LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 
 
 "UNITED ST/TE8 OF AMERICA. 
 
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 littp://www.archive.org/details/dictionaryorglosOOcric 
 
DICTIONARY 
 
 OR 
 
 GLOSSIR! OF R 
 
 iJ 
 
 TERMS AND SLANG. 
 
 Also, a brief description of the Diseases- 
 and Blemishes to ^A^hieh Race- 
 horses are most liable, by 
 
 S 
 
 s • 
 
 '^v- 
 
 J. S. Cattanach, V. S. 
 
 REPRINTED FROM 
 
 "KRIK'S GUIDE TO THE TURF, 
 
 /■ 
 
 L^o3.S~ 
 
 H 
 
 Compiled and Published by 
 
 G. '^CRICKMORE, 
 
 With "The World," 35 Park Row, 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 ' b c J 
 
 I^ 
 
.^'\ 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, by 
 H. O. CRICKMORE, 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 
 
 N Ew York : 
 PRESS OF ROGERS & SHERWOOD, 
 
 21 AND 23 Barclay St. 
 
Dictionary or Glossary, 
 
 RACING TERMS AND SLAKG. 
 
 [COMPILED EXPBESSLT FOR " ERIK'S GUIDE TO THE TURF."] 
 
 "Added to tlie List. "—A euphuism used by sportmg 
 writers implying tJiat a horse has been gelded. The expression 
 is a contraction of " added to the list of geldings." 
 
 Aged. — An "aged" horse is one over six years old, though 
 for practical purposes horses "six and aged" are usually 
 classed together. Age is almost invariably reckoned from the 
 1st of January in the year in which the horse is foaled, although 
 some clubs, notably the Savannah and South Carolina Jockey 
 Clubs, yet date from the 1st of May. , 
 
 Allovi'ances. — Certain reductions in weight below the 
 fixed standard, as "maiden allowances" to non- winners, "sell- 
 ing allowances " to horses entered for selling races to be sold at 
 prices less than the maximum named in the conditions 'al- 
 lowances for sex" to mares and geldings, etc There may be 
 special allowances, as for horses not maidens, but not winners 
 of important or valuable races, or for hor es bred in a certain 
 district, or of inferior breeding, or for gentlemen riders in races 
 open also to jockeys. There are naturally no allowances in a 
 handicap. 
 
 *' All to p'eces."— Utterly, excessively, "he beat him all 
 to pieces " — surpassed him exceedingly. " Gone all to pieces " 
 is much in use as expressing want of form, or decadence. 
 
 Bark. — To support by money a favorable opinion of a 
 horse's chances for a race or place. 
 
 Back-Knd. — That portion of the year's racing which takes 
 place during October and November. 
 
 Backer — The supporter by money of the chances of any 
 horse as distinguished from the bookmaker who lays against 
 them. 
 
 Balk.— A balky horse is one that through stubbornness re- 
 fuses to go. In hurdle-racing or steeplechasing "balk" is 
 used synonymously with "refuse," though properly a horse is 
 " balked" at a leap by outside interference only. 
 
Dictionary or Glossary. 
 
 " Bar."— "Except "—thus, in tlie betting-ring the offer " 2 
 to 1 bar one " indicates willingness to lay 2 to 1 against any 
 Ijorse in the field except one. 
 
 Barney.— An unfair race of any kind ; a " sell " or " cross." 
 
 Beat. — "Dead beat;" wholly worn out ; "done up." 
 
 Best.— To get the better of a man in any way — not neces- 
 sarily to cheat. "Bested."— Taljen in or defrauded, in reality 
 worsted. (A low betting cheat or a fraudulent bookmakeir is 
 sometimes called a bester.) 
 
 Betting Round.— Laying fairly and equally against 
 nearly all the horses in a race so that no great risk can be run. 
 
 Biennial.— A race run in two successive years, the horses 
 being entered to compete (usually at two and three years) at 
 the same place, but over courses of different lengths. 
 
 Bolt.— A horse "bolts " when he swerves out of the regular 
 course or turns away from a leap through temper or fatigue. 
 
 Book. — An arrangement of bets against the horses in any 
 race. The principle of making a book or " betting round," is to 
 lay a previously determined sum against every horse in the 
 race, or as many horses as possible; and should the bookmaker 
 " get round" — i. e , succeed in laying against as many horses 
 as will more than balance the odds laid — he is certain to be a 
 winner. The bookmaker is distinguished from the backer by 
 its being his particular business to bet against horses, or to lay. 
 While the backer stands by the chance of a horse, or the 
 chances of a set of horses about which he supposes himself to 
 be possessed of special information . A bookmaker rarely backs 
 horses for his own particular fancy. He m' y put a trifle on an 
 animal about which he has been told something, but as a rule 
 if a bookmaker takes a special fancy to a certain horse, he lets 
 him "run for the book " — i. e., does not lay against him. When 
 a bookmaker backs a horse in the course of his regular busi- 
 ness, it is because he has laid too much against him and finds 
 it convenient to share the risk with other bookmakers. 
 
 Bore.— To swerve in upon a competing horse so as, by hin- 
 dering his jockey from using his whip, or threatening to crowd 
 him against the rails, to impede him . 
 
 Bottom.— Stamina— able to endure a great strain. When a 
 horse is spoken of as having " plenty of bottom," it means that 
 he can run long and repeating races without being distressed, 
 although he may lack great speed, and fail over short courses. 
 Break A-way.- A horse breaks away when in a false start 
 he gets beyond the control of rider and starter. He is also said 
 to break away when he instantly assumes a commanding 
 lead at a great pace, whether intentionally or against his rider's 
 Will. 
 
 Breezing. — A figurative expression for giving a horse fast 
 work without actually extending him as in a race. Some say 
 that " breezing " is a mispronunciation of breathing. A breath- 
 ing pace is mentioned by Darvill. 
 
 Bullfincli.— A large thick hedge, difficult alike to jump o^' 
 burst through. They are very rare in the United States. 
 
Bacing Terms and Slang. 
 
 Bttttgle.— To take a leap clumsily. 
 
 Burster. — To get a faU so severe as to lose all chances in 
 
 tlie race. 
 
 Carom. — "Cannon." A horse caroms on another when 
 during a race he jostles against him with such force as to knock 
 him out of his stride and interfere with his chance of winning. 
 When such an accident happens, the rider ol the horse to blame 
 is sometimes charged with " foul riding," but as often as not no 
 charges are made, especially by jockeys that are at all intimate 
 with each other, unless the accident caused the loss of the race 
 and the winner benefited by it. 
 
 Cast Off.— "Cast out"— ahorse of supposed inferior quality 
 sold from a large stud or stable . 
 
 Catcli-Iiet.— A bet made for the purpose of entrapping the 
 unwary. 
 
 Catcli-Weiglit,— A weight left to the option of the owner 
 of a horse, who naturally puts up the lightest weight possible. 
 
 Century. — A hundred dollar bill. 
 
 Challenge.— To dispute the lead with determination at a 
 critical stage of a race. It is not a challenge when the leader 
 resigns without an effort, or when the second horse goes up to 
 the leader to " feel" him and then drops back to second place 
 satisfied of his superiority. 
 
 Cleric of the Course.— The official who weighs the 
 jockeys before and after the race, looks after the hoisting of the 
 numbers of the starters, sees that the numbers of the first, 
 second, and third horses are displayed Immediately after its 
 conclusion, records the time of the race, collects the entrance 
 money, and in fact does all the hard work requisite for a suc- 
 cessful race meeting. 
 
 Clsjver. — ^In happiness, luck, a delightful position. Among 
 betting men, he who arranged his wagers so satisfactorily be- 
 fore an event that he cannot possibly lose and may win a good 
 deal, is said to be 'in clover;" a phrase which is sometimes 
 varied by the phrase " he stands on velvet." 
 
 Cosla".— To challenge successfully a leading horse — i. e., to 
 get on even terms with him. 
 
 Colors.— The jacket and cap of a jockey are known as his 
 owner's colors. The rule says : " All riders must be dressed in 
 jockey costume— cap and jacket of silk or satin, breeches of 
 white cords, flannel or buckskin, and top-boots." 
 
 Co it. —A male horse is called a colt until he has passed 
 through his fourth year. Some writers, however, call a four- 
 year-old a "horse." 
 
 Combinations. — Bets involving the results of two or 
 more races. 
 
 Come- —To make a decided effort, displaying marked speed. 
 "To come again " is to renew the effort after an apparent fail- 
 ure. To come through— to work a passage through the field in 
 order to challenge the leaders, or to rapidly pass inferior animals 
 
Dictionary or Glossary. 
 
 hitherto running in front, though in the latter case to "run 
 through his horses " is in better taste. " To come too soon " 
 or " To come too late " indicates lack of judgment by the rider. 
 If " too soon " the chance of winning was lost by the horse 
 tiring before reaching the winning post. If "too late" there 
 was not sufficient distance to be run in which to develop the 
 superior strength or speed of the horse as against some other 
 horse or horses in the race that were ridden with better judg- 
 ment. It is certainly a fine point, and requires that a jockey 
 shall not only be a keen judge of pace, but that he shall know 
 not only what his own, but what every horse in the same 
 race can do. 
 
 Compound. — To give way when challenged; to collapse; 
 to fail. 
 
 Confederacy. — Several gentlemen associated in the owner- 
 ship of a stable are sometimes called a " confederacy," as in 
 the case of the McDaniel confederacy. 
 
 Consolation (or Beatenl Race.— A race arranged for 
 non-winners at a meeting, usually the last upon the pro- 
 gramme, and run at handicap weights, or with liberal allow- 
 ances for repeated defeats. 
 
 Covent»-y. — " To send a man to Coventry" — not to speak 
 or to notice him. By no means confined to racing, but familiar 
 in all literature. 
 
 Craclc.— " Cracks." A favorite horse, or the supposed cham- 
 pion of a stable, or a horse of high quality. " To crack " in a 
 race is for a horse to give way and fall behind when challenged. 
 
 Cropper.— A heavy fall. "To come a cropper " is to fall 
 badly. 
 
 Cros«.— A deception. A cross is an arrangement made be- 
 tween two men that the horse of one shall wjn or lose without 
 reference to merits. The term "' to cross " is also used when 
 one horse crosses in front of another in a race without having 
 gained the sufficient lead prescribed in the rules, socompilling 
 the horse crossed to shorten its stride. [See Eule 50 A. J. C. 
 English Racing Rule, No. 33, requires " two clear lengths." 
 
 'Cross-Country.— Steeplechases are often si^oken of as 
 'cross-country events. 
 
