New York State College of Agriculture At Cornell University Dthaca, N.Y. Library Cornell University Library Handbook of the turf, a treasury of infor HANDBOOK OF THE TURF A TREASURY OF INFORMATION FOR HORSEMEN EMBRACING A CompenDIUM oF ALL Racine AND TrotTTine RuLzs; Laws OF THE STATES IN THEIR RELATION TO HorsEs AND Racine; A Guiossary or ScrentiFIc TERMS; Tur CatcH-Worps AND PHRASES USED BY Great DRIVERS, WITH MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION ABOUT HORSES, TRACKS, AND RACING BY SAMUEL L. BOARDMAN THE literature of the turf is something almost sut generis. It abounds in mysterious technicalities and phraseology intelligible only to the initiated.—_THE LONDON TIMES, January 26, 1894. NEW YORK — ORANGE JUDD COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1894 By SAMUEL L. BOARDMAN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED AST thou given spirit to the horse? Hast thou clothed his neck with a mane? Canst thou make him bound as a locust? The majesty of his snorting is terrible. He panteth in the valleys and exulteth; he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and trembleth; nor turneth he back from the sword. Against him rattleth the quiver, the glittering spear and shield. He devours the ground with fierceness and rage, and is impatient when the trumpet soundeth. He uttereth among the trumpets, Ha! ha! He smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains and the shouting. —Translation from the Book of Job, By Dr. THOMAS SCOTT. IN’TRODUCTION Tue general plan of the present work was conceived by the author some four years ago, and the task of compilation begun. Other engagements, however, soon demanded attention and prevented completion of the work, which the past year has given an opportunity of bringing to a close. Within its pages he has attempted the compression of what is believed to be the greatest body of information about the horse in his rela- tion to drivers, sulkys, tracks, riding, trotting, racing, and the laws pertaining thereto, that has ever appeared in a single vol- ume in this country. In doing this his aim has been to produce a book of reference, the usefulness of which will render its pos- session material to every intelligent individual who breeds, trains, rides, cares for or loves a horse. It is the author’s hope that the execution of the work will, in some measure at least, equal what he believes to have been the merit of its conception. Within the past twenty years a complete revolution has taken place in the breeding and management of horses, govern- ment of tracks, appliances used on the turf, and the rules of racing. During the last half of this period the most profound scientists in England, France, and this country, have made careful and long continued studies on the anatomy, conforma- tion, and external points of the horse; while years have also been devoted to an analysis of the laws of motion, the study of speed inheritance, the physical basis of the several gaits, and the laws of breeding. Moreover, all the progress and extreme development in these lines during the period named, has really been crystallized within the past two years into the most won- derful form, as evinced by the use of the pneumatic sulky and the accomplishment of phenomenal speed on the American turf. Yet with these great changes no useful handbook, v vi INTRODUCTION. coming within reach of the everyday horseman at a modest price, and embodying what science has taught as authoritative upon these subjects, has been published. A few elaborate treatises, beyond the range of the practical horseman in scope of information, and quite beyond his reach in price, have appeared, of the benefits of which he has been unable to avail himself, because by far too scientific for his use, or too expen- sive for his purse. The present volume is believed to do for this class of read- ers what no other single book on the horse and racing, has ever attempted to accomplish. Its range of information embraces terms relating to the horse; his exterior conforma- tion and uses as an animal for riding and driving; to the track or race course; the sulky and track vehicles; the harness; the driver and rider; to equestrianism; the trotting and racing turf; the racing and trotting rules; laws of the States in their relation to horses, tracks, and racing; the phrases and catch- words of great drivers and riders; terms used in the veterinary art so far as they relate to the locomotory organs of the horse, and to general soundness, vices, and faults; with the folk-lore of horses, old sayings, and useful general knowledge of an his- torical and practical character. While numerous books are ready at hand to aid the student and practical craftsman in the arts, sciences, literature, the special processes of mechanics, printing, botany, gardening, and the textile arts—the vast body of intelligent horsemen has been, heretofore, without any