The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-04-27
THE EXPERIENCES OF A JOCKEY.

the most accidental kind of how.
| Newspapers were dull there hadn't
been murder nor nothing lively for
weeks, and boots were played out, and
| kind OF handkered after change
[ think that's my fault-not being con
tented with what I'm doing l amt
much over seventeen now, and l have
been most everything cigars and
tlnware, and been in the hat business,
nd tried my hand at painting, and |
know something about 'em all-but
some day am bound, you know, to be
real steady. But I'm going ever so far
from where ] started. One day an ele
gant-looking gentleman-he had on a
gold chain as thick round as a harness
trace, diamond pin as big as cobbIe-
| stone-meets me In the street, and
| keeps looking at me ever SO long.
First [ thought he was a detective, but
as | knew | hadn't done nothing, took
no notice of him. Still he kept a-spy
at me, and presently says he, boy,
would you like to ride horse ~
Wouldn't II" says l, so quick l
most took his breath away "ken you
ride at all ~ he asks Don't know
nothink about it, [ said. "What do
you weigh - he says, mighty curious
like, poking into my ribs to see if [
| was fat and chubby ''That [ can't
say neither | said "Come round to
| the grocer's and we will find out T
followed him, ana he put me on the
| scales and L Just turned seventy pounds.
you'll DO, said he. SO he gave me
money to go by railroad to town in
New Jersey, and that was my first set
out as a Jockey. 1t was a bitter cold
day IN December when [ got off at the
station, and along the road ] had most
a mind more than once to turn back.
Id known q boy once as had been 'pren-
tice IN the circus business and had
ri nd away from it, and awful tough
warns he used to tell us OF the times he
had. Spangles and tights, and Jump
ing through hoops, was all very pretty
to look at, but was only learnt by means
SO he told us, of no end of licking, so !
kind of felt queer, seeing [ was going
INTO pretty much the same kind of horse
business. However, when L landed
there vas quite a good looking young
mani thought he was young, but after
while / found he WAS full grown and
over forty-a waiting for me. He was
the boss trainer. He must have been
born for the business. He was lust all
bone aud smew The biggest things
about him was his knees and his hands
l guess they was what you call devel-
oped, because he used to clutch the
horse like vice with them shin knees
OF his when lie rode, and could with
his hands. just pull horses
head clear of his neck. He
made me fee. kind of at home
his name was Job Haskins, may be YOU
heard OF him T! He was an Englishman,
and was imported on purpose to take
| care OF the whole stable, train the
horses and teach the boys. There was
some half dozen other boys besides me:
among EN- two little fellows, twins.
not more than eight years of age. That
very night, after supper, he showed me
the horses. There must have been not
less than ten running horses, and as
many as thirty blood mares. He kind
of coaxed me to go into their stalls.
but tell you L went out quick again.
cross horse with strange boy amt
no fun They would let him pat 'em.
but just as soon as [ tried it they'd
curl their lips and fatten down their
ears and make lunge at me- Present
ly he showed me a handsome horse.
with coat as smooth as silk and asked
me how | liked him. "First-rate." saws
L. . II 1T wasn't that he amt friendly"
for Just then he had made nip at me.
Anyways, says Job Haskins, "be's
your horse, and you must take care of
him. feed him, wash him and ride him,
and you'll soon be just as loving us two
sucking pigs"
Next morning, Sand -boy-that was
the name, of my hQrsc-and I became
acquainted. L guess 1T was the oats he
wanted, for save smelling at me, and |
KIND of looking little suspicious out
OF the corner of his eye, he took to his |
feed quite naturally after while. |
Somebody showed me how to clean
HIM. That was a job. He seemed to
have entirely forgotten his feed and |
made for mc-a dozen times. After a |
while, however-maybe atore the day
was over-he kind of tolerated me, but |
bless YOU afore week was over, me
and him was bosom friends. When I'd |
come III the stable, he'd kind of look Mt
me and snIker. He cut his foot once
pretty bad, he forged some little, and I
tNN IL 90 iIttth tNo Muo1t uuNS a oath
ing of his foot After that / could do
anything with him; sometimes when
he's been asleep I've crept into his stall
and laid alongside of him 10y the hour.
If 1t had been, however, party
he hadn't been acquainted with, he
would have kicked his brains out in
five minutes. | followed ont pretty
closely the trainers orders, which was
never to abuse or holiar ont at a horse.
but to get him to like you, as then he
would work better for you than for
else. Al / had to do then.
YOU see, was TO take care of Sand-bo
and to ride him. [ used TO feed him at
seven O'Clock, and be mighty particular
about his oats, to sift and winnow them.
then to water him. Then I'd clean him,
and at nine [ would ride him until
eleven. First starting on walk. then s
A canter, and given him spurts when
he felt like 1t. Mostly was home by {
eleven, and then | had to rub him !
Town, clean and make him nice and {
Try I'd feed him then, get my own !
Inner at twelve and half, and at two c