 (^up Hors«». — A horse of sufficient speed and stoutness to 
 compete for cups or important prizes run at weight for age 
 over long courses. There are handicap " cups " but, properly, 
 winning a cup implies championship obtained on merit, not 
 through accommodation of weights, so as to favor the chances 
 of inferior animals. Nearly all the " cup " races in t'le United 
 States are weight-for-age events, % e., without penalties, or 
 allowances, or both, such as the Louisville Cup, or Westchester 
 Cup. In England it is nearly the reverse; tor instance, starters 
 for the Goodwood, Brighton, and Doncaster Cups have, if win- 
 ners of great races, to carry penalties, while non-winners take 
 the benefit of certain allowances, the mos" important weight- 
 for-age Cup being the Gold Cup, at Ascot. 
 
Racing Terms and Slang. 
 
 Cwt Dn^wn.— To strike into thele^sof a competing horse 
 so as to injure him. Also to take the lead decisively from an 
 inferior animal that has previously been indulged with it. 
 
 Cut Lioose or " Come away From." — To leave be- 
 hind a defeated horse, or a field of inferior horses. 
 
 Daisy Cutter. — A horse that trots or gaUops without lift- 
 ing its feet much from the ground. 
 
 Dark.— A " dark horse " is ahorse of whom nothing positive 
 is known, but who is generally supposed to have claims to the 
 consideration cf all interested, whether bookmakers or backers. 
 
 Dasli.— A race decided at the first essay, and not run in 
 
 heats. 
 
 Dead Amiss. — A horse is said to be " dead amiss " that 
 from illness is utterly unable to run. 
 
 Dead Beat. — Utterly exhausted. 
 
 Dead Heat. — ^When two horses reach the winning post so 
 exactly equal that the judge cannot place one before another, 
 it is called a dead heat, because it is a heat which counts for 
 nothing so far as the even runners are concerned, as it has to 
 be run over again. When a race between the dead heaters has 
 been unusually severe, or when the stake is a large one, the 
 owners sometimes agree to divide the money. In such cases 
 all bets and pools are divided in the same proportion as the 
 stakes are divided. When the dead heat is run off, the second 
 essay is called the deciding heat, though on some occasions 
 even the decider has resulted in a dead heat. 
 
 Dead 'T^n — A horse which will not run, or is not meant, 
 or has no chance for the race, and against which money may be 
 betted with safety. 
 
 Declared Off. — When bets are declared void by the judges 
 by reason of iraudulent practices, or otherwise, they are said 
 to have been " declared off." 
 
 Declare Out O*". — To withdraw from a race at an early 
 date, thus securing the advantage of immunity from forfeit, or 
 a minimum forfeit. 
 
 Declare *o Win. — To publicly announce the intention of 
 winning with a particular horse of several engaged in the same 
 race. Through preference for the horse, or to avoid incurring 
 a penalty for its stable compair on, or because it suits his book, 
 an owner may elect to win with an inferior animal. Where the 
 bettin'yr is on or against the entries of any owner and not on or 
 against th^ individual horses a declaration is not necessary, and 
 even in England it is commonly regarded as an annoying- super- 
 fluity, for (as in the Duke of Hamilton's case at G-oodwood in 
 1878) a much inferior and unnoticed horse may just before the 
 start be " declared " and his better and freely backed stable 
 companion be pulled up to let him in, or an unscrupulous 
 owner, to deceive the simple, may declare to win with one 
 horse while " meaning " another. 
 
Dictionary or Glossary. 
 
 Distance.— In heat races a point wMch defeated horses 
 must have passed at the moment the winner of the heat reaches 
 the winning post in order to qualify themselves for starting in 
 the succeeding heat. The object is to compel all the horses to 
 do their best. Were it not for such a rule some one or more of 
 the contestants would "lay up the heat" and then in the 
 second heat be comparatively fresh and better able to beat the 
 horse who had run its best in the first heat. Even as it is, it is 
 not uncommon for a horse to be kept so well in han 1 that '* it 
 just saves its distance " and is thus in a better condition to run 
 in the second or subsequent heats, although it is not customary 
 to distance a horse in a deciding heat, after two heats shall 
 have been run, in a race best two heats in three or best three 
 heats in five. The distance in races of mile heats is usually 40 
 yards; for two-mile heats, 50 yards; for three-mile heats, 60 
 yards, and four-mile heats, 80 yards. Some clubs, however, 
 make the distance some ten or more yards longer. In England 
 a distance is 240 yards, but the term, owing to the fact that 
 heat races are no longer run, is nearly obsolete. In France, 
 where the rules still recognize them, although they are rarely 
 run, a distance is 100 metres (108 H yds-), whatever aaay be the 
 length of the race. 
 
 Distance Judges. — In races of heats one or more judges 
 occupy a stand at the distance post. When the first horse 
 reaches the winning post one of the judges there drops a flag, 
 which action is immediately followed by the distance judge, 
 who notes what horses have not reached that point. If any 
 have so failed they are reported as " distaiced " and cannot 
 again start in the race. It is sometimes said that such and such 
 a horse was " shut out," or was " outside the flag,," or "caught 
 the flag," or "failed to save its distance," or " had the flag fall 
 in its face," all of which mean that it was distanced. 
 
 Distance, Out of His.— A horse lying out of his distance 
 during the running of a race is one that — commonly through 
 his rider's fault — is so far behind that he cannot hope to close 
 the gap at the finish. 
 
 Dollars to Centx. — Long odds in favor of or against any- 
 thing under notice. " A guinea to a goose," or " All Lombard 
 street to a China orange," are often used in England to express 
 the same meaning. 
 
 Double Cross.— A cross in which a man who has engaged 
 to lose breaks his engagement and " go;s straight " at the last 
 moment. This proceeding is called " doubling " or " putting " 
 the double on. [See Cross.] 
 
 Double Event.— To bet on a double event is to ■vy.ager 
 about two different races which must both be won by the horse 
 (or horses) indicated for the wagerer to win his stake. Under 
 betting rules, both in the United States and England all such 
 bets are " play or pay." "But if the first event terminates in a 
 dead heat, and the stakes or purse are equally divided, or if a 
 match be off on equal terms, the bet is off, and the contract is 
 at an end, without reference to the future events, which were 
 contingent." — Admiral Rous on the Laws and Practice of Horse- 
 Racing. 
 
Macing Terms and 
 
 Draft.— A lot of— usually — inferior animals selected from a 
 stud or stable for sale. 
 
 Dra-wn. — In training parlance a horse is said to have been 
 " drawn" that has emptied itself after feeding the night before 
 the race. But a limited amount of food being allowed on the 
 morning of a race. 
 
 Drop. — To "drop " mocey on a race is to lose on it. 
 
 DalTer. — A term applied both to men and horses that are 
 not at all reliable. 
 
 Eat His Head Off. — A horse that is kept idle in the 
 stable is said to " eat his head off." 
 
 Knd to End.— A race run from end to end is one resol- 
 utely contested from start to finish— to /orce the running from 
 start to finish. 
 
 Engagements. — A horse entered for a number of stake 
 races is said to be well " engaged." When a horse is sold " with 
 his engagements " the buyer takes the responsibility of keep- 
 ing them, or paying the forfeits incurred. "When a good horse 
 is well engaged his value is materially increased, the supposi- 
 tion being that he can win some of his " engagements," as in 
 the case of the three-year-old Ferncliffe, sold for $4,800. 
 
 Entrance Money.— The amount paid by owners of horses 
 to run in purse races, which at Jerome Park and elsewhere in 
 the East is 5 per cent, of the value of the purse, the total 
 amount of which goes to the owner of the se ond horse. 
 
 False Start.— An attempt to begin a race considered by 
 the starter unfair to some of the horses. 
 
 Favorite. — The horse that has the lowest odds laid against 
 it in the betting-list or that sells for the highest choice in the 
 pools. When the favorite wins, the public or backers of horses 
 are generally the gainers. When an outsider wins, the book- 
 makers are the gainers. 
 
 Feather^weiglit.- The lightest fixed weight known in the 
 regular schedule of weights is 75 pounds. In old handicaps 
 and some modern matches the note "a feather," will be found 
 against a horse meaning that he was thought so inferior that 
 the owner might place on him the lightest jockey he could find, 
 like Ked Deer's 56-pound jockey at Chester in 1844. A race 
 where all could carry "feathers" would be a race at " catch- 
 weights." 
 
 Field.— The whole of the starters in a race. In betting, the 
 mass of the horses as opposed to the favorites. " The field for 
 a pony " means that the offerer will lay $25 against the favor- 
 ite, preferring the chances of a winner turning up among the 
 others. " Ten to one on the field " means that the price named 
 can be obtained about any horse in the race, that being the low- 
 est figure on the favorite's price. Laying against favorites is 
 caUed " fielding," and bookmakers are often known as fielders. 
 In the United States the ground enclosed by the track is called 
 the field. 
 
 Filly.— A horse of the female sex is known as a filly until 
 
8 Bioiionary or Glossary. 
 
 she has passed through, her fourth year, though some writers 
 use mare for a female four year-old. 
 
 Finisli.— The conclusion of a race — in reality that part 
 where two or more horses make their final struggle for victory 
 
 First or Second. — The winner of a race and the horse de- 
 clared to be immediately behind the winner. Much of the 
 " place betting " in the United States is that a horse will be 
 first or second. 
 
 Fixed. — A horse is said to have been fixed when he has by 
 any means been put in such a condition that he cannot win — 
 being poisoned, or lamed, or given a pail of water before 
 running. 
 
 Fluke. — A race is said to have been " won by a fluke " when 
 the result is purely accidental. 
 
 FolloAving. — Wagering upon the representatives of a fan- 
 cied stable or the mounts of a favorite jockey without partic- 
 ular regard to the betting market. 
 
 Forestalled.— An owner whose horse has been backed 
 by the public before the owner has bet his money is said to be 
 " forestalled." 
 
 Forfeit. — A portion of a horse's entrance stake in a match 
 or race, by paying which, possibly under certain conditions as 
 to time, his owner, not desiring to start him, is released from 
 responsibility for the larger sum. The iorfeit is generally 
 about one half of the stake. In great handicaps it is customary 
 to have two forfeits, a small one tor horses "declared out " soon 
 after the publication of the weights, and a larger one for horses 
 left in but not brought to the post. A race where no forfeit is 
 provided for is called a play or pay race — abbreviated p. p. 
 
 Form. — " In good form" or "in bad form" refers tea 
 horse's condition of health and fitness for a race or series of 
 races in which he may be about to take part. 
 