single book, presenting in a comprehensive way, the historical, scien- tific, legal, and practical features of their business. In short, this book attempts to do for them, and for the gigantic indus- try which they represent—the horse-breeding, racing, and trot- ting business of the United States—what the numerous readers’ handbooks, dictionaries of phrase and fable, dates, general allu- sions, common things, scientific handbooks and trade glossaries do for students of art: and literature, and skilled workers in the arts and industries. The sources of information have embraced the entire range of horse literature as represented in the incomparable collection in possession of the Boston Public Library; files of sporting and turf journals and magazines of INTRODUCTION. vil this country and England; an extended correspondence with well known turf authorities in the United States, and wide per- sonal acquaintance among practical horsemen, breeders, and trainers. It is interesting to note to what an extent the horse indus- try and turf business of the country has invented its own language —a language expressive, unique, and peculiar; one which until now has existed beyond the realm of literature, because it has had lodgment only in the general practice and rugged brains of trainers, drivers, stablemen, and others who have had to do with horses all their lives. So far as the author is aware, the present volume is the first attempt to embody in collected form the technical vocabulary of the track and its equipments, the fraternity of drivers and riders, and the large body of intelligent gentlemen practically interested in horses, driving, racing, and trotting. Hence the book has been com- piled from original information obtained on the turf and in the stable, as well as from the horse literature of two centuries. The author wishes to say further, that the book is not an English dictionary, a book on stable management, a cyclopedia about horses, a treatise on breeding, a trotting register or year- book, a work on veterinary practice, or on the training and driving of horses—and yet there is something in it under each of these different headings. In memoirs of horses, it includes only the five or six representative or foundation animals in England and America; and no one family or individual is given prominence in preference to another. It contains no expression of opinion that can by any possible construction provoke controversy or lessen the value of the facts presented ; nor does it discuss theories of breeding, training, or manage- ment. It fioats no advertisement of breeder, track or vehicle. The terms pertaining to equestrianism are not generally those of the schools devoted to fancy riding, but those of practical horsemanship. Many terms pertaining to the English turf are included, because our own turf history is founded upon that of the mother country, and because the intelligent driver or eques- trian wishes to be well informed upon all matters relating to turf history and practices, whether in his own country or viii INTRODUCTION. abroad. In consulting the book the reader will generally under- stand in what cases the subject matter refers to the trotting or racing turf, without a repetition of explanation, or a particular statement that such fact pertains to the one or the other. The veterinary terms have been limited mainly to those which relate to the organs of locomotion, to age and soundness, with such as pertain to common ailments, or those most closely related to the horse as a track and riding animal. In law, the general statutes and special acts of States relating to horses, tracks, and racing are given, down..o the close of the year 1893. The incidents and facts of turf history; accounts of remarka- ble horses, races, and events; interesting anecdotes illustrating curious facts; biographical notices of distinguished persons, and the copious references to trotting and racing performances of a noteworthy character, have all been carefully compiled from trustworthy sources. In brief, the book makes plain to the non-professional reader, groom, driver, rider, and horseman, . the accurate meaning of scientific terms relating to the horse, usually given in technical books only, in the language of science, thus educating them in a practical but thoroughly correct: man- ner, in the sciences upon which so much of a true understand- ing of their business and its successful prosecution is founded. Few duplications or cross references have been used. Where a choice has existed the preferable term alone has been defined, or that which a person consulting the book would be most likely to first refer to; while cross references not only take up space to no purpose, but are usually very unsatisfactory to who- soever wishes to consult such a book. Owing to its alphabeti- cal arrangement, the book is its own index; hence, as the title indicates, it is a handbook of reference