Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-04


Sir Charles Russell, in opening the case for the
defense In the turf trial now in progress, inti-
mated that some OF the younger and Fighter
members OF the bar, allured by the splendid In
comes derived from riding race horses, might pos
slDly be tempted to turn their attention to this
lucrative calling. By the rules Of the Jockey
the fee for a successful mount is i've guineas and
lor losing one three guineas. Two jockeys last
year rode In more than five hundred races each,
the highest number being 5S1. In both cases their
incomes must by this scale alone have exceeded
c2OOO: In the case, however, OF exceptionally
s ski riders this ordinary rate Of remunera-
lion Is OFTEN very largely Increased. In important
races f25, and sometimes more, Is given 10 secure
the services OF such horsemen. Moreover, .strav-
cling expenses" and also zone guinea q day for
living are by the rules OF the JOCKEY club pro-
vided for The collection OF their fees is not left
10 the Jockeys, the owner being compelled to pay
when he pays his stakes for the race. Liberal as
theSe arrangements are they do not exhaust the
sources OF revenue OF these fortunate individuals
py no means small percentage OF the incomes
OF jockeys obtained from riding in trials on the
training grounds, two guineas being the sum
usually paid for this work. 1t Is or course impos-
sibe to compute the revenue thus received the re-
cpients, and perhaps the income-tax commission
ers alone being In the secret A similar remark
applies 10 the extravagant sums not unfreQuently
lavished on riders who have proved successful In
such events as the Derby, the ST. Ledger the City
and Suburban, the Cesarewitch, or the Cambridge
Snlre III Is not unusual TO put Jockey In one OF
these great gambling races on q "hundred to moth
in" or "thousand TO nothing" as 1t Is called,
meaning that without risk he viii, II he wins re-
ceive the f1OO or the 81, 900, as the case may be-
This can hardly be regarded as other than an ind-
rect stem OF bribery, as although 1t sometimes
given by wealthy owners out OF pure good nature,
and Is promised In anticipation OF winning large
stake or coveted prize, 1t is more often than not
Intended as an indueement to the Jockey to "keep
straight" and as means Of making 1t impossible
for others TO tamper with him. Large sums are
also paid annually by owners OF important racing
studs to secure the 'rst call" ON the services Of
notable performers in the saddle and the more
prominent receive retainers for s.second call, and
even "third CALL" II Will be that for a Jockey
OF ability who can ride at moderate weight there
Is nothing 10 prevent the earning legtimately of
sum Of "a, 900 20 $4,000 year, and when, as Is
often done, TO all the above are added
a little horse dealing, little betting, and
in the case or the shady members of
the order little business In the shape OF selling
large sum TO be exceeded. There is, however an
other side to the shield. The lengthy HASTINGS
the 1nordnate sweatings, the reduction OF weig mt
by lowering medicines, which some find to be
Deedful, produce only too often early consumption
and death,of which q terrible example was fur.
Dished Ia the late Fred Archer. II Is by no means
unlikely that had the Handicapped assigned ST.
Mirln eight stone twelve pounds in The Cambridge
shire or 1886 instead OF eight stone seven pounds
Archer would still have been practicing hts pro-
feSsioD. II Is only right that men who incur these
risks should be literally paid but there should be
a limit, and We cannot but regard the high re-
for the welfare OF the turf IL is to be hoped that
at all events the practice OF brbing the Jock eys
by large premiums Will be Sternly put down by
those who have the power.