 Foul Riding.— Riding contrary to the rules of fair play, 
 such as refusing to let a competitor pass, boring him against the 
 rails, crossing him without having gained a sufficient lead, etc. 
 Some jockeys are great adepts at this work and are invaluable 
 to a confederacy as a means not so much of attaining vic- 
 tory themselves as of preventing its attainment by others. 
 When pioof is given that such riding was accidental, it is 
 not allowable to punish the jockey, unless manifestly care- 
 less, though if the race was won by such means it is obli- 
 gatory to disqualify the horse and declare the second 
 the winner. But if the foul was intentional, judges usually 
 suspend or rule the jockey off the course for a certain 
 period. "Pulling a horse " so as to prevent his winning is also 
 called foul riding, and is an offence punishable on investigation 
 and proof by expulsion of the guilty persons from the track for 
 life (or until the association on whose track the foul took place 
 sees fit to reinstate them); and which punishment is invariably 
 sustained by all other regularly organized associations. 
 
 Free Handicap.- A free handicap is a handicap race in 
 which an owner may enter his horses Avithout being bound to 
 
Macing lerms and Slang. 
 
 pay any forfeit if lie dpes not like the weight assigned by the 
 handicapper. If he accepts, or does not declare out he then 
 pays the amount of the fixed entrance or the usual percentage 
 upon the purse, there being no other expense attached. 
 
 Fall Against — The term originated with the book- 
 makers, who, when they have laid all the money they wish to 
 against a certain horse, put a mark against his name and 
 reply to all inquiries, " Full against " him. 
 
 Gate Race.— A race where the horses simply contend for 
 a share of the money taken at the gate. 
 
 Gelding— A horse of any age that has been castrated. 
 
 Gentleman Rider — fAs opposed to "jockey ") A rider 
 who gives his services without pecuniary reward, riding for 
 spoit andnotforpay, ^ 
 
 " Go for the Gloves."-To lay against a horse on the 
 chances ofits losing without having the wherewithal to pay if 
 It wins. Probably from the custom of ladies who bet gloves 
 and expect " to stand them to nothing "—i. e., to be paid if thev 
 win, and not pay if they lose. ^ 
 
 Gone Off.— Mares and fillies are said to have " gone off " 
 when certain sexual conditions prevent them from running 
 up to the form they otherwise could. 
 
 Got At.— See "fixed." 
 
 Hack.-I^'operly a horse full-blooded or half-bred that is 
 kept and used tor a gentleman's riding horse, and not speciaUy 
 intended and prepared for racing. ^ 
 
 Half- Bred — No term in use on the turf has, prob- 
 ably, such an elastic construction as half-bred The prog- 
 eny of a thoroughbred sire out of a common mare or 
 by a cold-blooded stallion out of a thoroughbred mare 
 are strictly speaking, half-bred. But the term is also 
 applied to the progeny of horses having the slightest 
 blemish m the pedigrees of their ancestors, under which 
 ruling two-thirds of American so-caUed thoroughbreds should 
 have the contemptuous "(h. b )" attached to their names. (See 
 S. D. Bruce s ruling in the "American Stud Book," under head- 
 ing "thoroughbred.") Stonehenge says: "The halt-bred 
 steeplechaser (so-called) is sometimes, to all intents and pur- 
 poses, thoroughbred; that is, as far as regards the work he will 
 do, and the general treatment he requires. Many horses and 
 mares which are not in the Stud Book, from some slight defect 
 m their pedigrees extending back several generations, are really 
 capable of doing as much as a thoroughbred Thus for in- 
 stance, supposing a mare, seven-eighths bred, in the year 1835 
 were put to a thoroughbred horse, and her daughter grand- 
 daughter, and great grand dauf?hter were successively bred from 
 thoroughbred horses as has often happened, the resulting pro- 
 duce would be still half-bred, in the language of the turf, al- 
 1 w.°"i^oo 1^ J^^*y te would only be stained in the proportion of 
 1 to 128. It IS said that these half-breds are inferior, because no 
 animal so bred has ever won a great race oyer the flat; but it 
 must be remembered that these mares are very seldom put to 
 
ID Dictionary or Glossary. 
 
 first-class stallions in succession, although now and then one 
 may be indulged with an expensive leap. Now if thoroughbred 
 mares are treated in the same way, they will very seldom breed 
 a firet-class racehorse, and consequently the argument is at 
 once upset from a want of parallel data in the two cases." The 
 nearest recorded success on the flat of such a halt-bred was the 
 running of Mr. Godwin's Hotspur, by Sir Hercules out of Dex- 
 terous' dam (h. b ), second to the Flying Dutchman for the 
 Derby, in 184=9; while in steeplechases both The Lamb and The 
 Colonel were winners of the Liverpool Grand National in 1868, 
 1869, 1870, and 1871, their dams both being half-bred. In France 
 the rule on the subject is just as explicit, but as the breeding of 
 half-breds is encouraged, it is protective in character. The 
 rules of the Steeplechase Society, and of the Society for the En- 
 couragement of the Half Blooded-Horse, say: "In order that a 
 horse may be quahfied as half-blood, he must not only not be 
 of pure blood, but must even prove that one of his sires, male 
 or female, was really half-blood." 
 
 Handicapper.— An official whose duties are to assign the 
 weights for all horses entered in handicaps. It is customary in 
 the United States to keep the name of the handicapper cr the 
 names of the handicapping committee a secret. Thus at Sara- 
 atoga the handicapper is said to be " a man from Ballston," a 
 term used by the late John Morrissey, when asked who made 
 the handicaps at Saratoga. In England the reverse is the rule, 
 the name of the handicapper being advertised in the Racing 
 Calendar with other officials. 
 
 Handicap ^Kace. — A race in which the weights are 
 arranged according to the merits and performances of the 
 horses entered, instead of accordiDg to their ages, the object 
 'being to give all the animals an equal chance. It might be 
 added, that authorities vary as to the effect of weight. There 
 is an English tradition that Admiral Eous considered 7 lbs. 
 equal to a distance— certainly not 240 yards. Not even when 
 168 lbs. was carried in races of four-mile heats would an addition 
 of 7 lbs. make that difference. In England it is customary to 
 limit handicaps by prescribing top and bottom weights— the 
 top weight not being less than 124 lbs., and if the highest 
 weight accepting be less than 124 lbs., it is raised to that 
 weight, all others accepting being increased in proportion. 
 The term " handicap," " hand i' the cap," comes from an old 
 game, "challenging each other's effects," at one time much in 
 vogue in Ireland, but now nearly obsolete, an illustration of 
 which will be found in the fourth chapter of Levers " Charles 
 O'Malley." 
 
 Hand.— A hand is four inches, so that a horse standing 16 
 hands is 5 feet 4 inches high. 
 
 Hands Do-wn.— To win "hands down " is to win without 
 any assistance from rider or jockey. 
 
 Hang.— See "bore." 
 
 Heat Race.— A race (as opposed to "dash ") where the 
 prize is not awarded till the winner has conclusively established 
 his superiority by defeating the other competitors twice in 
 
Bacing Terms and Slang. ll 
 
 races best two out of three, or thrice in races best three in five, 
 or by distancing them, an interval of prescribed duration being 
 allowed between the several "heats." Should the winner in 
 any heat distance all the competitors the race is at an end. 
 Some years ago it was the custom to " rule out " of the race at 
 the conclusion of the third or fifth heat (according as the race 
 was best two heats in three, or best three heats in five) all 
 horses that had not won or made a dead heat for a heat, but of 
 late years the custom has been to "rule out" or " send to the 
 stable " non-winners at the end of the second or third heats, as 
 the case may be. A heat race where the winner of the first 
 heat is unable to start for the second heat, or is distanced for 
 that heat, goes to the winner of the second heat. The interval 
 betweenthe heats is generally twenty minutes in mile heats, 
 twenty-five in two-mile heats, thirty-five in three-mile heats 
 and forty in four-mile heats. It is not considered irregular for 
 a rider, having won one heat and being doubtful of his ability 
 to win the second, to "lay up " for the deciding struggle, saving 
 his distance and keeping his horse as fresh as possible to meet 
 the more recently exhausted rival. No owner is allowed to 
 start more than one horse for a heat race. 
 
 Hedge. — To secure one's self from loss over one bet by 
 making others ; to minimize the chances of loss where odds 
 have been laid against a horse that proves more formidable than 
 he was first thought to be. In other words, many persons con- 
 sider that a bet is not good until it is safely hedged. 
 
 Homestretcli.— That part of a course lying between the 
 end of the last curve and the winning post. 
 
 Hippodrome. — A race the result of which has been pre- 
 viously arranged. When horses are traveling from place to 
 place and running against each other accordin? to such ar- 
 rangement, it is said that their managers are " hippodroming." 
 
 Hull Dovt^n. — ^Left so far behind as to be without a chance 
 of winning. 
 
 Hurdle.— An artificial fence or barrier to be leapt over 
 in a hurdle-race or steeplechase. In hurdle-races there are 
 usually four hurdles in each mile, the height being from three 
 and a half to four feet. 
 
 In-and-Out Rwnixing.— Bunning displaying widely 
 varying form, or indicating dishonest manipulation; or where 
 a number of horses are concerned leaving it impossible to 
 decide which is the best. 
 
 In-aiid-owt Rmining.— Bunning displaying widely 
 varying form, or indicating dishonest manipulation; or where 
 a number of horses are concerned, leaving it impossible to de- 
 cide which is the best. 
 
 Indulge witli tUe Lead.— To allow a horse, inferior in 
 speed, to retain the lead on sufferance. 
 
 Inside Stake.— A practically obsolete arrangement, un- 
 der which, in a sweepstakes or purse race, such of the sub- 
 scribers as choose to do so make up a second sweepstakes, to be 
 decided by the running for the main event. Thus, in a race for 
 
12 Dictionary or Glossary. 
 
 which A, B, C, D, E, and F ran, if A, B, C, and D entered for the 
 "inside stake," and E won the race, with A second, A would 
 take the inside stake. 
 
 Imp«st.— The weight placed on a horse. Used especially 
 when speaking of handicaps. 
 
 Jockey. — ^A professional rider of race-horses. It is a hard 
 and laborious life, especially for those who have reached that 
 age, when, to keep themselves light enough to ride, they have 
 to deny themselves food, or, at the best, esist for days on a few 
 ounces of bread; while to get in a fair riding condition, they 
 have to "sweat " and do nearly as much work as the average 
 pedestrian. The remuneration is usually very good, especially 
 for riders of ability like Hughes, Donohue, or McLaughlin, or 
 for steeplechase riders like Meany or Henry, who are specially 
 engaged to ride for certain stables. The usual terms, however, 
 for mounts, independent of regular engagements, are $25 for a 
 winning mount, and $10 for a non-winning mount. 
 