for facts under special headings, rather than a work to be read for the purpose of obtaining a general view of the subjects which it embraces. Especially is the work useful as a compendium of the turf rules of the United States, because the widest publicity that can be given these rules not only enlightens horsemen and members of associations and societies, but also the spectators who attend fairs and patronize the races. Such persons are much better satisfied when they see a decision made or penalty , INTRODUCTION. ix imposed, if they know the rule and reason for it. They can see there is fair play and no choice between stoga boots and patent leather when they understand the rules and see them enforced without fear or favor, and when they can so understand them, they enjoy the races better. The national rules have elevated the trotting sport of America to a high standard, and fostered a breeding interest which is represented by millions. Every penalty imposed on man or horse for fraud or misde- meanor of any kind, by one member or association, is equally recognized by each and every other member. Thus the power to enforce rectitude and good behavior upon the turf all over the country is absolute. It is evident that a work of this kind, which is believed to be unique, and which must be compiled without having the advantage of any similar work upon which it might be based, and from which materials might be drawn, must of necessity be more or less incomplete. The field covered has been indefi- nitely large, and the aim has constantly been to keep the book within reasonable size, consistent with adequate treatment of subjects. To this end, while it is hoped no important omis- sions will be found, insignificant terms, those of obvious mean- ing and simple facts known by practical horsemen, have generally been excluded. For the purpose of making future editions more complete, the author will be thankful to any one for facts, information, phrases and words which will contribute to this end. The author desires to express his gratitude to the many friends and correspondents who have aided him in the prepara- tion of this work. Thanks are especially due to M. M. Morse, Secretary of the National Trotting Association, Hartford, Conn.; J. H. Steiner, Secretary of the American Trotting Asso- ciation, and of the American Trotting Register Association, Chicago, Ill; E. C. Hopper, Secretary of the American Turf Congress, Covington, Ky.; I. B. Nall, Secretary of the National Saddle Horse Breeders’ Association, Louisville, Ky.; Sanders D. Bruce, editor of the Turf, Field, and Farm, New York; Simon W. Parlin, and J. W. Thompson, editors of the American Horse Breeder, Boston, Mass.; W. B. Fasig, New York; Charles { x INTRODUCTION. E. Walker, South Framingham, Mass.; C. W. Williams, Inde- pendence, Iowa; Dr. George H. Bailey, V. S., Deering, Maine; C. B. Tillinghast, State Librarian, Boston, Mass.; Arthur M. Knapp, keeper of Bates Hall, Boston Public Library, Boston, Mass.; L. D. Carver, State Librarian, Augusta, Maine; and the editors of the Spirit of The Times, New York, and Wailace’s Monthly, and The Horseman, Chicago, Ill. Acknowledgements are also due to the publishers of copyrignted books, quoted in the work, for permission to make extracts from tue same. HANDBOOK OF THE TURF EXPLANATIONS The abbreviations used in the following pages are: ENG. for terms relating to the English turf ; Eq. for those pertaining to equestrianism ; Law. for legal terms and information. A Abdallah. One of the foundation sires of the Ameri- can trotter. He was bred by John Treadwell, Salisbury Place, L. 1, N. ¥., and foaled in 1823; by Mambrino, by imported Messenger, dam Amazonia. Imported Messenger was foaled in 1780, by Mambrino, dam by Turf, and tracing back through the Byerly Turk to a natural Barb mare. The dam of Mam- brino was by imported Sour Crout, second dam by imported Whirligig, third dam old Slammerkin, a race mare by im- ported Wildair. Wildair’s get was so highly esteemed in England that those interested in racing stock in that country sent over here, bought him and took him back to England again. He was by Cade, by the Godolphin Arabian. Of Abdallah’s dam but little is definitely known. It is supposed that her sire was a descendent of imported Messenger. In- deed, it is stated by Mr. J. H. Wallace, (American Trotting Register, I, 60), that she was purchased near Philadelphia by Mr. B. T. Kissam, a dry goods jobber of New York, when on a trip to that city, and she was represented to him to be by a son of imported Messenger. She is described as a chestnut in color, 15.3 hands high, and rather coarse in quality and ill in shape. Abdallah has been best. described, probably, by the late Mr. B..T. Kissam, who knew the horse well. His descrip- tion, which applies to him in his four years old form, is: “He had a long, clean head; ear long and tapering; eyes lively, and of medium size; neck