Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-11-01

C,ite the simplest thing in the world.
I'm much less time than it takes to
write an account of it the struggle
Is over. The horses are seen like a
cloud on the horizon; as they reach
the distance the different colors can
be seen distinctly with the naked eye.
and their jockeys sit down to ride in
grim earnest; in a few seconds the
horses flash like lightning past the
post; and "so-and-so just gets up to
win by head" But of what has
happened when the horses were out
of sight on the far side of the course,
and what have been the experiences
and feelings of the various Jockeys in
the race, the men on the stand know
nothing.
1T isn't easy to actually describe
what it feels like to ride in a race by
one race alone" said famous jockey
who has carried off most of the big
gest plums in the racing world, to the
writer, for the happenings in each
race are almost invariably different.
You see, these times races are run
from one end to end and we do not
wait to come with one run at the
finish, as was the fashion a few years
ago. So today the jockey who potters
about and expects the leaders to come
back to him at the finish will only
know what it feels like to gallop past
the post when the rest of the field
are weighing in.
However, in spite of the fact that
races are run so fast-as a rule, we
take about 1 minute 81 seconds to run
mile-which works out at an aver
age of approximately about 80 miles
an hour-it is surprising how clearly
one can distinguish not only the sea
of faces gathered on the rails, but al
most every incident in a race.
Moreover, in spite of the fact that
in five-furlongs races and sprints of
all sorts, when we flash past the post
the horses are travelling at forty
horse power speed. have neverthe-
less frequently seen one face stand
out quite clearly from the blur of
faces lining the course, and at the
same time have known exactly what
the jockeys riding to right and left
of me are doing, and also whether
their mounts are all out or not.
These times, when we come
straight through every little differ
ence in the atmospheric conditions
can be felt, but only those who have
had long experience of race riding
would believe how strong a part wind
plays in the course of race. Thus,
riding in a race with the wind at
ones back is totally different thing
from riding when there is sort Of
miniature gale blowing dead in ones
face, and when, indeed, the wind
literally seems to hit one resound-
ing smack. In fact, l can only
liken riding in the face of keen
breeze to a trip of a motorcar going
at high speed against the wind.
IF you were to ask me why | did
such-and-such a thing which you may
have noticed in any particular race I
really do not think l could explain;
but perhaps the most accurate an
swer would be to say that L felt
ought to do it. For instance, some
times-how or why don't know-a
1ockey feels that another horseman
a the race is kidding to him, to use
i slang racing expression. That is
- say. he is pretending to be beaten,
When in reality his horse is going
0krong and well. What makes one
link this it is impossible to explain,
and as have said, it must come un-
der the head of one of those things
one feels more than sees.
Indeed, there are a thousand and
49, wrinkles to be picked up even
6hen horses are travelling SO fast that
+ man, inexperienced in the art of
race riding would think that the
need one was going at would eff
actually prevent one from giving a
thought to what others were doing.
Thus many a time have | heard a
horse sigh wher something else in
the race seemed to be going much
Stronger, and, in fact, to be winning
easily. That is the time to stop rid
ing him for to or three strides TO
allow him to get his breath; then you
can pull him together, and send him
along once more, and maybe he will
Just gather fresh strength for one
last expiring effort when that other
horse which you last noticed going
like a steam engine suddenly begins
to crack up. Yes. that's another OF
the things one feels in a race. al
though those on the stand rarely, If
ever, spot little tactics of this kind.
1T is strange, too. when riding
bad tempered horse, who viii not run
his race out, how one feels the very
moent he is going to throw up the
sponge before he actually does SO. OF