New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-29
SOME TURF REFORMS.
TOO. MUCH MONEY OFFERED TO JOCKEYS.

ABUSES THAT SHOULD BE CoRRECTED-A SAD
pIrNG PADDOCK THAT Us NOT sADDI1NG
PADDOCK = JEROME PARKS FALL
MEDrING-RICH STAKES TO CLOSE.
The reckless John GilpIn STYLE Of riding that has
recently become too common among our lightweight
Jockeys is the result Of species of bribery, which,
while It may not be technically wrong, leads TO many
abuses A corrective of sort is sadly needed;
either that a wholesome suspension for an In
definite period. The customary fee of a jockey Is
PCS II he wins, so II he loses This would seem
compensation enough to induce every rider TO do his
best but things have TO that pass in the United
States when the average jockey holds in sovereign
contempt tho trainer who would presume TO offer him
miserable pttance s25 for winning race.
For such he has the same whitening sheer that
the waiter In fashionable metropolitan restaurant
bestows Oh the guest who is brave enough TO leave
only a dime beside HIS plate when he departs. 1t
must be admitted. however, that in respect of fees
trainers not Jockeys responsible for the condition
that oenfronts them. The manipulation oil
"good thing cannot be sure of
having run for bis money with only S25
nducement for the Jockey he engages therefore, to
guarantee faithful service he secretly promises the
rider 800 $500, 81 900 II he wins. Or. after
backing his horse heavily, he the temporary
controller Of his destiny that 500 of his bet at 20
TO i belongs 10 him. Such a sum $4,000 is worth
riding for. The faithful service secures Is a total
disregard Tor the gentle oi
determination 10 get Off in front at any sacrce' IN
difference 10 the rights OF opponents foul riding, II
necessary to accomplish the end desired even at the
risk of life and limb, complaints of interference IL
the happens to be lost and, perhaps. perjury 10
establish claim. These are evils that should DO
eliminated from the turf. Nobody objects. NOBODY
has the right to object the most liberal emolunent
OF Jockeys that owners and trainers can afford Inc
stingiest of men feel loosenng Of the purse strings
when their horses win fat prizes, and the Jockey VINO
safely lands great stake IS entitled to handsome r.
Enumeration. Mr.. Ha,ygin gave Mclaughlin S2'ooo
for winning the Realization Stahes with salvador anu
the public thought the present not beyond McLaush-
Inns deserving. Samuel Emery gave Mccarthy SI'oVo
when Dry Monopole won the Brooklyn iiandicap "hio
Pierre Lor,llard's gift 10 Fred. Archer. who roe
Iroquois to victory the Derby Of 1881 was moro a
many q wen-to-do earns in whole year. -
IS not the custom Of giving such presents l" "n'0'
objection is made. but the natural outsrOwth OF aoUS
to which that custom leads. Perhaps ue oe,' o",o
is to be found in sharper eyes and more ngiu Dach-
homes In the judges stand and the presence OF rev
diligrut parolmen the turns and along the Dach-
stretch. Do not suppose for moment that any mum
Der of patroImen could ever hope 10 prevent @o
pullingof horsef jockey thought 1t 10 his interest
TO finish behind the winner There are TOO many
ways of stopping mount for us ever to dream OF
detecting them. If 1O5G0 lynx eyes, which are sup
posed 10 be extremely sharp, were set In the inner
rail at Monmouth-thst would be one pair TO every
running foot-horses might continue 10 suffer them
selves to be pulled with impuniy, not only by cur
most accomplished riders but by stable boys as we'll
No. patrofmen could not prevent pulling. But they
might SOP foul riding, and 10 that end racing as
sociations should employ few.
In the meekest and humblest spirit the writer calls
The attention of the Monmouth Park officials to the
disposition of certain trainers TO avoid exhibiting
heir horses 30 the spectators Ia the grand stand
and paddock before sending thom to the pest These
gentlemen cannot have failed to notice of late how
,feQ Jockeys mount al the stable and ride directly
10 the post without showing themselves their
animals Oh the quarter stretch. Certain owners
maize II rule never to send their horses into the
paddock under any circumstances. consequently the
public form opinion as TO the condition OF those
animals until the race is run To the betting com
munity This is positive injury. person inclined
to speculate likes look horse over carefully before
investing. BY all let him have the opportunity
10 do So He pays well for IL. What is the meaning
Of The extra charge Of 90 cents for paddock badge II
men are not 10 have the privilege of seeing the
horses before the race? There are few tracks In
this country where trainers required to saddle
their animals in the paddock II Is an excel
lent rule, and the only one which can
iustify an extra charge for paddock privileges The
rublc were much pleased when IL became the custom
for Jockeys to wear numbers the left arm The
practice worked satisfactorily for while, but now
what ia the use of it when horses 60 straight from
the stable 10 the startingposl Are these numbers
worn for the guidance the judges in placing fin
Ishi Surely not. for have We not seen No = hnlsh
second and yet remain unplaced till public protest
forced a recognition of his rights SO little heed IS
given to these matters nowadays that only In races
which begin Immediately in front OF the grand stand
do the patrons of the tracks have view of all tho
contestants before the starter drops his red flag.
This is not 1t should be-
If Hayward doesn't ride at rs pounds to-day.
IL viii be because Mrs Hayward didn't keep him
long enough at the churn-dasher on Sunday
morning and permitted him to cut a
watermelon In the afternoon. The veteran
Jockey ohurning the back porch with HIS sweaters
on is highly interesting picture OF domeSuo
bliss and household economy 1t is common talk
around Eatontown that the old man. is as good al
the churn as he saddle; his buttermilk would
take first prize at any fair.
The Swapping OF Cornth's leg in a few days
ago without apparent curious enough; but
MIR. withers recalled an occurrence stranger still
when he reminded old racegoers of the occasion on
which War Dance maze while galloping on the
track broke both fore legs half way between the knee
and pastern.
A correspondent with an admiration for the famous
and much abused old geding Barnum, hero OF many
hattie conqueror of the mighty Miss Woodford etc.,
stc wants TO know how II. J. Woodford happened 10
become the owner of such horse. For the truth of
turf history let il be recorded that when Barnum was
nut up at auction Woodford had thought Of buying
him. but attended the sale simply as spectator;
The cup that cheers but not lnebrates had prVuucea
I'm him very comfortable state OF coma. and he sat
IN quiet coutentment on chair immediately IN front
M he auctioneer, paying heed 10 the progress 81
tncidepts and the cali for bids. For while no held
his bead up an honest man should, but by and-by,
Tor he was in a sot mood the muscles Of his neck
reaYed and he nodded. At that instant rose the
auctiopeeTs voice. deep and penetrating Ike the
basS nine of an organ Who'll make Z a hun I'd ~
Woodford nodded again. " Hunrd have. 90 me
balf7S hundred aud fifty came from the other side
&c tho circle and the bid followed by an appeal
for 500 wOodford's eyes saw not his ears heard
not but his head heavy and again he rested his
~, on his coarbone Two hunrd have" yelled
,he anctIoneer 1.-TWO hundred and ffty.' WIS the
response nom the Other sde Mske ~ 'ee h ana