light, and set low on the withers; up car- riage, and when in action head carried perpendicularly; shoul- ders upright; deep in girth; full chested; fore legs very wide apart, causing him to stand with his toes in; light bone, especially below the knees and hocks; knees a little forward, flat-ribbed and short in flank; roached back; hips and loins 11 12 HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. medium breadth; peaked from hips to setting on of the tail, which was very thin-haired; long from hip to hock; rather thin quarters and short fetlocks.” Mr. Kissam omits to say, however, that his color was blood bay, and that he had a star in forehead, with left hind-foot white above the ankle. He stood 15.38 hands high. He was never broken to harness, being ridden under the saddle. He was kept at the farm of his breeder in 1828 and 1829; at Flatbush and Gravesend, N. Y., 1830; near Jamaica, N. Y., 1831; at different places on Long Island and in New Jersey till 1839; at Lexington, Ky., 1840; at Union Course, L. I., 1841 and 1842; at Goshen, N. Y., 1843; at Freehold, N. J., 1844 and 1845; at Chester, N. Y., 1846-48; at the Bull’s Head, N. Y., 1849; at Union Course, N. Y., 1850; and at Patchogue, L. I., 1851. He died of neg- lect and starvation upon a sandy beach on Long Island, in Noveinber, 1854. Abdallah got more fast trotters than any horse of his time. The records show that at least twenty-two of his sons and daughters started in races, and twenty of the number were race winners. Three of his get are found in the 2:30 list, viz.: Sir Walter, 2:27; O’Blennis, 2:30; Frank For- rester, 2:30. He seems to have transmitted the tendency to trot with much greater uniformity through his daughters than through his sons. His daughters are credited with producing eight trotters that are found in the 2:30 list, including Gold- smith Maid, 2:14; and the records show that thirty-two stal- lions out of daughters of Abdallah have got 2:30 performers. Abdomen. The cavity which occupies the rear part of the trunk or body of the horse; the exterior part of which is known as the flank. Abductor. One of the great locomotive muscles of the horse, the function of which is to draw away a limb from the axis of the body; to extend. Abingdon Mile. A famous old English race-course, the length of which was seven furlongs, 211 yards. Abrasion. An abraded spot or place; applied chiefly to a fretting or rubbing of the skin, by which the underlying tissues are exposed. Even though slight, and requiring but little care, abrasions are, until perfectly healed, an unsoundness. Action. The manner of moving; an exertion of power or force; the real relation of a cause to its effect. Action takes its direction from the hips, and power is invariably resi- dent when a horse has a long and somewhat oblique, rather than horizontal quarter. The stifle should never be lower than the elbows, as contributors to leverage and power in the hock. HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 13 Action-controlling Power. That quality of instinct in the horse which governs the movements in a balanced form, without loss of muscular exertion. Added Money. Money added to a regular purse or stake as an extra inducement for entries. Itis given by the track or association in a larger or smaller sum; as in a sweep- stakes, the horses put in $25 each, and the track adds $100. Adductor. The function of drawing towards; the name of several muscles of locomotion which draw certain parts to, or toward, one common center or median line; the opposite of abductor. Against Time. A performance against the watch; a trial of speed. All performances against time are required to be made at a regular meeting of a track, society or association in membership with the National or American trotting asso- ciation, in strict accord with the rules of the trotting turf, and under the conduct of judges and timers regularly appointed. No animal can start in such race pending a heat or trial by another animal, nor until the result of such heat or trial has been announced. There shall be three judges and three timers, and no performance shall take place earlier than 10 o’clock a.m. If a performance against time takes place at a post- poned or continued meeting, such postponement must have been made in accordance with the rules of the trotting turf. The horse starting must start to equal or exceed a specified time, and a losing performance shall not constitute a record or bar. All entries for such performance must be duly made with the official secretary, appear in the printed program of the day, or posted legibly at the judges stand. A reg- ular meeting means a meeting advertised in at least one news- paper not less than one week before the commencement of the race, at which time no less than two regular events, (purse or stake), are advertised for each day, one of which must take place. A match race is not considered a regular event. No “matches against time” are allowed by the trotting rules. Age of the Horse. Modern science has divided the age of the horse as determined by the dentition into five gen- eral periods. They are: 1, the eruption of the incisors of the first dentition, or from birth to about eight to ten months old; 2, the leveling, progressive use and falling out of the incisors of the first dentition, or from about one year to about two years old; 3, the eruption of the permanent or adult teeth, or from the age of two, or two and a half years, to between five and six years old; 4, the leveling of the permanent incisors, or 14 HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. from about six to about eight years old; 5, the wearing away of the crowns, or from about nine to after nineteen years old. In order to ascertain the age of the horse, it is necessary to observe some structural part of the animal, which is liable to little change and may be easily examined; hence the teeth are the only organs that can furnish a guide to age, and they can generally be trusted with a considerable degree of certainty. The incisors of the lower jaw are the ones examined for the age of the animal, as it is seldom that much importance is attached to the appearance of the tushes. The pincher teeth or middle incisors, generally appear when the foal is from six to eight days old, the upper teeth appearing first. At four months there are four teeth in the upper and four in the lower jaw, and at about eight to ten months old the corner incisors and intermediate teeth are entirely through the gums. At about two and a half years of age, the dental arch is complete. The central nippers of the lower jaw are the first permanent teeth, the middle and corner nippers being temporary, the for- mer, or permanent teeth, being much larger than the latter. At about three and a half years of age, the middle nippers give place to a permanent pair, and from a year later to five years of age the corner nippers are replaced by permanent ones. At this age the horse has what is termed a “full mouth;” or in other words all the permanent nippers are in place. From this age up, the spots or marks in the center of the teeth, the dentine, must be the chief guide in determining the age. At five years of age the central nippers are somewhat worn, leav- ing a small black spot in the center, but their shape, which is oval, has not yet changed. The marks of the middle nippers are not so large as formerly. At six years of age the central nippers have but a very small spot of dentine in their center, the middle pair have lost much of theirs, and the corner pair, while showing less than two years previous, are yet quite full. In the male the tushes are fully up, but are showing no appear- ance of wear. At from six to seven years of age the teeth show more wear, although they have changed but little; the center marks being less distinct, and the corner nipper smaller. At eight years of age the teeth are quite oval in form, their character, however, is not much changed. After this age they begin to become triangular in form, particularly that of the central incisors, or nippers. At nine years of age the central marks have nearly disappeared, only a small black speck remaining; the central incisors are slightly triangular in form, and the tusks are more rounded at the points. The wear of the corner nippers is much indicated. At ten years of age the HANDBOOK OF THE TURF, 15 central pair of nippers is markedly triangular in shape; the marks in the center are nearly obliterated, the teeth are longer and project forward more than in the case of younger horses. At eleven years of age all the teeth become more triangular in form, they increase in length, project forward, and the tusks are greatly rounded at the points. These characteristics have increased at twelve years of. age, and the front corner nippers are worn away even with the middle pair—the wear being less on the back portion. From thirteen to nineteen years of age the same general characteristics appear, the shape of the teeth be- comes more triangular, the nippers are longer and project forward in an increased degree, and the tushes are round at the points. If a horse’s mouth presents exactly the characters which indicate a certain number of years of growth, we say that it ‘is — years;” if it has not quite attained the age, it is described as “rising — years;” if it has passed the period and has not yet attained the markings of another year, it is counted as ‘‘— years off.’—Age of the Domestic Animals, Rush S. Huidkoper, M. D. By the teeth, only, in my judgment, can the age be known certainly, and by them, certainly, only until the ninth year.