The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-11
HAMILTON A RICH JOCKEY
COlOred Rider Ranks Next to Taral
in Wealth.
RODE THE GREAT SALVATOR
Only Jockey Who Ever Won the BROOKLYN
and the Suburban In One Ioar
a Good Wife Helped
Enrich Him.

With the possible exception of Jockey
Fred Taral. who has planted fully $780,
000 OF his earnings, Tony Hamilton. the
colored jockey, Is the wealthiest rider
on the American turf. Hamilton makes
ST. Louis his home in the winter and he
owns some improved real estate there
which has greatly increased In value
since he purchased 1t several years
ago. In addition, he owns house In
New York city. which cost him $4,000,
and a farm In South Carolina. where
his people reside.
The general public has no idea of the
tremendous sums earned annually by
successful jockeys. A first-class rider
easily earns from $4,000 to $4,000 a sea-
son. but the money comes easy. and the
jockeys have no idea OF its real value.
They gamble and put it In circulation
through various other channels. Ham
iltun was like the rest until he married
the daughter of thrifty st. Louis coll
ored man named Messley. who Is the
janitor Of the Laclede building. She
made him settle down and take care OF
his earnings.
BEGAN IN 1881.
The story Of Hamilton's career on the
turf will no doubt prove interesting.
Tony is now 90 years old. and he went
on the turf as a stable boy when he was
II years old. That was back In 1881,
and he was galloping horses and riding
them in races occasionally for five
years before he finally landed his first
winner.
He rode his first winning mount on
Billy Lakeland's famous bread-Winning
Exile For a year previous Hamilton
had been In .he service Of Lakeland,
who has since made name for himself,
- one Of the greatest trainers on the
turf. He coached and taught Tony the
fundamental principles OF horseman-
ship. Father Bill DAILY taught
Snapper" Garrison. Jimmy McLaugh-
lin the Lamley boys and other famous
Jockeys the same knowledge which
proved so valuable 10 them In after
years.
After he was with Lakeland for two
years Hamilton became recognized as
one Of the best riders in America. Then
j. b. Haggin. the millionaire California
thurman, who owned the immortal Sal
vator, secured first call on his services.
Later on Hamilton rode regularly for
the late Senator Hearst. the late Aug
ust Belmont, Mike Dwyer and the
Messrs. Keene. for whom Billy Lake.
land Is now training.
PAYS TO BE HONEST.
Although almost every promising rid
er is offered big Inducements 10 cheat
at the outset Of his career, one who does
50 never amounts to much afterward.
He may be the best kind Of rider. but
the better class OF owners shun him.
These men pay the big money, and when
a rider is in disrepute with them. his
earning capacity is limited. Most Of the
firSt-class jockeys are smart enough to
realize this fact. and try their utmost to
win. no matter what the price Is against
their mount.
Every racing stable has to have q
number Of exercise boys. Many of them
are bound over to the owner or train
er. Harry Griffin. the most celebrated
light weight rider in America. was taxi
en- from an orphan asylum in New
York, when he was in his early teens.
by Jimmy Shields. The latter is still
his guardian, and will. no doubt, get
his share of the 100000 which. it Is said.
August Belmont has contracted to pay
for Griffln'S services next yea.
The exercise boys gallor the horses
in the mornings, and as soon as any
particular lad shows unusual aptitude
at his work 1t will be noticed. Then the
boy gets chance to ride in a race.
Even under the most competent school,
i
| a finished rider. A lad may take to
! riding horses like a duck does to water.
but before he becomes q first-class
| jockey he must learn to judge pace and
the other essential qualities. which will
! enable good rider on q poor horse
| to beat a poor jockey on a good horse
great deal more frequently than Is
generally supposed.
WON TWO BIG RACES.
During the past season Hamilton ac-
| complished the remarkable achieve
ment Of riding the winner of both the
| Brooklyn and the Suburban handicaps.
In the Brooklyn ne rode Hornpipe to
victory and in the Suburban he finished
In front of I.a2Zarone. Both were neg
lected outsiders in the betting. but
Hamilton was reasonably confident Of
winning before he went to the post in
each event. LaZ2arone had finished Sec
ond to Hornpipe in the Brooklyn and
Hamilton knew something about his
staying qualities when he took him to
the post in the big Coney Island event,
| which came later on.
| Tony thinks Henry of Navarro has
been the best race horse in America for
the past two years. but he is satisfied
that Clifford who won the Club Mem
bers' Handicap in st. Louis could give