The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-19

The Hero in the racing stables. There the
champion Is treated with the familiarity
t tPete oeco ooid T Pta !rie or sn Sn Other n Is app S =
ton that may seem TO ft the equine star.
Not only are the peculiarities of stable life
interesting, traditions of training are hand
ed down through hundreds OF years OF turf
history. Nobody knows their origin n
nobody about the barns cares anything
about Ii, for that matter. And yet these
traditions are followed as religiously as
though success alone depended upon their
observance. II you have ever stood near
in the paddock and watched groom engaged
In scraping and sponging a racer prepare
have wondered somewhat at the
queer whistling noise which they
make while at work. Nobody on earth
that it is one of the inaIienable rights of
stable grooms and they would as soon
think of sitting about the camp fire at
night without INDUCING in a song as In
dressing down a horse without that
whistling accompaniment
USE QUAINT TERMS.
1t is hard for the uniformed visitor at
the racing stables to understand much Of
the talk of the employees. as they use many
quaint terms and expressions that can be
heard nowhere else In the world outside
of the barn or paddock. And then, too. it
Is not easy for the uninitiated to become
" Otllf VI tlC LOoch AaNoc
which cling to the turf. For instance, as
one of the trainers explained yesterday to
a party of men and women who were WIS.,
iting the stables, so many people seem un-
able to get 1t through their heads that in
racing law a thoroughbred yearling dates
his period of usefulness from the first day
In January. 1t matters not In the least
when he was born. he is legally a year old
on the first day of January succeeding his
birth. If a youngster comes into the world in
the latter part of December-which seldom
happens on account of the regularity OBJ
served in the breeding season-he is duly
registered as a yearling on the first or the
Following month. The usual foaling sea-
son., however, is from the middle of Janu-
airy TO the first of April, and so most OF
the colts or fllies are at least several
months old when they are registered as
yearlings.
1.-THE baby racers are left in the care Of
their dams. as a rule. until the beginning
OF autumn" said one of the trainers in dis
cussing the customs of the stables. Then
they are weaned and turned out into pad
docks. the colts and fllies having separate
Enclosures. This is the playing time OF the
race horses, rather brief, IL Is true, but
filled with the fun and frolc of ~chcildhood.
In the following spring they are made
'brfdlewise'-that is, accustomed to wear
ing the bride or harness. They are then
taken to market and sold at auction to
owners of racing stables unless their own
ers decide to keep them for themselves,
and the serious business of life begins for
them at once"
LITTLE WORLD OF THEIR OWN
The men and boys about the stables live
in a little world Of their own and their
hearts seem conferred entirely in the sue
cess Of the horses whose care is in their
keeping. Their bosses" do everything to
discourage betting among them. but 1t
would be a herculean task indeed to put a
stop altogether to their small speculations
concerning the results of the races from
day to day. They make wagers among
themselves when II is hardly possible, as II
is during the present state fair, to get on"
with the bookmakers. but the gambling
feature does not dominate the sport with
them. They love the HOSES that they
have known so intimately from the time
the handsome animals were awkward little
fellows with ungovernable legs. and it is
because of the sentimental feelings that
control them that they give vent to express
ing almost barbaric joy when Pill" or
Pete" or old Top" as they insist upon
calling them, forge to the front with flash
ing eye and d~ilating nostril as the home
stretch is reached and the end of the light
ming journey-the judges stands-looms
into view.