The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-02-24
RACERS IN WINTER ouARTHsx
Cared for a Thosah Folded Away n laven
der and Tissue Paper.

der ana ltSSue raPe1'
"And what, Mr.. Scott, do you do
with the pretty creatures IN winter!
once asked a dainty dame OF the Ia.
mons Yorkshire trainer, as she patteu
the arching neck Of favorite S2o'oVV
yearling.
s.Fold 'em up in tissue paper anu ias-
ender 'em, ma'am, SO as the motns
can't get at them,' gruffiy replied the
"Wizard of the North who strongly
resented the unauthorized Intrusion Oh
ladies within the sacred precincts Oh
the training stables.
Although it is, of course, unnecessary
to explain that the above quoted an
swer is to be taken literally, 1t is u
fact. nevertheless, that 1t contains y
solid substratum of truth. The mod
ern race horse is a dainty and dellcate
animal, and unremitting care and at
tention have to be lavished upon him
at all times. But during the winter
months, owing to the vagaries OF our
treacherous and constantly changing
climate, these eAtIdoiuihois
lions have to be redoubled.
The day in a racing stable, during
the of season, begins at . a. m, al
which hour the huge alarm clock
which custom DEGREES shall invariably
be kent in the head lads" bedroom
incontinently "goes off," The horses
know the sound. There is a clatter
ripping rustic, the ringing OF stee
against steel, a mufiled neigh or two
from the interior of the long ranges OF
buildings, followed by the appearance
Of troops of sleepy men and boys. lei
minutes later all is hustle and ANNA
ton.
With the first faint streak of dawr
comes breakfast, after which TN
"morning horses are taken out for ex
ercise. They are kept out about thre1
hours-from 8 till IL. The AFTERNOON
horses 20 out from till 4, and imme
diately on their return begins the gen
eral cleanup" anticipatOry of tn
trainers daily visit. Each and ever.
animal is groomed and rubbed ant
polished, until from ear to hoof ne
as clean as the proverbial new pin
Special attention is given to the leg
and feet, The former are industrl
ously hand rubbed with the object
imparting a good, healthy glow to tn
extremities. The latter are tarred 0
yaselined. as the case may be. and tn
shoes "buff-sticked" and FURNISHED u
they shine like silver.
Soon after the mighty magnate 10
whose benefit all these preparations al
made puts in an appearance, accom-
panied. like general officer on parade
by his troop of attendant satellites
Unless something very unusual is !
the wind" or horse happens to be II
disposed, the inspection does not occ'
DIV more than ten or fifteen minutes
the outside.
If he has the slightest shadow OF
doubt he will verify matters by pass
|. ing a white handkerchief over tn
glossy skin, taking care to rub the Goa
the wrong way, or he will insert I'll
fo-efinger of glove, inside the suspec
ed animals ear. Woe betide the grool
responsible for that particular horse
the cambria or the kid, as the case ma
be, is not as spotless after this ordei
as it was before.
AS soon as the trainer has taken III
departure the animals are finished
that is, they are wisped all over, an
have their legs again well "hand rul
bed" after which they are bedde
down and left in peace and quietnes
until the following morning.