—Horse and Horse- manship of the United States, Henry William Herbert. Age of the Horse. Buffon says that the duration of the life of the horse is, as in all other species of domestic animals, proportionate to the duration of their period of growth or increase. The period of increase of the horse con- tinues throughout four years, and he can live six or seven times as long; that is to say twenty-five or thirty years. The life of mares is ordinarily longer than that of horses. At ten years of age, if a horse is sound and free from objection- able habits, he is a safer purchase than one five years of age. The older horse is less liable to sudden or acute attacks of dis- ease such as colic, etc., and if properly cared for, is good for many years of reasonable service. Albertus Magnus mentions that in his time, 1193-1280, there was an instance of a charger proving serviceable at the advanced age of ety and Augustus Nephus says there was a horse in the stable of Ferdinand the First, 1503-1564, that had attained the extraordinary age of seventy years. This is the oldest horse which I have ever heard of, and, in all probability, the only one on record which had reached that age.—Authentic Anecdotes and Sketches of Horses, Capt. Thomas Brown, London, 1830. Age of Trotters. Records show that the trotter and pacer are longer on the turf than the thoroughbred race-horse. Forty-one horses have trotted in 2:30 or better at fifteen years of age; eleven at sixteen years of age; sixteen at seventeen years of age; seven at eighteen years of age; one at nineteen years of age, and one at twenty-one years of age. At seventeen years of age Goldsmith Maid trotted a mile in 2:14. Age, Rule of. The National, American and Racing rules provide that the age of a horse shall be reckoned from the first. daw of January of the vear of foaling. 16 HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. Aged. In trotting and running parlance, any horse over six years of age. Agistor, Agister. An officer of the royal forests of England having the care of horses and cattle agistered, and of collecting the money for the same; one who receives and pastures horses and cattle for hire; a law term used in describ- ing a lien on horses. Aids in Riding. [Eq.] The hand and the heel are denominated aids of the rider. Air Pump. An apparatus for the compression or trans- mission of air. In the common form the air is given motion by means of a cylinder and piston. With the use of the pneumatic sulky the air pump has become a necessity with every driver for inflating the rubber tires of the sulky. Alfalfa. The Spanish name of lucerne, Medicago sativa. It is largely used in California as a forage for horses, and while it does very well for brood mares and youngsters, it is regarded as a washy grass and affects the kidneys of horses in training most unfavorably. Alix. Bay mare, 15.3 hands high, white in the face and one white hind ankle. Bred by Daniel Hayes, Muscatine, Towa, and foaled in 1888. By Patronage, 4143, by Pancoast, 1439; dam, Atlanta, by Attorney, 1005, second dam Flint, by General Hatch, 139, third dam Dolly by a son of imported Gleucoe. Holding the World’s records to the close of 1898, for one mile by a mare in a race, Washington Park, Chicago, September 14, 1893, 2:072; for one mile by a four year old filly, Nashville, Tenn., November 5, 1892, 2:10; for fastest first heat in a race, Chicago, Tl, September 14, 1893, 2:073; fastest fifth heat in a race, Columbus, Ohio, August 25, 1893, 2:093, and fastest ninth heat in a race, Chicago, Il. , September 16, 1893, 2:093. All Abroad. When a horse jumps cross-legged at the start, or is in some other way out of form, especially in a run- ning race, so that he is a long time in recovering, and it is evident the heat is lost to him at the start, he is said to be “all abroad.” Allowance. A favor granted a horse, by the rules, on account of age, sex, or other condition. While penalties are obligatory, allowances are optional; but if claimed, the claim should be stated when the entry is made. In all heat races of the Turf Congress, an allowance of five pounds is made from the scale of weights; and in all races excepting handicaps and those in which the conditions are absolute, fillies and geldings HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 17 two years old are allowed three pounds, and mares and geld- ings three years old and upward are allowed five pounds before the first of September of each year, and three pounds after that date. In a race exclusively for three-year-olds, for in- stance, the weight to be carried is 122 pounds. Now, if a horse was entered that had won two races, he would carry 127 pounds; or, in other words, carry a five pound penalty; but if another horse should enter that fad not won a race, it would carry 115 pounds only, or receive an allowance of seven pounds. Amble. The pace; said to be the first natural gait of young colts. In ambling. the horse moves two legs on the same side at the same time, and poth feet strike as one; then the limbs on the other side advance and strike as one, the strokes—one, two—completing the revolution. In England, in the time of Edward I, (1307-1327), horses were taught to amble or pace by the use of trammels made of strong listing, or irons, which were attached like chains and fetters, to con- trol the gait. Some horses are amblers first, and afterwards learn to trot, and travel equally well in both pace 3 indeed, considering the small. propor- tion of horses that fall into this pace, and the record made by them on the turf, it may be thought to ‘have no disadvantage over the regular trot. It would seem to give great advantage to a short-. bodied horse, as there is no danger of overreaching.