 Judge— Judges. — In England the official who decides 
 and declares the winner of a race, the general duties of super- 
 vision, management, and adjudication upon disputes being dis- 
 charged by the stewards. In America, however, the judges are 
 a certain number of designated members of the association who 
 unite in themselves the functions of judge and stewards. 
 
 Kilter. — A horse is said to be " out of kilter," when not in 
 condition. Sometimes spelt " kelter." 
 
 K.nock Out.— In racing parlance, to drive out of the quo- 
 tations. 
 
 . Lay. — ^In wagering, to bet against a man or animal. Bet- 
 tors are divided, in racing slang, into layers and takers ; they 
 are otherwise known as bookmakers and backers (which see). 
 
 liead-Pad.— It is customary when a jockey is lighter than 
 the weight his horse has to carry, for him to make up that 
 weight with a pad, made so that the weight shall be evenly 
 divided on both sides of the horse, over which the saddle can 
 be placed with safety and convenience to horse and rider. 
 
 Leg or Blackleg.— A disreputable sporting character and 
 race-course habitue. 
 
 l<e\^aiit — Levanted. — An expression used when abettor, 
 who has been unable to meet his obligations, suddenly changes 
 his re idence. He is then said to have "levanted," or to be a 
 "levanter." The term is decidedly English, and arose from 
 the fact that some years ago very many of those who were in 
 difficulties left that country for the Levant. 
 
 liOose-Box. — A stall in which a horse is not tied up, but 
 remains loose. What is geneially called in this country a box 
 stall. 
 
 liose.— To leave far behind in a race. 
 
 Maiden. — Ahorse that has never won a race. "A beaten 
 maiden " is a horse that has never won after one or more 
 starts. " Maidens," in many races, receive allowances of 
 weig ht according to age. 
 
Baclng lerms and Slang. 13 
 
 Make Sure — To take precautions against the possibility 
 of a horse winning, by disabling him or arranging with those 
 controlling him. 
 
 Marketeer.— In England a betting man who devotes him- 
 self, by means of special information, to the study of favorites. 
 The " Marketeer " is often the principal agent in all "milk- 
 ing " and " knocking out " arrangements. 
 
 Market Horse.— A horse kept in the betting list, simply 
 for the purpose of being betted against. 
 
 Meant.— A horse is said to be " meant " when it is intended 
 by those controlling him that he shall win the race if possible. 
 When "not meant " he is started without any intention of 
 winning or striving to win, but merely to secure the money 
 that may have been betted on him by the simple, or to make a 
 bad record and to obtain a light impost in handicaps, or to 
 give his party a chance to back him on advantageous terms for 
 another race. 
 
 Metallician.— In England, a racing bookmaker. A term 
 coined when metallic books and.pencils were much used. 
 
 Milk.— When a horse is entered in a race for which his 
 owner does not intend him to run, or, at all events, in which 
 he does not intend him to win, and bets against him, the ani- 
 mal is said to be " milked." "Milking " is keeping a horse a 
 favorite, at short odds, for a race in which he has no chance 
 whatever, or in which he will not be allowed to try, for the 
 purpose of laying against him. 
 
 Missed.— A mare that, having been served by a stallion fails 
 to prove with foal. 
 
 Monkey.— A monkey is £500 in England and $500 in the 
 United States. 
 
 Mownt.— When a jockey has been engaged to ride in a cer- 
 tain race he is said "to have a mount "—^.^., Evans has a 
 "mount" in the Belmont, or Barbee wants a "mount" 
 for the Cup. According to the quality of the horse, the 
 «' mount" may be a good one or a bad one. 
 
 Moral. -A forthcoming result which appears certain — 
 originally, "moral certainty." These "morals" are often, 
 however, anything but moral certainties. 
 
 Mntiials.— The name applied to the machines which were 
 brought into use in the United States some years ago, and were 
 called "Paris Mutuals," from the erroneous supposition that 
 they came from Paris, whereas, in point of fact, their French 
 name is Paris mutuels (Paris — a bet or wager).' They are so 
 arranged as to register the number of tickets sold on each horse 
 in a race, with a centre dial showing the total number of tick- 
 ets sold on the race, from which the name " totalizators" is 
 given to the same machines in Australia. where the use of them 
 was recently made legal by an act of the South Australian 
 Parliament. 
 
 IVeck and Werk.— Hor.-ses are said to be running neck and 
 neck when they are so perfectly equal in a race that one cannot 
 be said to be before the other. 
 
14 Dictionary or Glossary, 
 
 Negotiate— To take a leap successfully. 
 
 Nobble.— .To "nobble " a borse is to "get at " and lame or 
 poison bim. 
 
 Nowliere.— Horses not placed in a race, or badly beaten, 
 .are said to be "nowbere." 
 
 Nainbe»-s.— Tbe figures opposite tbe borses' names on tbe 
 race-cards issued for a day's racing, wbicb are prominently 
 displayed before eacb race for tbe information of all concerned 
 as to wbat borses are about to ran. After tbe race tbe num- 
 bers of tbe first tbree borses are sbown, in tbe order in wbicb 
 tbey flnisbed. At Saratoga, and on some otber courses, tbe 
 number of tbe borse first past tbe post is sbown, but it does 
 not announce tbat be is tbe winner, as tbat cannot be an- 
 nounced till be bas returned to tbe judges' stand, or saddling 
 paddock, and tbe rider's weigbt bas been found to be correct. 
 
 Odds.— Tbe proportions or differences of a bet. One book- 
 maker will lay odds of 6 to 1 against a borse winning, 
 wbile anotber, more speculative, or in receipt of a first-rate 
 " tip," will lay 8 or even 10 to 1 . 
 
 Office. — To give tbe "office " is to secretly inform any one 
 wbere a certain event will take place, or wben a certain trial 
 will be run. 
 
 On.—" To get on " a borse, is to back it. " I'm on," also ex- 
 presses a person's acceptance of an offered bet. 
 
 On the Post.— To win '«on tbe post," is to win on tbe last 
 stride or so. 
 
 On the Flat.— All races in wbicb no jumping is done, are 
 said to be " on tbe flat," or " flat races." 
 
 Out for an Airing. — A borse not "meant" (see Meant). 
 
 Outsider.— A person wbo does not babitually bet, or is not 
 admitted to tbe "ring." Also a borse wbose name does not 
 appear among tbe ''favorites." 
 
 Pace.— Tbe rate at wbicb a race is run, and wbicb it is a 
 jockey's object to set so tbat tbe otber competitors sball be ex- 
 bausted more tban bis own borse. Tbe two eminent qualities 
 in a jockey are " fineness of bands," and " knowledge of pace ; " 
 tbe former being tbe delicacy of manipulation wbicb acquaints 
 bim constantly witb tbe condition of bis borse, and enables 
 bim to repress, encourage, and direct tbe animal, and tbe lat- 
 ter tbe instinct, quickened by experience, wbicb acquaints 
 bi-n witb tbe probable effect xipon every borse in tbe race of 
 tbe rate of speed at wbicb it is being run. 
 
 On Velvet. — See Clover. 
 
 Patrol Judges.— Officials usually assigned to positions 
 on tbe course wbere tbe borses are out of tbe ken of tbe judges 
 of tbe race. Tbe infrequency of tbe appointment of patrol 
 judges is owing to tbe difficulty of getting competent men to 
 serve. 
 
Racing Terms and Slang. 15 
 
 Place. — A horse is said to get a place when it is either first, 
 second, or third— i. e., placed first, second, or th^rd by the 
 judges. For betting purposes, a "place" means being first, 
 second, or third. In Engli-nd and France the judges sometimes 
 place four, and in some instances the whole field. Under the 
 rules of the American Jockey Club, the judges place as many 
 horses as they think proper, except in heat races, when, to 
 secure the proper starting positions in the next heat, all are 
 placed. In dashes the custom is to place three. It has been 
 suggested that in dashes, when the second and third are 
 not within the aistance prescribed for a race of heats of the 
 same length, they shall not be placed — e g., in a dash of a 
 mile, if the second and third are not within forty yards no 
 places shall be gi ^en them. A horse placed fourth would not 
 win his backer's bets for a place without previous stipulations. 
 In the United States bets are sometimes made about horses 
 finishing in a race regardless of a place, which are called "buck 
 bets," the decision of them being left to a third person. When a 
 wagerer agrees to " place " the horses in a race he must place 
 them exactly; for instance, if in a race of heats for which six 
 run he places A 1, B 2, C 3, D 4, E 5, and F 6, and they come in 
 in that order, but F is distanced, he loses. (O'Kelly's famous 
 bet to place a large field, it will be remembered, was " Eclipse 
 first— the rest nowhere.") 
 
 Plates.— A plate in England is analogous to a purse in the 
 United States. But in the United States, as well as in England, 
 the shoes (very light), worn by horses in races are called 
 "plates," and a blacksmith, an adept in the business, a 
 "plater." 
 
 Q,iiitter. — Ahorse that lacks courage, and gives up the 
 race when challenged. (See Duffer.) 
 
 Patclied Up,_A horse that has partially broken down, 
 but is nursed carefully, and given a preparation for a single 
 race, or a limited number of races, ere it tails again, and 
 irreparably. 
 
 Penalty.— An increase of weight prescribed for a horse 
 that has won a certain race, or has been bred in a certain local- 
 ity or country. 
 
 Peacoclcy.'— An objectionably high and jerky action in, or 
 carriage of, a race-horse. 
 
 Persuaders. — Spurs. 
 
 Plaier. — An animal of inferior quality, not good enough 
 to win a great race, but able to pick up small purses, or plates, 
 at minor meetings. 
 
 Play or Pay (abbreviated P. P.). — A play-or-pay 
 race is one where the subscriber whose horse does not appear 
 to compete at the time prescribed, forfeits all his stake. As a 
 rule all bets on horse-racing are considered play or pay, unless 
 otherwise arranged. In all matches a run is given for the 
 money in ordinary betting transactions. 
 
 Pocket.— A horse is pocketed when, through a combina- 
 tion of the riders of other animals, he is placed in a race be- 
 
16 Dictionary or Glossary. 
 
 Mnd one horse and between two others, or one other and the 
 fence, so that he cannot reach the front. 
 
