HOW TO RIDE A QUITTER.

NZ Truth, Issue 818, 16 July 1921, Page 11

HOW TO RIDE A QUITTER.

Quite a number of horses now racing are inclined to' shirk a flight at a finish, and it is an open question whether it is better to take such an animal to the front as early' as possible 1 or to wait with it m the hopes of snatching the race with one finishing run. James Barden, now a Rand-wick trainer, and once a crack rider, holds very (decided views on the point, and his opinion is worthy of every respect. The matter cropped up while watching a race m which a competitor that -was known to be a quitter was taken to the front, only to collapse when tackled m the straight.* "It's no good riding that sort to the front," said Barden. "The pace they make only means that they are settling themselves,' and when anything comes at them they won't fight a yard. -Ji is better, to wait back with them and let something else do the pace-making, and then come at them* with one run. A shirker will often go on when 'he finds that he is catching and beating the -horse m front of him, but will refuse to struggle when he, finds that he himself, is being- caught and beaten by a, horse from behind." Possibly the only Teal ., cure for a. "quitter" is the sales ring* 'but . a purchaser is not always forthcoming, and 'an owner who finds himself saddled with one of these "conscientious ob-* jectors" might benefit by Barden's suggestion. It might mean the winning of one race, avid once a horse wins a race he is easy to sell.