—The Horse in Motion, J. D. B. Stillman. American Derby. Names of several events in the United States, which have been maintained with greater or less regularity for the past thirty years. The first Derby ever run in this country was at Patterson, N. J., in 1861. In 1863 the Kentucky Derby was established at Lexington, Ky., but it was not run till 1864, the event taking place at Louisville. The following is the list of American Derbys: American, Chicago, Ill; Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark.; Brooklyn, Brook- lyn, N. Y.; Cony Island, Sheepshead Bay, N. Y.; Kentucky, Louisville, Ky.; Latimer, Covington, Ky.; Twin City, St. Paul, Minn.; Tennessee, Memphis, Tenn. But one American Derby was run in 1893—that at Washington Park, Chicago, Il. American Eclipse. teeth—that is, between the corner incisors and the tusks. hey are used for controlling the horse according to his own sculiar disposition and the service required of him. ' As a meral rule, horses requiring bits of extraordinary severity or ower are either naturally vicious, or were spoiled when being lucated to the bit. Bits may be described under two classes: tandard, or those for general use; and special, or those for articular horses and purposes. The former embrace those for vad, driving, coach and park uses; and the latter those used 32 HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. in handling, training or driving trotting and racing horses. The first class is much the smaller, comprising those standard bits which have been used unchanged for more than a quarter of a century, and are still so well adapted to their purposes as to be incapable of improvement. The second class is charac- terized by great variety. As has been said, doubtless with much truth, that nearly every horse on the course or turf requires a different bit, it will readily be seen how the various forms and peculiarities of bit now in use, have an excuse for their being. A great driver uses a bit of some novel form for a great horse, and it at once becomes adopted by other drivers, and upon horses of supposed similar peculiarities of mouth or disposition. This is one reason for the increase in the number of bits of diverse patterns. Again, different bits are required for hard or tender mouths, for tongue lollers, for side pullers, for horses having peculiar dispositions or odd ways of going special to their own individuality, and this calls for bits of different form or bearing, designed for the particular service the horse is performing. Under these two classes, only the lead- ing bits, those best known and most popular among the great trainers, drivers and riders, are named, with a brief description of their characteristics. I. Bor. Straight bar with guards; Bridoon or watering, a plain jointed bar with small side rings; Bridoon, with half guards; Bridoon, with double joint and half guards; Carriage, with bar for curb and bearing rein; Carriage bit and bridoon, with arched bar for the play of the tongue; Cavalry or military, a powerful, severe bit, has an arched bar and single rein; Cavalry (U. S. Army) bit and bridoon, has two bits, a curb, two reins; Common snaffle, straight bar and single jointed; Double-jointed snaffle for hard pullers; Double-barred snaffle, similar in action to the double pantograph; Expansion snafile, opening in the center of the bar; Liverpool with straight or curved bar and sliding attachment; Mexican ring, a severe, cruel bit, the ring hard and unyielding, pressing on the roof of the mouth, the bar hay- ing two or three tags similar to a mouthing bit; Mouthing, a jointed bar having three tags, and also a straight bar with from six to ten pendants or tags; Plain snaffle, stiff or jointed bar with guards or half guards; Plain jointed snaffle, with crest strap; Pelham, a plain or jointed bar, the joint more of a hinge than a loop; Pantograph snaffle, a double barred bit, the joints unequal, making a double converging action; Shifting, the bar having a shifting motion across the mouth from side to side, as one or the other rein is drawn, and acting like a gag; Wire snaffle, of twisted wire, thin, sharp and rough. II. HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 33 1: Driving—Allerton, a steel jointed snaffle, rubber covered; Allie Wilkes, rawhide covered with pork rind, for a tender mouth; Adjustable