 Pools.— Betting in pools is a system thoroughly American, 
 which was begun in New Orleans just before the war, and is 
 said to have been originated by Mr. H. P. M'Grath. Of late, 
 especially in New York, owing to adverse legislation, 
 bookmaking in the English style has taken its place. 
 The modus operandi is this : The names of the horses 
 entered for a race are displayed. An auctioneer proceeds 
 to sell to the highest bidder the choice of selecting one of 
 the horses so named in the same manner as if he were 
 selling a piece of real estate. When the bidding ceases he 
 knocks the choice down, and one of the horses is at once named 
 by the bidder. The second, third, and other choices are dis- 
 posed of in the same way, their value naturally becoming less 
 in each instance. The pool is then added up, and tickets show- 
 ing the total amount of the pool the name of the buyer, the 
 name of the horse selected, and the amount paid for it, are 
 given to each buyer. After the race is run the purchaser or 
 holder of the ticket representing the winning hor e takes the 
 whole pool, less a certain percentage. For instance, suppose a 
 race with six entries. A sells for $200, B for $180, C for $100. 
 D for $80, and E and F as the field for $v5, making in all a pool 
 of $580 ; the race is run and is won by D ; the holder of the 
 ticket representing D takes the pool, less the percentage. 
 
 Pony.— A pony is £25 in England, and $25 in the United 
 
 States. 
 
 Post.— The starting and finishing points are usually spoken 
 of as the " starting " and " winning " posts. In nearly all the 
 race-tracks in the United States there are also the quarter, 
 half-mile, and three-quarter-mile posts, while on many of them 
 thera are the three-furlong, five-furlong, and seven-furlong 
 posts. 
 
 Post-Stake or THatch.— One where the age only of the 
 horse is indicated by the subscriber, who is at liberty to bring 
 to the post any horse of that age, as his representative; or one 
 where each subscriber nam^ two or more horses of the same 
 age only one of which is to be started. Custom, however, has 
 changed this rule, somewhat, so that owners now name the day 
 before, but in no case is this compulsory. 
 
 Pot A favorite in the betting for a race. Probably so-called 
 
 because it is usual to say ihat a heavily-backed carries a " pot 
 of money." When the favorite is beaten, the " pot " is said to 
 be upset. 
 
 Produce Stake.— A race for which the unborn progeny of 
 marea in foal to certain named stallions run, only those so 
 nominated being allowed to start. 
 
 Pull.— To prevent a horse from winning, by holding M^a 
 back. 
 
 Punt.— To " punt," is to back horses for small stakes. 
 
 Purler.— A heavy fall from a horse in a steeplechase. 
 
Bacing Terms and Slang. 17 
 
 Parse.— The consideration, or money, offered by racing as- 
 sociations for races, other than sweepstakes, is invariably called 
 a purse, and is analogous with the tarm " plate " in England. 
 The term, purse, no doubt, originated from the habit of associa- 
 tions, some years ago, hanging up in front of the judges' stand 
 gaudy-colored purses containing the money for which the 
 horses were running. The money given by associations for 
 sweepstakes, is called " added money." 
 
 Pat on. — To promise money or valuables in the event of an 
 anticipated success. "You are on for ten if Falsetto wins," 
 for example, was frequently heard at Saratoga, in 1879. Many 
 hangers-on of the turf live almost entirely by what they are "put 
 on " by bookmakers and backers, for whom they do odd jobs. 
 
 Ctaarter-stretcli.— That portion of the course or track 
 in the immediate vicinity oi the judges' stand, which, owing 
 to the advantage it affords those interested to inspect the horses 
 about to run, or immediately after a race, is made the most 
 exclusive and to which the highest price is paid tor admission. 
 Q,ait.— To shrink from and abandon the struggle when 
 resolutely challenged. 
 
 Racing.— Racing as sport is divided into flat racing, hur- 
 dle-racing and steepl 3-chasing. The first division of these is 
 now practised in nearly all the civilized countries of the world. 
 The second is also common enough, and is often mixed up 
 with flat racing, but it belongs more to the division of steeple- 
 chasing than to flat racing, as it requires the horse to be able 
 and willing to jump over the obstacles placed in his way. 
 
 Racing Q,ttalities.— A breeder not wishing to sell a 
 finely-bred mare out and out, will often dispose of her 
 " racing qualities " for a fixed period, sometimes until she is 
 five years old, or until she breaks down, when she must be re- 
 turned. The " racing qualities " of horses are sometimes dis- 
 posed of in the same way. 
 
 Rails.— The inner boundary of a course. 
 Raker.— To " go a raker" is to put more money than usual 
 on a certain horse. 
 
 Keal Jam .—Anything exceptionally good. It is said to be 
 •" real jam " for those who back a horse at a long price, when 
 the animal wins or comes to a short figure. 
 Refase.— To decline to take a leap. 
 
 Ring. — The space on a race-course which is used for betting 
 purposes. Betting men are sometimes called "gentlemen of 
 the ring," especially if they are in the habit of attending race- 
 meetings regularly. 
 
 Roarer. — A bioken-winded horse. " Roaring," as applied 
 to horses, is often termed " talking " or " whistling" by turf- 
 men, while sporting writers frequently, when writing of a 
 ^broken- winded race horse, say, " he makes a noise," or " is a 
 musician." 
 
 Roping.— The pulling or restraining a horse by its rider 
 to prevent its winning a race. 
 
18 Dictionary or Glossaru. 
 
 Ruck. — The body or main division of runners in a race, as 
 distinguished from the leaders and " whippers in." 
 
 Ruled Out. — A horse is " ruled out " in a heat race that 
 does not win a heat, or run a " dead heat " in the first twa 
 heats of a race that is best two out of three, or in the first three 
 heats of a race that is best three in five. A horse is also "ruled 
 out " whose rider is short of weight, or who is disqualified 
 from winning by the violation of any rule that affected the re- 
 sult of the race, as by foul riding, &c. 
 
 Run. for the Money. — An expression used when a start 
 is given with a bet ; as, 20 to 1 against Bramble, with a " run " 
 given. "To have a run for one's money" is also to have a 
 good determined struggle for anything. 
 
 Running— Making tlie. — Leading the field in a race 
 rapidly in order to exhaust some of the horses so that they may 
 be more easilv overcome by the stable companion of the horse 
 " making the running," the rider of the stable companion be- 
 ing aware of the manceuvre.and saving his mount for the finish 
 of the race. 
 
 Run Througli.— " To run through his horses " is to pass 
 rapidly a number of competitors. 
 
 Saddling Paddoclc.— An inclosure, generally contiguous 
 to the scales, where all horses to run are saddled, and to which 
 they must return after the race, and unsaddle to "weigh out." 
 
 Safe One.— A horse which there is reason to believe will 
 not start for, or will not be allowed to win, a race, and which, 
 therefore, may be laid against with safety. 
 
 Sales — (Avitli or witliout engagements) — When a 
 horse is sold with his engagements, or any part of them, the 
 seller has not the power of striking the horse out of the en- 
 gagements with which he is sold, but as the original subscrib - 
 er remains liable to the respective winners for the amount of 
 the forfeits in each of these engagements, he may, if compelled 
 to pay them by the purchaser's default, place the forfeit on the 
 forfeit list by a written declaration, in the usual manner, as 
 due from the purchaser to himself, and until this forfeit is re- 
 paid both the purchaser and the horse remain iinder the same 
 disability as if the former had been the original subscriber. 
 In all cases of sale by private treaty, the written acknowledge- 
 ment of both parties that the horse was sold with his engage- 
 ments is necessary to entitle either buyer or seller to the ben- 
 efit of this rule ; but when the horse is sold by public auction 
 the advertised conditions of sale are suflScient evidence; and if 
 he has been claimed as the winner of a race in which it was a 
 condition that the winner was to sold with his engagements, 
 this also is sufiacient. "When a horse is sold without his en- 
 gagements, the seller may gant or refuse to the purchaser the 
 privilege of starting for any of them, but if the purchaser 
 should wish to start for any one stake, and does so, he general- 
 ly has to assume the responsibility for all the future engage- 
 ments which the horse may have. It is also held that a horse 
 sold with his engagements is responsible for the stakes due for 
 all other horses made by the original nominator in a race, and 
 
Racing Terms arid Slang. 19 
 
 that the same must be paid before the horse can start. In 
 England the subject has received considerable attention, and 
 the late Lord Exeter framed special conditions which are still 
 popular, many sales being advertised as " under Lord Exeter's 
 conditions." In William Day's " The Eace-Horse in Training," 
 recently published in London, the subject is thus commented 
 upon: 
 
 " When sold as yearlings, the rule is clearly defined and well 
 understood, both by vendors and purchasers. A list ot engage- 
 ments is given in the printed catalogue of the day, and these 
 are taken over by the purchaser. If no engagements are speci- 
 fied, it would be taken for granted the animals had none; and 
 if it should turn out otherwise, the seller would not be able to 
 compell the purchaser to take them over afterwards,if he refused 
 to do so. But older horses are often sold with or without their 
 engagements, and sometimes under what are termed Lord Ex- 
 eter's conditions, which are not always well understood, though 
 really so simple as to need little explanation ; the fact being 
 that horses bought under such conditions, are virtually bought 
 without their engagements— for the purchaser need neither 
 run them, nor pay their forfeits. On the other hand, shoiild 
 the buyer prefer running, no one can prevent him doing so, so 
 long as the nominator is alive, and the new owner pays one- 
 half the stake and gives the original vendor one-third of the 
 results if the horse wins. These very excellent conditions 
 were made by the late Lord Exeter, and no purchaser can wish 
 to buy under better. But in selling horses in the ordinary way, 
 with their engagements.one objectionable result is that it passes 
 the right to scratch from his own to other hands. It may hap- 
 pen that the minor forfeits, a mere bagatelle when duly de- 
 clared, are neglected, and swell to a serious item, wtiich it is 
 compulsory on the vendor to pay in default of the purchaser 
 doing so; the remedy of the former being to place the latter's 
 name on the forfeit list until he refunds the amount." 
 
 Save.— To give part of one bet for part of another. A and 
 B have backed different horses, and they agree that in the 
 event of either winning he shall give the other, say $10. This 
 is called "saving a tenner," and;.generally is done whenscratch- 
 ings and knockings out have left the 'field, so that one of the 
 two speculators must be a winner. Saving is, therefore, a form 
 of hedging. 
 
 Save a Horse.— In a heat race, having won one heat, to 
 forego winning the next, if the issue is doubtful, so as to have 
 a better chance ot securing the race. In any race, to avoid un- 
 necessary exertion at a not critical stage, so as to.be better pre- 
 pared for the final struggle. In managing a stable, to save a 
 horse for any particular race, is to abandon previous minor 
 engagements, or to allow him to be defeated unnecessarily, so as 
 to deceive the handicapper and obtain a very favorable weight. 
 
