Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-09

Some OF the Riders Nov AT
Kent Track
ARE TRUE BORN GENTLEMEN
Ho~ B4fbee. DsLoag, Huston, Biaksiey,
ksany and Others Ride and Train
Themselves and Their Mounts

BY TAR the most interesting phases OF
Ity OF spectators They see them daily
rlsking HE and hmb. bat they do not
realize the vast amount OF severe train
ing that q required before a man dons
tne brignt SATIN and becomes a skllliui
loekey. A Jockeys day, wnen ne 10 Ia
training, begins between and O'Clock
IN the morning. He exercises = little
before breakfast and for that meal
takes some crackers and tea. fnen
come the long hours of sweating. PHI
ing onto himself thirty pounds of cloth
ing. ne walks from twelve To fifteen
miIes- Sometimes Turkish bath IS
taken instead OF the walk. but as . rule
10 a avoided as beng too weakening.
Others lie in bed and sweat for hours Al
= time aud again, waen = very quick
reduction - required, big dose OF
magnesIa Is taken to supplement- the
sweating. After morning spent
thus the Jockey Is ready 10
mount. After the race comes
the meal OF the day, supper
which consists of . small piece OF steak
and bread without butter. As AL espe-
ciai luxury ne sometimes take bottle
OF ale with us supper. Eleven O'Clock
or midnight sees him Ia bed, getting
IA the four hours sleep, which IS con-
sidered BIZ allowance. In his food
ne avoids pota,os and all sweet or
staFcny compounds. for they produce
tat.
May Use Tobacco.
Tobacco may be used 10 moderation,
and cigarettes with great caution. In
framing some Jockeys take a large
chew OK tobacco before starting out. rs
Il IS said To AID IN reducing the weight.
In spite Of the severe training one never
sees sick Jockey. Iney rest
frequently and live well, and so
manage 10 withstand the severe ordeals
OF reducing. Nick Hennessey, one OF
the best Jockeys az Kent track, claims
that II taxes at least tve years TO make
a good Jockey. The green boy is
taken at the age of II or Ii and put
into the stables. After becoming we'll
acquainted with the peculIarIties Of the
animal ne may some day ride 10 a race,
and having strengthened ms arms and
hands, he comes IT, the crucial test of
De 3 put on a horse IN some race to
show what ne is good for. After he
has ridden two or three good races
everything depends on himself. II
ne Is honest and faithful he
soon gets hls name up. IL he
10 crooked there 10 no powe- on earth
that can ever ke him a great Jockey.
Some Jockeys Ilde well all the way
from IA 20 % years Of age, but = jockey
- thought 10 De At MS best only about
two years Jockeys are = short lived
race Some men 20 into the work
who, though strong and clearheaded,
have not the endurance TO stand the
hfc. They sooner or later break down
under the training. take u liquor and
either run into consumption or become
insane. IL they give up riding wnile
still strong. they make good pedes-
Eiaus, foot runners and all around
athletes
Jockeys Ar. Tender.
A Jockey cannot stand much hard
ship or cold. In the winter
many Of them spend their time
hunting in the south around
Savannah and New Orleans. Others
go To New York. Chicago and
St. Louis, where they have families.
Many are married men and lead very
straight lives. save their money and die
worth many thousands. Others spend
their earnings and Winnings fo0lishly
and die hrosen in mind and body.
Some are very snrewd investors, their
fsvorIte purchases being horses aud
land. IL IS the ambition OF most Jockeys
to become owners OF big stables like the
great Barbee string, others would not
Al hf1 ~
city property. But there are lots Of
Jockeys whose whole existence is OF
desperately hand TO mouth character.
The French make good jockeys. but
few of them ever come over to this
country. Fred Tarel. considered by
many the best jockey IN America, 10
German.
the wages paid . jockey are fairly
good under all circumstances. At
Kent it has been s25 to mount IN .
steepls chase, and $50 10 win, and in
flat races $40 To mount and s25 ~ win.
A. the big races the schedule runs oil
the Say from 800 10 $500. The own
ers are always very liberal with their
winnings. and q good winning means .
present Of SIS 10 the jockey. $40 10
the exercise boy, ana IS around
10 the stable boys. IL the winnings
have been heavy the presents increase
IN proportion.
They Are All Honest
The Jockeys naturally resent suggss-
tons OF crookedness. Years ago, they
sav. there used TO be lots OF Il, but its
seldom you zee q crooked jockey now.
The public hss become very sharp and
soon gets wind of horse that 10 being
mismsnaged. Then, too, the judges
nave got their work down 80 tine that
no Jockey ear fool them very hard.
The care OF running horses u eel
snce that requires long and patient
study. One man devotes himself ex-
clusvply d, one horse, and he must b.
good deal OF A veterInsrla al ss well 49,
hor.emsr.. The runners are fed on
oatmeal fprinkied over With milk aud
their tod = very carefully measured.
"a RAINING borse." SAYS Mr.. Hen
messy. is the very nett thing 10 man.
and when handling th-m I always try
to do Just what | should DO Il ! we're
deslax with men," Asked ss 10 what
he considered the requireusnss for .
good iockey. Mr.. Hennessy said "a
tall man with long. slim legs; they ARE
everything. A nan must have legs 20
long tsst ne can reach veil under
horse.r
Willard peIonx does nos sgree with
this opint0n, Tor ne says that clear
head = the essential. II have seen
men ride tine and sgsin who we're
ehunapy sssd dsck legged Take fos m