Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-05-04
Experiences of a Jockey,


You see, it came about this way. in
the most accidental kind of how. News
papers was dull there hadn't been a
murder nor nothing lively for weeks,
and boots was played out, and kind of
hankered aite: change. think that's
my tault-not being contcnted with
what Pm doing. | amt much over sew
enteen now, and Pve been most every
thing made cigars and tin-ware, and
been in the hat business, and tried my
hand at painting, aud know something
about 'em all-but some day am bound,
you know, to be real steady. But Pm
going off ever so far from where start
ed One day all elegant-looking gentle
mamie had on n gold chain as thick
round as harness trace, a diamond pin
as big cobble-stone-meets me in the
streets, and keeps looking at me ever so
long. First thought he was a detect
i've, but as knew hadn't done nothing,
| took no notice Of him. But still he
kept spy at me, and presently says he,
"Boy, would you like 10 ride horse 2"
"Woaldn't | ?' says |, SO quick | most
took his breath away. "Ken you ride at
all ?" he asks. "Don't know nothink
about it," said. "W hat do You weigh 90
he says, mighty curious ike, a poking in
to my ribs to see if | was fat and club
by. THAT 1 can't say, neither" said.
"Come round to a groc'r'S and we will
find out" followed him, and he put
me on scales and Just turned seventy
pound. "1ou'll do" said he. So he
gave me money to go by railroad to n
town in New Jersey, and that was my
first set off for a jockey. 1t was a bitter
cold day in December when | got off at
the station, and along the road l had
most mind more than once to turn
back. I'd knowed boy once as had
been prentice in the circus business and
had run'd away from it, and awful tough
yarns he used TO tell us of the times he
had. Spangles and tights, and jumping
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 | landed
there was quite a good-looking young
mani thought he was young, but after
a while J found he was full grown and
over forty-a waiting for me- He was
the boss tlainer. He must have been
born for the business. He was Just all
bone and sinew. The biggest things
about him was his knees and his hands.
guess they was what you call dewcl-
oped, because he used to clutch the
horse like vice with them thin knees of
his when he rode, and could with his
hands just pull horses head clear off
his neck. He made me feel kind of at
home; his name was Job Haskins, may
be you have heard of him? He was an
EngliShnlan and was imported on pur-
pose to take care OF the whole stable,
train the horses and teach the boys
There was some halfdozen other boys
besides me; among 'em two little tel-
lows, twins. not more nor 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 brood mares. lie
kind of coaxed me TO go into some of
their stalls, but | tell you went out
quick again. A CROSS horse with a
strange boy amt no fun, They would
let him pat 'em, but just as soon as
tried it they'd curl their lips and fiatten
down their ears and make lunge at me.
Presently he showed me handsome
horse, with coat as smooth as silk, and
asked me how l liked him. "First rate"
says /, 'if it wasn't that he amt friend,
ly," for Just then he had made nip at
me. "Anyways," said Job Haskins,
she'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 as
two sucking pigs" 0
Next morning, Sdnd-6oy-that was
the name Of my horse-and me became
acquainted. l guess it 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 his food
quite natural after awhile. Somebody
showed me how to cleap him. That was
a job. He seemed toShave entirely for
gotten his feed and made for me- "a doz-
en- times. After a while, however
before the day was over, he kind of toll
Grated me, but bless yon before a week
was over, me- aRdN him were bosom
friends. When I'd come in the stable,
he'd kind of look for me and snicker.
He cut his foot once pretty bad he
forged some little, and kept as much as
two whole days bathing of his foot.
After that, could do anything with
him; sometimes when he's been asleep,
Pve crept into his stall and laid along
side Of him, by the hour. If it had been,
however, party he hadn't been ac-
quanted with, he would have kicked his
brains out in FIVE minutes. followed
ont pretty closely the trainers orders,
which was never to abuse or holler out