 Scales. — The point on a race-course where the clerk of the 
 course can be found, and where all jockeys must be weighed 
 before and after a race. 
 
 Scratch. —To remove a horse's name from a list of sub- 
 scriptions, or entries for a race. 
 
20 Dictionaay or Glossary. 
 
 Scurvy. — A short and lively race, properly one for half-bred 
 or inferior horses, as for non- winners, that will make an amus- 
 ing contest of brief duration for a small stake. 
 
 Second String.— A horse or horses regarded by owners or 
 trainers as inferior to certain stable companions entered for 
 the same race, but which will be depended upon to win should 
 the supposed more able horse or horses go amiss, or prove less 
 speedy than they were thought to be . 
 
 Selling Race.— One lor which the horses are entered with 
 a price indicated at which the owners will dispose of them, the 
 weights being reduced if the price indicated is low. In other 
 words, it is a species of handicap made by owners of horses 
 themselv , s. The conditions of the race are usually announced 
 as follows: " Horses entered to be sold for $1,500, to carry 
 weight forage; if to be sold for $1,000, allowed 5 lbs.; if for 
 $750. allowed 10 lbs,; if for $500, allowed 17 lbs., and if for $300, 
 allowed 22 lbs." Thus, supposing that a four-year old colt had 
 been entered to be sold for $300, he would only have to carry 
 96 lbs. (22 lbs less than the full weight for age -118 lbs); pre- 
 suming, further, that he won, and in the auction that followed 
 the race was sold for $1,000 - $300 of that sum would go to the 
 owner, and the remainder, if the race were run at Jerome Park, 
 be divided between the owner of the second horse snd the asso- 
 ciation. Of course there is nothing to prevent an owner buying 
 his own horse, as is frequently done. When the winner is sold 
 at aiiction, and the surplus is so divided, it is usual to insert 
 among the conditions of the race, " Beaten horses not liable to 
 be claimed. This is done to obviate the possible injustice to 
 the owner of the second, who may lose his own horse by a 
 ■claim (see Kule 65, A. J. C), and at the same time be unable to 
 secure the winner, as the owner of the winner, having 
 Tjacked his horse, can well afford to bid much more than 
 the real value of the animal. It is perhaps not generally 
 understood that when this condition is not inserted, any 
 liorse running in a selling race is liable to be claimed by 
 tne owner of any other horse in the race for the price for 
 which it is entered to be sold and the amount of the stake or 
 purse, deducting therefrom (i. e., from the amount of stake or 
 purse) any sum he may receive by the conditions of the race, 
 such as money given for running second or third, or received 
 from any overplus resulting from the sale of the winner. The 
 owner of the second horse to be first entitled to claim, and the 
 others in the order in which their horses are placed — owners of 
 unplaced horses to draw lots for priority of claim, and the win- 
 ner to have the last claim. But either through ignorance of 
 the right to claim, or for other reasons, no horse in a selling 
 race has been claimed in the United States, although it is com- 
 mon enough in England. 
 
 Originally, and by the rule of the American Jockey Club as 
 it now reads, the whole of the surplus went to the second 
 horse. Its owner could then purchase the winning horse, at 
 the entered selling price, for any surplus came back to him, 
 and owners were chary of entering superior horses at inferior 
 prices, with the expectation of winning by bets enough to buy 
 back their horses at their true value, if they won. Nor could 
 
Bacing Terms and Slang. 21 
 
 tliere be collusion between two owners of superior horses, to 
 evade tlie sale or claim of their horses by running first and 
 second, for the surplus coming to the owner of the second 
 horse, from the sale of the first, would probably equal the 
 amount of the purse, and although he could buy in the win- 
 ner, his own horse might be sacrificed at its entered price. But 
 as the ri ht to claim has n.t proved to be a safeguard, and iu 
 order that the racing fund may profit by the entry of horses at 
 inadequate prices, it is now customary tJ adveriise, "Any sur- 
 plus on the sale of the winner to be divided between the owner 
 of the second horse and the racing fund Beaten horses not 
 liable to be claimed." The consequence is tuat betting on 
 selling races is generally heavy, and that frequently the share 
 of the surplus going to the second horse, added to the second 
 monej^, equals the prize to the winner In France a different 
 system prevails : every horse entered in a se ling race can be 
 claimed by the owners of the other horses, before the race, at 
 the entered price, and the value ot the prize. Horses so claimed 
 do not run. After the race the horses can be claimed by any 
 person. Sealed proposals are opened fifteen minutes after the 
 race, and the horses awarded to the highest bidders, of not less 
 than the entered price for the winner, and the value of the prize 
 added to the entered price for beaten horses. Sometimes, by the 
 conditions of the race, the sale after the race is limited to the 
 winner, but before the race there is no restriction of the right 
 to claim. In France, the whole of the surplus goes to the 
 racing fund. In England, one-half of the surplus goes to the 
 second, and the other half to the racing fund, which ofcen 
 realizes a large sum, 1,620 guineas being thus obtained at tLe 
 Newmarket second October meeting in 1879, for instance. 
 
 It is not unfrequent in conditions to provide that a horse 
 may enter " not to be sold," in which case a penalty ot 7 to 10 
 lbs. is imposed, but a horse entered not to be sold is not 
 relieved from penalty for winning when the winners of selling 
 races are exempted in the conditions of a race. 
 
 Shut Out.— To distance, to be distanced. 
 
 Sliut Up.— To collapse when challenged. 
 
 Skill tlie La ml}.— When an outsider, that has not been 
 backed, wins a race bookmakers are said to skin the lamb. 
 
 Spread-Eagle.— To show great superiorly, leaving the 
 other horses strung out at considerable intervals. 
 
 Stable.— In racing parlance, not alone the establishment to 
 which a horse belongs, but the intimates of the proprietor or 
 trainer. 
 
 Stall Off.— To shake off a challenge in a race and retain the 
 advantage it was sought to nullify. 
 
 Starter.— The ofBcial appointed to -'start "' the horses fur a 
 race on equitable terms, in the South and West the signal is 
 nearly always given by tapping a drum, in the East by crop- 
 ping a flag. The starter posts himself at from ten to forty yards 
 from the starting post, while his assistant takes his position 
 some fifty or more yar.s beyond it. Presuming the horses to 
 
22 Dictionary '07- Glossary. 
 
 be all in their proper positions and facing the right way and in 
 gentle motion, the starter taps his drum or drops his flag. The 
 assistant drops his flag at the same instant, and as the jockeys 
 can sea him batter than the starter, they know that the start is 
 official. Should the assistant nob drop his flag they know that 
 the start is false and they mast go back. The rule of the 
 American Jockey Club on the subject of starting says: "The 
 starter is prohibited from making a running start; the horses 
 must walk up and be started from a walk. He has authority 
 to order the jockeys to draw up in a line as far behind the 
 starting post as he may think proper, and any jockey disobey- 
 ing the order of the starter, or takiag any unfair advantage, 
 shall be punished by fine or suspension, at the discretion of 
 the starter, but the suspension of a jockey shall in no case taka 
 efl'ect until after the last race of the day of his suspension." 
 The law requiring the start from a walk is practically a dead 
 letter. To train horses and jockeys to start from a walk is an 
 art yet to be acquired, or, at least, practised. 
 
 Stayer. — A horse likely to persevere in a long or severe 
 rac=>. For some years past it has been said that our thor- 
 oughbreds were losing their staying qualities. "Whether such 
 is the case or not, the race for the Bowie Stakes, in Baltimore, 
 in 1879, proved that Glenmore and Willie D.were " stayers." 
 
 Steeplecliase.— Originally a race run straight across the 
 fields from one church to another, the horses jumping all ob- 
 stacles en route. A ste jplechase in moiern days is still a jump- 
 ing rase, wit'i natural and artificial obstacles, such as hedges, 
 hurdle;, walls, and one or more water-jumps; nearly all the 
 regular race-courses have a steeplechase course laid out in 
 their inner fields, the distance varying. A hurdle-race, as dis- 
 tinguished from a steeplechase, is that the former is run over 
 uniform artificial barriers on a race-coursa, while the latter 
 should ba run upon ground preserving its natural inequali- 
 ties of surface and possessing the varieties of ploughed field, 
 meadow, etc. 
 
 Stewards. — ;See judge.) 
 
 Stretcli —The straight or nearly straight sides of a course, 
 as distinguished from the curves or bends. The "backstretch" 
 on oval courses is that portion lying between the quarter and 
 half-mile poles. The " hom ^stretch " that portion between 
 th? thre?- quarter pole and the judges' stand. 
 
 l^toiitiiess.— Endurance. 
 
 SiiJk..— Torun unkindly, or for a horse to refuse to do as 
 well as it can. 
 
 Sunday Horse.— A horse generally untrustworthy, but 
 capable of running a gooi race now and then,is called a"Sunday 
 horse," vide Spirit of the Times: "We have always regarded him 
 as a Sunday horse, capable of doing a brilliant thing occasion- 
 ally, but a most irregular and unreliable performer." 
 
 S-weepstalce. — A sweepstake, or stake-race, as distin- 
 guished from a purse or plate, is one where each of three or 
 more subscribers puts in, or engages to pay, a certain sum for 
 
Edchig Terms and Sknvj. 23 
 
 €acli horse that he enters, the winner taking all the money — 
 sweeping the stakes. It is customary for the association over 
 whose course the race is run to add a sum of money to the 
 amount obtained by the individual subscriptions, and for a 
 small portion of the total to be given to the second horse, or 
 second and third horses. Nearly all the associations run im- 
 portant stake-races, such as the Kentucky Derby, at Louisville, 
 the Jersey St. Leger at Monmouth Park, or the Saratoga Cup 
 at Saratoga. 
 
 Swerve. — A horse is said to " swerve " when it ceases to 
 run perfectly straight. Some'imes horses will " swerve " in 
 their efforts to escape punishment ; oftentimes from fatigue 
 at the finish of a hard race, especially if another horse is run- 
 ning close alongside. Swerving is often looked upon as a sign 
 of weakness. 
 
 Tailed, or Tailed Off.— Ahorss left so far behind that 
 his rider stops him, or, continuing, makes no effort for the 
 race. 
 
 Talce.— To " take " the field, is to bet one's money on all 
 the other starters against the favorite or any selected horse. 
 
