age him. and l believe that i understand
him pretty well. OF course, every jockey
has his own particular way of riding. AMI
1 certainly have mine. No man has ever
shown me how to do anything in the sad
die. 1 was my own teacher. and if am
wrong no one else is to blame.
To begin with, horse is more intelligent
and observant than most people give him
credit for being, and remembers kindness
or abuse longer than a good many men. IL
is on his feelings that l play. and L find
that it wins. He realizes what is expected
of him as soon as he passes the crowded
grand stand or sees the starter on the
block, and if he is of any account is as
willing to race as the jockey is to ride him.
l never use spurs, because believe th"y
tnflict a punishment instead OF acting as
persuaders. A horse flinches under them
and will not go kindly for me at least
1 always sit straight in the saddle at the
start. keep my arms close to my body and
don't pull on the reins any more than pos
Sible. Some starts are difficult. and the
delay at the post is trying on both horse
ard rider In cases of this kind your
HOuHC Will become restless ana want 10
turn around, or make some other move
ment. If he wants to turn i'm one direc-
tion never try to make him go i'm the op-
pcsite. Instead of attempting to rule him I
try to act with him, and he generally APP
preciates the consideration shown him. L
found early in my career that fighting a
horse Is an uphill game.
When the word is given L bend forward
over the horses withers and take a short
hold the reins. having them run
through my haf-closed hands, which are
together and resting on the horses neck.
Unless the distance is short and my mount
is a weak-hearted sort of brute, | never 80
out in the lead. 1 let some other horse set
the pace and incidentally break the wind
for me. l find, like the cyclists, that this
reHderS the greatest assistance. No mat
ter in what direction the wind is blowing.
there is always some resistance, because
the horse goes much faster than ii does.
and. therefore. 1 make myself as harmless
as possible and the other starters in the
race as useful possible. Even if the
leader drops back a length or SO, / still all
low him to stay in front until the finish is
close at hand. The closer you can be be-
hind a horse, or several horses, in a long
distance race, the better it is for you. 1
generally pull out at the right time and
very few pockets are worked on me.
When the home-stretch is reached, get
further up my horses neck than ever if
possible. and use all my persuasive powers,
riding for all there is In me. But seldom
draw my whip. 1 always carry one but
use IL sparfngly. 1t is another instrument
that Furnishes a little more than it per-
suades. If need be. I tap a horse a few
times in the last 100 yards, but never did
horse Swefve under me.
As a rule, riding at the finish looks hard
er than it really is. If the horse has had
enough, you find out long before the crowd
sees 1T. and whip-lashing and arm working
are absolutely useless. If he Is game and
has been properly ridden, he will keep try
ing, and spectacular work is again un-
necessary. 1 believe that he appreciates
victory ard deplores defeat"