The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-11
How a Horse May Be Ridden to
!, Victory or Defeat
WHEN A HORSE IS PULLED
The Part That Mud Plates Play in the
Reversal Of Form
Art Of Throwing the Body Out Of
Cadence at the Finish
1.-The gray 'orse was pulled +"

The gray 'orse was pulled"
| The cry was intersperssd with the
cheers that rang through the grand stand.
"Of course he was pulled said
young man with russell gloves, as he tore
to bits pool ticket on the favorite, to
5 shot. Didn't you see the way the
dog came under the wire? If he had
had his head he would have won by
length.
mo, he wasn't pulled, said the young
man who had been calling the race.
He was rode backwards amt you oil
to nothing?"
Riding backwards" or 'cross.
motion"
The jockey has many tricks. but this is
the most effective one, says writer in the
Chicago Tribune, and at the same time
the most difficult of detection. There are
not many who play the races who know
| anything about it. 1t it a simple trick,
consisting of throwing the motion OF the
| body out of cadence with that OF the
horse. The result is that the speed OF the
horse is materially retarded. On the
other hand when jockey wants to win
he takes the g notion OF the horse, and
| by the sway of his body materially lifts
| him at every bound.
| Another trick practiced by these little
fellows is called the "leg lock, y and when
put into practice has more to do with the
| result of the race than the uninitiated
are likely to believe. In effect it is one
Jockey holding the other back, and this is
accomplished by means OF the LEG lock. -
Two horses are leading the field, one a
neck ahead of the, other. AS they round
into the stretch they are running, close
together. The jockey in the lead sees
his chance and draws closer to his oppon-
ent until the horses almost touch. He
lets the second horse gain ON him until
the leg of his opponent touches his leg
from behind. That is Just what the little
rascal wants. Now let his opponent win
if he can. Every lunge OF the second
horse pushes the first one ahead, firing
itself and easing the fight of the other
until the final squirt, when the horse with
the advantage thus comes in the winner.
But all the tricks of the turf are not
those of the jockeys. The big fake known
as the reversal of form is a deception
practiced by the stable owner. 1t is some
times accomplished by the use OF mud
plates, " which consist of pieces of leather
that fit under the shoe and cover the cav
ity of the horses hoof to prevent it
from forming vacuum on muddy track
and retarding the horses speed by suction.
How is this reversal of form effected?
A good horse is entered in poor field.
The record of the horse is known, and the
odds are the wrong way to suit the owner.
him are big enough, then he is provided
with mud plates and wins the race.
This is reversal OF form. -
All turf men know about it, but they
can never tell when it is going to be done,
as no one ever examines the horses feet.
The Judges know that deception has been
practced, or at least they suspect some
thing wrong so tn y call up the Jockey
and with meaning emphasis tell him to
make that horse win every time. But
even the jockey does not know when the
plates are used. They may be left off
and the dog come in fifth. The judges
are indignant now and the jockey is ruled
off the track. The jockey lives in his own
peculiar sphere, and if his calling is
profession those who follow it are dis
tinctly class. Born generally, OF the
or gravitate to the paddock. Either
waits or truants who never know home
restraint, there is nothing to draw them
from the attraction they find in the easy
ways and vicious abandon of the stable.
1t is no wonder, then. that the name
jockey has become synonymous with de-
ception. The jockey commences his career
by carrying water and doing odd jobs for
the stablemen. After awhile he is per-
mitted to work the horses-that is
ride them at exercise. If he is promis-
ing rider he is after awhile given
or in some other emergency. If he does
we'll he has only to wait for the opportu-
nifty when he is regularly invested in the
satin colors Of the stable and all the glory
his mind conceives. A fair field for earn
ing is opened to him now. Usually he is
paid a retainer of $1,000 year and $40 for
every outside mount, with $25 if he wins.
Besides this stipulated remuneration the
stable owner always ''does the right thing
by the jockey ii he makes a big win
ming. If he is inclined to be sober and
saving in few years he is enabled to sat
isfy that ambition that burns in the breast
OF every jockey-to have couple OF horses
of his own. With his own stable there is
no reason why he should not ! rosper.
John J. McCafferty, Jimmy Mclaughlin,
Snapper Garrison and Dare Devil
Fitzpatrick" ride their own horses.
But it is hard for a Jockey to remain
sober and saving. the temptation is so
great for him to be neither Asi from
his reckless associations he is often
driven to drink to sustain himself after
the terrible ordeal of training he must
undergo in so many cases to keep his
weight down to the required amount.
Sweating and starving are the metho Is
employed.