 Thoroughbred.— The definition of the thoroughbred, ac- 
 cording to Stonehenge, is not quite so simple as is generally sup- 
 posed, for though the thoroughbred horse is said to be of pure 
 Eastern blood, this is not reall}^ the case when traced back to 
 the earliest times of which we have any account. In the pedi- 
 gree of Eclipse the breed of nearly a dozen laares U unknown, 
 and the sam3 amount of impure blood, or nearly so, will be 
 found in every horse of his date (1764), that is to say if they are 
 •as far removed from the primary roots of all our best stock. 
 Hence, this definition, will not suflce, since it is clearly not ap- 
 plicabl3 to a horse whose blood runs in alraost every breed of 
 the present day, and not only to him, but to others as well. 
 The only criterion, therefore, which will hold good as a defini- 
 tion, is appearance in the " Stud Book," where every horse 
 or mare considered thoroughbred is registered, and by com- 
 mon consent this is accepted as the test of pure breeding. All 
 horses, therefore, which are the produce of mares therein de- 
 scribed and by horses also to be found m its pages are called 
 thoroughbred, and all others are commonly designated as half- 
 1>red, whether composed of half pure blood or three-quarters or 
 seven-eighths, or any other proportion. Many of our half-bred 
 stallions are very nearly pure, but nothing can now wash out 
 the stain which formerly was considered easily eradicated by a 
 few crosses of Eastern blood. 
 
 S. D. Bruce, in his prefacefto the "American Stud Book," says: 
 "Without wishing to take rhe responsib lity of fixing a stand- 
 ard for the blood stock of the Uaited States, the general custom 
 has been followed of calling those thoroughbreds that have an 
 Tincontamiaated pedigree for five generations. Some of our 
 most distinguished families on the American turf cannot be 
 traced thus far and they have been embodied in this work, 
 their claims being recognized by every one familiar with the 
 subject, and their exclusion would have wrought manifest in- 
 justice." 
 
24 Dictionary or Glossary. 
 
 Tiirow.— To forego ■winning a race tliat might be won. 
 (See pull, &c.) 
 Tie. — ^A dead-heat. 
 
 Timing.— The timing of races is so prominently an Ameri- 
 can institution that the value of many horses is based on that 
 test. Consequently every effort is taken to get it correct. The 
 "timing" stand is directly opposite the winning-post, and 
 generally occupied by two or more "timers," gentlemen es- 
 pecially selected for their skill.in handling watches made for 
 the purpose of timing races, with second and fractional second 
 hands that can be started and stopped instantly. In fractional 
 races and races for which the start is made away from the 
 •' timing" stands flags are used to show the instant the horsa 
 or horses pass the post, being dropped by assistants skilled in 
 the business. 
 
 Tip. — Advice or information (respecting anything of course,, 
 but mostly used in reference to horse-racing), by which the per- 
 son " tipped " is supposed to receive information how to bet to 
 the best advantage. The " straight tip " is information which 
 comes direct from the owner or trainer of a horse. 
 
 To Rule. — Everything done on a race-track during the 
 progress of a race meeting is said to be done "to rule," but 
 few points being left which cannot be reached by some rule, so 
 effectually are the interests of all concerned taken care of. 
 
 Touts.— Agents who collect early and generally special in- 
 formation of the condition and racing capabilities of horses in 
 training, and mail or telegraph the same to subscribers and 
 speculators to guide their betting. The occupation is looked 
 upon with considerable disfavor both in the United States and 
 England, but, notwithstanding, such persons are generally 
 well paid for their services. 
 
 Trial.— A critical test of a horse's chance for any race by 
 pitting him, not long before the race under similar conditions 
 as to weight and distance against a horse or horses whose pow- 
 er is known, or "against time." 
 
 Trieiiiiiai.— A race or series of races on the same system 
 as the "biennial " (which see), for which the same horses are 
 entered to compete, as two-year-olds, three-year-olds, and four- 
 year-olds. 
 
 Twrf. — Horse-racing. " On the turf " : occupying one's 
 self with race-horse business. 
 
 Turned lioose. — Ahorse whose merits have been over- 
 looked by the handicapper, and which thus receives so light 
 an impost that its success to all appearance is almost certainly 
 secured. 
 
 Untried.— StaUions and mares are said to be " untried "^ 
 until one of their progeny has won a race. 
 
 "Waiting in Front.— A ruse by which clever jockeys 
 rushing their horses to the front and then steadying them, in. 
 duc3 less skillful competitors to believe they are making th.e 
 running. 
 
Earing Terms and Slang. 25- 
 
 AValk-Over.— A horse is said to " walk over " for a purse 
 or stake when it has no competitor. It is customary in such a 
 case to send the horse to the post, whence he is started by 
 the starter as in a regular race, the horse slowly galloping over 
 the distance fixed in the conditions of the race. In cases of 
 "walk-overs" some of the associations only give half the 
 amount of the purse offered, while in stakes the added money 
 Ib also halved. In some stables, when a favorite horse gets a 
 "walk-over" it is customary to let the boy who has the per- 
 sonal care of the horse, if possessing any ability as a rider, 
 ride the horse, as Mr. Lorillard allowed Jones to do when. 
 Parole walked over for the two mile and a half purse at Sara- 
 toga, in 1877. 
 
 Wear Silk. — After a jockey has put on the complete colors 
 of the stable for which he is about to ride, it is sometimes said 
 that he is "wearing silk." 
 
 Weigh out.— Not less than ten minutes before a race, all 
 jockeys must present themselves to the Clerk of the course for 
 the purpose of showing that they are of the exact weight de- 
 manded in the race, of which fact the Clerk keeps a record, 
 noting with what the weight was made. For instance, the 
 horse has to carry 118 lbs., and his rider, with saddle, bridle, 
 martingale, saddlecloth, surcingle and very often a heavy lead 
 pad, steps on the scales, and, to a hair, weighs 118 lbs. After 
 the race each jockey must return to the scales and show the 
 same weight with which he started. Should it be more 
 than 1 lb. less than he "weighed out" with, the horse, if a 
 winner, is disqualified, and the purse or stakes must be 
 awarded to the horse that was second, if its weight is right. 
 Should the jockey show overweight, the clerk of the scales 
 would have to report it to the judges, unless such overweight 
 was caused by mud thrown on him in the race. If the excess 
 was more than 2 lbs., and had been added after the jockey had 
 been "weighed out," the chances are that the horse, if a win- 
 ner, would be disqualified. The term applied to weighing 
 after the race is " weighing in." Some clubs make an allow- 
 ance of 1 lb. for a curb or double brible, but no weight is 
 allowed for a snaffle bridle unless it is put in the scale before 
 the horse is led away. In cases where a jockey is overweight, 
 if the overplus amounts to|2 lbs., public notice must be given 
 of the same, but in no case is a horse allowed to start carrying 
 more than 5 lbs. of overweight. Under no consideration is 
 a jockey allowed to weigh with his whip, as its loss during a 
 race is frequently unavoidable, and would cause a discrepancy 
 on weighing in. 
 
 "Weight for Age.— A system of weights based upon the 
 age of horses, and not upon merit and other considerations, as 
 is the case with handicap weights, weights in selling races, etc. 
 Allowances for sex are nearly always made, and there may be 
 penalties for winners, allowances to maidens, or to hcrses of 
 inferior breeding. 
 
 AVelcher.— A person who makes a bet without the remotest 
 chance of being able to pay if he loses, and, losing it, absconds. 
 
26 Dictionary or Glossary. 
 
 The word is of English origin, as nearly all turf phrases are. 
 One writer says the term " arose from a fellow who took de- 
 posits on account of Welsh ponies, which he said he was 
 importing, and never delivered them." Others say that the 
 title was suggested by the repeated refusals of George IV. when 
 Prince of Wales to settle his bets, while others derive it from 
 the nursery rhyme — 
 
 " Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief." 
 
 "Welter "Weiglits. — The weights carried in a majority o^ 
 steeplechases and hurdle races, and for some races on the flat 
 are known as " Welter weights " — e. g.. Heavy Welter weight at 
 Jerome Park and elsewhere in the East is 40 lbs. overweight 
 for age; Light Welter in the West is 28 lbs. overweight for age. 
 
 ■Went "Wrong.— A horse in a stseplechase is said to "go 
 wrong" when its jockey takes the wrong course — i. e., goes 
 outside the flags. 
 
 "ifoketl. — See Neck and Neck. 
 
 "Wliippei-s in. — The last straggling horses during the 
 running of a race. 
 
 "Won toy.— A race is generally said to be won by a head, a 
 ]aeck, half a length, three parts of a length, or so many lengths. 
 The length is estimated at about nine feet. An " open length" 
 means a length of daylight, or a two-lengths' defeat. Befine- 
 ments in judging, when a race is very close, are " half a head," 
 or a "nose." An easy victory is described as "hollow," as be 
 ing won "with hands down," or "sitting still," or with" many 
 pounds in hand," or "in a walk," "in a canter," "in a gal- 
 lop," or "in a hand-gallop." A horse that wins a hard-fought 
 race by a trifle is " squeezed in " or " lifted in," if the result is 
 due to his rider, or " lasts the longer." A horse ignominiously 
 defeated is " beaten off " Such a horse frequently " walks in." 
 
 VETERINARY TERMS. 
 
 By J. S. Cattanach, V. S. 
 
 Beefy .—A horse is said to be " beefy " when he is unduly 
 thick or fat. 
 
 Bog or Blood Spavin is a sac-like enlargement on the 
 inside of the hock. 
 
 Bone Spavin. — A bony growth occurring on the inside 
 of the hock. 
 
 Bowed ^eudon.— A thickening of the sheath of the 
 flexor or back tendon. 
 
 Buck Sliins. — Bony enlargement occurring on the inside 
 and front of the shin-bone. 
 
 Broke Do%vn.— To " break down " is the tearing or giving 
 -way of the tendons or suspensory ligament near the fetlock, 
 and frequently occurs in a race or during training, the sup- 
 
Racing Terms and Slang. 27 
 
 position usually being that the horse will never be able to run 
 again. For instance, Baden-Paden broke down in the race for 
 the Kenner in 1877. 
 
 Capped Ell>oAV. — An enlargement on the point of the 
 elbow, caused by lying on the shoe. 
 
 Capped Hoclc.— An enlargement on the point of the hock. 
 
 Corn.— A bruise on the sole of the f 30t, mostly on the inside 
 quarter. 
 
 Co"w Hoclced. — Horses with their hocks closer than usual 
 to each other, their legs taking a divergent direction outward, 
 are said to be " cow " or " cat-hockecl. " 
 
 Cramps. — Spasmodic contractions of muscles, and most 
 frequently in the muscular coat of the intestines. 
 
 Curb.— -An enlargement of the back part of the hock, hard 
 and callous, about four or five inches from the point. 
 