curb, curb overdraw; Axtel, rawhide, covered with leather; Baldwin, a straight bar with half guards for pullers and side pullers; Britt, bar bit for pullers; Case’s easy check, with chin rest; Cribbing bit; Cribbing and wind sucking, for preventing wind sucking and cribbing; Crit Davis, overcheck, with loop bar to prevent lugging; Colby, leather, with adjustable nose band; Colt mouthing; Chain, a plain chain mouth-bit with rings; Dexter, jointed bar, or stiff, plain ring with no cheek-piece; Double-bar, overcheck, to prevent lug- ging; Dan Mace snaffle; Ellis’ all-leather, overcheck; Fair- banks check, leather covered; Four-ring; Furlong, for pullers; Flexible, rubber track, a wrought chain, rubber covered; Golden, plain bar, half guards; Hanscom, flexible mouth-bit, leather covered; Henry check, plain bar; Hercules rubber, a double jointed snaffle, rubber covered, with half guards; Imperial, for tongue lolling; J. I. C., with double bar, half guards; Leather, leather covering a wrought chain; Lever over- check, to prevent pulling; Lindsey humane, with chain rest and overdraw check attachment; Magic safety, adjustable bar with rings; Miles’ sensible controlling, for tongue lollers; Merriam’s pulley; Ne Plus Ultra, a double arched bar; Nodine, rubber covered, with half guards; Perfection, jointed snaffle and double bar, for pullers and tongue lollers; Plain overcheck, plain or jointed, with rings; Racine, double bar; Rockwell; Rowley Spring, rubber covered; Prof. Sanborn’s controlling, jointed bar, with ball, and inside rings for nose band; Squires’ Hercules, a double-jointed snaffle; Springsteen, a hinge-bar, with extra rings for overcheck, the hinge not allowing the check-pieces to come close together; Sloat’s automatic curb; Squires’ humane driving; Stalkers’ breaking; Tongue lolling, a stiff bar with center pad, rubber covered; Victor, jointed snaffle for side pullers; W., mouth bit for pul- lers; Wilson, four-ring, with plain joint, or middle joint; Woodmansee, for pullers. 2: iding—Burgess’ combination, a double jointed bit with half guards; Dan Mace, hand forged steel, plain bar; Daniels’ English steel port; English riding bridoon; Frost’s rubber covered; Kentucky racking, curved cheek; Norton bit; Pelham, jointed bar; Rockwell, jointed snaffle; Whitman riding; Wilson, single or double joint, buckle overchecks, and cheeks with small rings. 8: Coach bits—Balloon check, sliding mouth; Buxton, sliding mouth, loose cheek; Duke’s bend; Hanoverian, both stiff and loose check, wrought bar, two loops; Liverpool, sliding mouth; Pul- 3 34 HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. ley bridoon. 4: Gig bit—Squirrel-tail style, stationary cheek 5: Miscellaneous—Burton’s drenching bit for administering medicines; Green’s operating bit, having an adjustable double- bar, with sliding side-pieces fastened by set-screws, to hold the jaws open while performing operations. The bit has a wide field in both ils general use and in its individual operations, which, in the saddle horse’s mouth, is or should be magical. Every horse we see employed, has a bit in his mouth; every race is lost and won with the bit, and under its management millions of dollars a year change hands. It plays its part in all the equine feats, interests and operations in every land, whether civilized or barbaric, in both peace and war, and in the truck, cart, ear and agricultural interests it plays its most humble, yet impor- tant part. While in war, a nation might as well lay down its arms as to relinquish the bit.—The Bridle Bits, Col. J. C. Battersby. Bit and Bridoon. A double bridle. The bridle has two distinct bits—the curb bit and the bridoon bit. If one bit or rein should break there is one of each left. Each bit has a separate headstall, and to each bit there is a separate rein. A martingale is used with this bridle, and so looped on the over- lapping girth that both girths shall fit tight to the horse. A perfect bit for pleasure riding. The bridoon rein on which the martingale hangs is less than an inch wide, but its strength corresponds with the power used with it in holding the horse up while riding in ordinary, lifting him at the leap, or in bear- ing the strain of the martingale if necessarily short. Col. Battersby says of it that “for use on the road or in the park, it is the embodiment of perfection, and can never be improved upon or surpassed.” Bitting Rig. The bitting rig for gentling and educat- ing young colts consists of bridle, saddle or surcingle, and crupper. The bit should be the plain, jointed snaffle, and the bridle will have the ordinary side check. Bitting, Good. The characteristics of good bitting are lightness, accuracy, easy motion and a total absence of stiff- ness, constraint or painful action. If these be attained as the result of careful handling and correct education, ready obedi-/ ence to the rider’s hand and heel will be the result. Blanket. See CLoruine. Blaze.