THE RACER. 33

them exercising daily on the Downs, but I
am sure you cannot imagine how much care 1s
expended upon them, before they are fit for
entering the race-course, and contending for
the prize. Shall I describe how they are trained,
Harry ?”

“Oh! by all means, Uncle Thomas; I am
very anxious to hear about the mode of training
Race-horses.”

“In stables set apart for this purpose, it
is usual for all the boys who are engaged in
tending the horses to rise at the same hour,
from half-past two in the morning im spring, to
between four and five in the depth of winter.
The horses hear them when they awaken each
other, and neigh, to denote their eagerness to
be fed. Being dressed, the boy begins with
carefully cleaning out the manger, and giving
the horse a feed of oats, which he is obliged
no less carefully to sift. He then proceeds to
dress the litter; that is, to shake the bed on
which the horse has been lying, remove what-

D