 Fistulous Witliers. — A running sore occurring on the 
 withers. 
 
 Navicular Disease is an inflammatory process affecting 
 the navicular bone and perforans tendon. 
 
 Poll Evil. — A running sore on the back part of the h'iad. 
 
 Q,xiarter Crack. — A crack or fissure in the hoof occurrtug 
 on the inside or outside quarter. 
 
 Q,uittor.— A fisulous cr running sore occurring between 
 the hair and hoof. 
 
 Ring-Bone. — A bony growth occurring above the coronet. 
 
 Sand or Toe Crack is a crack or fissure on the front of 
 the hoof. 
 
 Side Bones. — A hardening of the cartilages of the foot, and 
 situated above the quarters. 
 
 Splint. — A bony growth occurring on the inside of the 
 shin-bone, between the knee and fetlock joint. 
 
 Slip of Hip is the breaking of the point of the hip, caus- 
 ing the muscles to fall down. 
 
 Slip of Tliigli is a displacement of the patella or bone in 
 that part. 
 
 Spring-Halt.— A jerky or spasmodic action of one or both 
 hind legs. 
 
 T-horougli Pin. — A sac-like enlargement above the hock, 
 and running under the tendon from one side to the other. 
 
 Tliruslv.— A diseased condition of the frog, recQgnized by 
 its offensive odor. 
 
 ■Windgall.— A sac-like or puffy enlargement occurring 
 generally around or near the fetlock. 
 
28 
 
 "American Horse Racing." 
 
 Review of " Krik's Guide to the Turf."" 
 
 [From the Pall Mall Gazette, London, England, April 6, 1880.] 
 
 A dauntless chronicler might well shrink from the task of 
 compiling a " Record of Races Run in the United States and 
 Dominion of Canada, and by American-bred horses in England 
 and British Guiana ;" but the appalling work has nevertheless 
 been accomplished. That it is perfect is not to be supposed; 
 indeed the compiler himself, in his record for 1879-80, remarks 
 that ' 'but very few races were reported by the Canadian press 
 after August 1;" and the remark is enough to show that the 
 compilation is here and there based upon information which, 
 not being of&cial, cannot be regarded as either complete or un- 
 questionably trustworthy. Still, it is with horses that have 
 run or that have been bred in the United States that circum- 
 stances have lately led us to concern ourselves, and as regards 
 the races run in the States or elsewhere by horses owned by 
 the most iDrominent patrons of the turf in the States, the com- 
 pilation is likely to be derived from sources of the highest 
 authority. And those races, of couise, outnumber all the rest 
 so far as to render the latter of very small account. The com • 
 piler's calculations, then, may be accepted as sufllciently near 
 the mark. He calculates that in 1879 the number of races, in- 
 clusive of those run in England and British Gruiana, in which 
 horses ''bred north of the Rio Grande" ran, as far as can be 
 ascertained from re orts, was 1,330, including two which were 
 afterwards declared void. It is calculated that of this number 
 1,280 were won by American-bred horses, the "balance " repre- 
 senting the number of races lost "abroad ;" and that of the 
 1,280 wins 1,133 were accomplished by horses with known ped- 
 igrees, and 147 by horses whose "breeding is reported un- 
 known." Of these races, however, only 1,160 are placed in the 
 category of flat racing ; and of them 1,024 are put down to the 
 credit of horses with pedigrees. The total amount of money won, 
 both by "flat-racers" and "jumpers," with and without known 
 pedigrees, is estimated at $646,318.60, of which $31,063.13 may 
 be ascribed to the performances of Parole and other American 
 horses in this country. Of the flat races one was run over a 
 
"Ameincan Horse Racbh!."' 29 
 
 distance of 300 yards only, and two were run at four-mile 
 heats. There were, whether in heats or "dashes" (as races not 
 run in heats appear to be called), 169 at half a mile and under, 
 563 at five furlongs to a mile, 386 at more than a mile to two 
 miles, and 42 at more than two miles to four miles The list 
 of "winning sires" shows the imported English horses in 
 great force. Imported Leamington stands first, with 56 "firsts' ' 
 and upwards of $70,000 ; imported Glenelg second, with 71 
 "firsts" and upwards of $68,000; imported Bonnie Scotland 
 third, with 79 "firsts" and upwards of $47,000 ; native En- 
 quirer fourth, with 51 "firsts" and upwards of $43,000; im- 
 ported Australian fifth, with 22 "firsts" and upwards of $35,000; 
 native War Dance sixth, with 56 ' firsts" and upwards of $23,000 ; 
 native Lexington seventh, with 19 ' firsts" and upwards of 
 $17,000; and imported Glen Athol eighth, with 45 "firsts ' and 
 just over $17,000. Imported Saxon, who, as the sire of Mr. 
 Lorillard's Geraldine, Nereid and Cherokee, deserves notice, 
 stands no higher than nineteenth with three "firsts " including 
 our Lavant Stakes, and less than $8,000. It should be remem- 
 bered, however, that Lexington, sire of Bay Final, Brown 
 Prince, and Uncas, died in 1875. Leamington, sire of Parole, 
 Panpoose, and Love Chase (a winner in British Guiana), died in 
 1878. Glenelg is the sire of Mirth, Susquehanna, Saratoga, 
 Ultra, Jolly Sir John, and Loch Tanna, all well known in Eng- 
 land, and "is now owned by Mr. M. H. Sanford, at the North 
 Elkhorn Farm, Kentucky." This is as good an opportunity as 
 any for noticing a story told the other day in an American 
 paper about a conversation in which the Prince of Wales was 
 represented to have reduced an American gentleman to blushes 
 and silence by asking for the pedigree of Duke of Magenta, a 
 horse which the American was extolling above Parole but could 
 not give any genealogical account of. The fact is that, accord- 
 ing to Bruce's American Stud Book, there is a hitch in the 
 Duke of Magenta's pedigree in this way : first dam Magenta, by 
 imported Yorkshire ; second dam Miriam, by imported Glencoe; 
 third dam Minerva Anderson, by imported Luzborou^h; fourth 
 dam by Sir Gbarles; fifth dam by Director ; sixth dam said to 
 be by Duroc, but ' 'the Duroc cross is not right." The pedigree 
 "should end in a quarter-horse cross by Brimmer." There 
 'was no occasion, therefore, for the American gentleman to 
 ■"blush" when he said that he "didn't know." Of the Ameri- 
 can-bred horses that distinguished themselves by their win- 
 nings last year on their own ground the most prominent were 
 Sensation, by imported Leamington, 2 years old. with more 
 than $20,000 ; Ferida, by imported Glenelg 3 years, with more 
 than $17,000 ; Monitor, by imported Glenelg, 3 years, with 
 more than $16,000; Bramble, by imported Bonnie Scotland, 4 
 years, with more than $14,000; Falsetto, by Enquirer, 3 years, 
 with about $18,000 ; Spendthrifi, by imported Australian, 3 
 years, with more than $23,000 ; and Lord Murphy, by Pat 
 Malloy, 3 years, with about $11,000. Spendthrift, belonging to 
 Mr. J, E Keene, won the Belmont Stakes and the Lorillard 
 Stakes at Jerome Park Spring Meeting, the Jersey Derby at 
 Monmouth Park (New Jersey) July Meeting, and the Champi n 
 Stakes at the same place, August Meeting, the distances being 
 
30 "American Horse Bacing. 
 
 respectively a mile and a half, a mile and three furlongs, a 
 mile and a half, and a mile and a half. Sensation, belonging to 
 Mr. G. L. Lorillard, won all the eight races for which he started, 
 the distance graduating from half a mile to a mile. Falsetto, 
 belonging to Mr. J. W. Hunt Reynolds, won four races out of 
 five, beating Spendthrift on two occasions ; Ferida and Mo i- 
 tor, both belonging to Mr. G. L. Lorillard, had to run fourteen 
 or fifteen races for their money; Bramble, belonging to Dwyer 
 "Brothers" (for American horses race under the style an i title 
 adopte - by i rms and companies), had to run twenty for his ; 
 and Lord Murphy, belonging to Darden & Co., only eight for 
 his, winning five of them, including the Kentucky Derby and 
 Kentucky Leger, at Louisville. As some of the races were 
 run in heats, the actual running was of course considerably 
 more than appears upon the face of it. As regards races at a 
 mile and a half, the distance ot our Derby, it is worthy of 
 remark that Lord Murphy's time for the Kentucky Derby, a 
 mile and a half, is given as 2:37, and in other cases the time for 
 that distance is represented as quicker on the other side of the 
 Atlantic than on this— at any rate so far as our Derby is con- 
 cerned; which, with our experience of American horses, may 
 be taken as another proof, if any were needed, that time-tests 
 are fallacious. That the name of Lorillard, which is already 
 familiar among us, should be a foremost one among owners of 
 race horses in the United States is no wonder; for, according 
 to the evidence of the compilation here made use of, out of 
 forty-five sons and daughters of Leamington alone as many as 
 nine, including the chief winners, are assigned to the owneiship 
 of either Mr. G. L. Lorillard or Mr. P. Lorillard, and it seems 
 not unusual for a Lorillard, as in the Maryland Stakes at Jerome 
 Park Spring Meeting, to run first, second, and third, or to be so 
 well represented that, in the queer American parlance, there 
 are "no pools sold, it being dollars to cents, on the Lorillard 
 pair," where we should say "no betting." Moreover, the 
 munificent sum of $2,500 added by Mr. P. Lorillard to at any 
 rate one stake would tuffice to make the name conspicious. 
 Mr. P. LoriUard is described as of the Kancocas Stud, New 
 Jersey, where many mares imported from this country have 
 been for many years trying to produce the colts and fillies 
 which are to "whip the Britisher" on his own "tracks" at weight 
 for age, as well as in handicaps. Among the noticeable features 
 of American horse-racing is the discrepancy in the method of 
 calculating the ages of racehorses: 'the rules of the South Caro- 
 lina Jockey Club and of the Savannah Jockey Club fix all horses' 
 ages from May 1 instead of January 1. ' There are probably 
 excellent reasons- considerations of climate and customs— for 
 this course; but the consequence is that "all the horses named 
 as running" at certain meetings will have run "a year younger 
 than they really were" according to the ordinary rule of age, 
 and will have carr ed corresponding weights. Anybody who 
 Avould like to examine the compilation upon which the pre- 
 ceding remarks have been based may be referred to Kkik's 
 Guide to the Tukf, published in New York which can be 
 obtained in London at the office of the Sportsman. 
 
LIBRPRY OF CONGRESS 
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