Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-09

crowds on both sides OF the track-and could
see that the grand stand had risen en- masse to
watch the scene. Presently we were marshaled
in line some twenty yards beyond the starters
fag-the eighty yard point. There stood Billy
Connor, drum in hand, with the fagman back
OF him. He was shouting injunctions and
orders to the different trainers, and they in reply
were striving to hold in check these eager and
mettlesome racers. Crenneville. on Tom Aiken,
| had the right, and that enterprising colt was
Juggling and pulling and dragging the trainers
| all over the track. Ross. ON Nathan Cakes,
was enjoying a similar experience over at the
left. Rapidita and Oleander were revolving
about their trainers and pointing their tails to
every quarter of the globe with astonishing
| rapidity. Templar and had the center. and,
though ne was paving and plunging and stand
ing on his hind legs, he was held facing the
front and held firm, but of all the Ave he had
no stab,emen at his head.
STILL WAITING.
Twice had his owner come forward and es-
sayed to seize him, and twice had he been or
dered away. "Tm riding this horse to-day,
Mr.. Harrison, and no man must touch him."
But, my Gawd, sub Can you hold him p
he answered with infinite concern on his wet
face-then scurried back out of the way.
Twice, thrice, came to us the word LET 'em
go :" and the jockey instincts of each stable
man would prompt him to send his horse away
ahead of the others. There would be a wild
scramble of hoofs. Some one colt or Ally
would fash across the line dozen yards ahead
Clang clang clang would go Connor's bell
calling them back. There would be a vision of
three or four brilliant jackets shooting far
away down the track. Ten minutes impatient
waiting-two, three-sometimes more horses
coming cantering back-puffing and Disguised.
five-six similar false starts were made. Five,
six times they were slowly and with difficulty
gathered beck. Four horses and four riders
were getting "blown," but Templar and had
never once crossed the line.
THE START.
OF course he had plunged, reared, tugged at
the bit, launched out with his heels and tried
everything he could think of to get away, but
ii was all useless. When at last the drum tapped
and we five shot away in a bunch under the
roar that arose from the crowded stands, I
was never cooler in my lfe-nor more hopeful.
Thus far all had worked as believed it would.
Now had plan for the rest of it. Templar
hadn't great speed, but he was fresh, eager,
and all his powers were in reserve. As we be-
gan to round the first turn Stuart was a trifie
to my left front, urging his sweating filly, his
eyes blazing and his face wet from every pore.
l could hear Oleander little behind my right
shoulder and knew I had them both beaten.
As we swept around to the back stretch they
had fallen behind and had clean lead Of a
length. Then, directly across the field from
the grand stand, where it would make a most
effective coup, 1 could hear the Austrian urg-
ing Tom Aiken. Presently up he came along
side and l could feel Templar thrilling and
beginning to tug, but kept the same pressure
on the rein. never allowing him an ounce and
ne could not stride away in a useless race.
Then, urging and squirting. De Crenneville
passed US and at the third turn was two good
lengths ahead; but Ross - the man 1
dreaded-was still to my right quarter
AND WE COULD WAIT,
Templar and 1. Now we were shooting around
81
aiken" was beginning to flag and we were
overhauling him. Desperately the Austrian
began TO spur and-in his eagerness to save
space steered too close to the rail- Another in
slant and it caught his boot-hurled his left leg
back before he could recover and away went
his penalty pad. Even could he keep his lead
now he had lost the prize, but he had over
ridden his horse; and now, as we came into the
stretch and full in sight of home, now for the
first time gave Templar one touch of the spur
and an inch Of rein. In twenty seconds the
Austrian was behind us and the goal before,
and aiming straight for the white post, far
down the track we slid under that string, easy
winners, despite whipping and squirting of all
the Others, and Templar was fresh as daisy
and wild to go round again.
Then the task was to stop him. He ran al
most to the quarter post before we turned and,
overtaking Ross, trolled back with him to
weigh.
Il did not know they taught jockey riding at
West Point" said an Austrian consulate officer
to me that night.
They do not" was the answer; shut with
what they do teach man ought to be fair
all-round rider
And that, practically, is what Mr.. Theodore
Roosevelt said fifteen years after.
CHARLES KING, Captain Y. s. A.