The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-07-19

when the necessity requires and are
by no means of daily occurrence, for
which am duly thankful.
The one all-important requisite for
a successful jockey is to keep a cool
head and to possess an unerring judg-
ment. for if he loses one and fails Of
having the other at critical moment,
he will never overcome the many OBJ
stacles that meet him with every turn
Of the track, and never win race un-
less he is mounted upon horse that
will carry him through in spite of
himself. There is as much strategy
aud finesse to be exercised on the race
course as on the battlefield. One
must know his enemy thoroughly,
must be alive TO take instant advan-
tage of any errors his opponents may
make. He must endeavor to make
his rivals use up all their strength be-
fore the critical moment comes, and
must reserve for himself sufficient
force to carry him safely through the
final struggle. But above all he
should be very intimately acquainted
with the capabilities of his own horse,
and must be thoroughly conversant
with all its points of weakness, as
we'll as its elements of strength, for
the former may often be taken ad-
vantage of if they are not known to
his opponents. There is a certain
knack of riding " hich it is difficult to
explain, but which has a substantial
existence just the same, that enables
one almost to lift his horse along, es-
pecially in passing under the wire,
when fortunate leap will carry you
to the front by even a nose. Many a
lucky win of mine has been made in
that way, noticeably in the recent
race race where Tea Tray and Tristan
were at the fore, and Tristan won by
so small fraction that it is said that
no one on the track saw the true re-
suit, excepting the judges. In that
race, which was one of the most ex-
citing in which [ have ever been en-
gagged, | was able to lift Tristan al
most by main strength, when | felt
that had surely lost.
IT is STIRRING WORK.
The sensations which a jockey ex-
periences in. speeding around the
track are many and varied, and there
is always the utmost exhilaration of
mind, and every muscle Of his body
is drawn to tension approaching the
breaking point. He has little chance
to view the landscape within the en-
closure, or to see the mad crowd that
is cheering him on through the grand
stand, or at the fences close by the
track, even if his eyes are not blinded
by the showers of mud or the clouds
Of dust with which the enemy in
front delights to greet him. But he
knows instinctively that the landscape
and the crowd are there and he hears
the cheers of the mob family above
the clatter of the horses hoofs. These
are quiet and subdued sounds at the
start which are completely lost the
moment the first turn is made,
and then they cease altogether
until the home stretch is gained,
when the noise grows gradually loud
er, but seldom becomes good sized
one for the Jockeys ears. 1t is when
the race is over and the victory is
won that the jockey remembers all
he has passed through. The nervous
exhaustion occasioned by a record
breaking mile is excessive, but bath
and rundown soon put the jockey in
healthy trim for the next race.
The profession of the race-rider is
one which is greatly misunderstood
by the outside public, though much
Of the calumny that has been heaped
upon it is undoubtedly merited, and
thus the jockeys themselves are really
TO blame. But | cannot see why any
man can so comport himself, provided
be has any gentlemanly instincts, that
be cannot elevate his vocation so that
it may gain the respect of the COM
Surely, there is no business
IN which more money can be made,
and there is none in which the COM
petition will ever be so small, for good
Jockeys are few and far between.
There are not many men who are able
TO keep their weight down to the re-
luired limit, and many splendid Fl
Ter has been lost to the track because
ne has grown too fat. Think you
that 1 would not rather be jockey
with the nice pile | pull in every year,
with my family in a comfortable
nome, than a clerk in dry goods
store at starving wages, and room
On the top floor Of cheap tenement
house? Amy race-rider who is honest
and sober can gain the regard Of his
fellowmen and save enough Of this
worlds goods in a few years to make
him independent for life.
WILLIAM HAYWARD.