Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-14

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at the back, high at the withers, big
shoulders and stride like rabbit.
"Yaa, he was great horse. Great!
Only he took a dislike to colors. I
never could mount him in my silks. He
objected with kicks and snorts. Soon
we learned how he could be mounted.
I would have to come out in long
black overcoat. After 7 was in saddle
could remove it and he wouldn't know
the difference. OF course, he couldn't
see out of the corners of his eyes, be-
cause he wore blinkers.'
Another jockey remembers His Maj
esty.
From fetlock to forehead, true son
Of his sire;
Fit to race for a crown"
His Majesty made a great success
and Bobo were among his graceful
daughters. His family tree was
freighted with bays. cheStnuts, roans
and browns. He had blood in common
with Man O. War, the greatest horse of
his generation. AS far back as the
sixteenth century his pedigree is known.
A few jockeys have studied the
Stud Book and can recall offhand the
breeding records of famous racers.
They memorize the ancestry of Zev,
Papyrus, Man o. War, Epinard and
other wonder horses.
X X r X
liver hear of moonlight races? Never
a crowd watches them. They were
originated by astute owners back in
virgin days of the sport. In a moon
light race a horse is given a fling at
the open track when there are no spy
ing eyes to report his performance.
1t may happen that when a jockey
Is unaccustomed to a certain horse and
wants to judge his ability he and the
trainer plan moonlight ride, the beast
IS un!eashed and his speed around the
oval IS timed.
So at some dull hour Of the night at
PENDANTS and trainers are likely to hear
the thud Of beating hoofs as the stanch
racer clips down the quarter stretch.
They will come out of their beds, and
II illumination permits will make no
bones about timing the runner and
observing his action. Sometimes q
moonlight race serves no purpose other
than to scare of dangerous contenders,
and frequently the result is disastrous
for the plotters, as competing trainers
may have staged counterpart and
from some ambush timed the race from
start to finish.
Jockeys have their own inexplicable
ideas on what proportions make a good
race horse. Some believe that an ami
NAL all out of proportion Is as good as
those with the lines of bolt Of light
ming. Generally. they agree that the
most successful racers average from is
to Is hands, which is from so 70 ga
inches. The head should be light and
Lean, ears pricked but not too short
eyes full, forehead broad and fiat. nos
trils large and dilating, muzzle fine.
neck OF moderate length, muscular and
yet light
,Withers may be moderately high
chest well developed, shoulders covered
with muscle, knees broad and long,
Jetlock joints large, poSterns strong
and OF moderate length, heels open and
frogs sound, long hips and wide back.
plenty of bone.
What favorite trick Is EMPLOYED in
race? Here, too, there is
vast difference of opinion. A jockey
may tell you one method, but under
stress OF circumstances make use Of
announcer: It Is common practice for a
Jockey 70 ask his trainer or employer
I ride?" ''
j., The answer may be Eat the tail of
:he first horse all the way down the
1rst quarter stretch. After that ooze
I'D a little until you're even with his
neck. Around the third quarter give
him your dust. Don't give her the
whip unless you have to. Don't try
70 ride him out at first. You must
win. Make the finish by a strength
If one or two lengths"
Conditions may arise during. the race
hat will prevent the jockey from car
'ying out his orders. The field may be
90 muddy for skillful and rapid per-
Torrance or his horse may trip sud-
denly. Some opponent may violate
he rules and block the course, thereby
earning suspension at the hands of the
'acing stewards.