Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-10
BOTH JOCKEY AND DANDY.
How Tod Sloane, Startled the English
by His Mode Of Living.
A Hero of the Race Track-He Was
Not Only the Most Daring and
Successful OF Jockeys, But He
Lived Like a Lord and Upset Brit
ish Notions Generally.

Tod Sloane, the American jockey who
has Just closed such a phenomenally
successful season in London, astonished
the English quite as much by the mode
and manner of his private life as he did
by his turf performances. It is the Gus
tom there for jockeys to live in rooms
over the stables in which their en-
ployers' horses are kept. The British
jockey seldom knows any other social
atmosphere than that Of the paddock
and trainers quarters. He sometimes
rises to the dignity of confidential
servant. but never any higher. His
dress is usually loud and horsy. and ne
is eminent only among cockneys.
Tod Sloane was revelation. When
he went to London, he scornad the
stable quarters and put up at the Hofci
Cecil. one of the most fashionable no.
tells in the metropolis. Not oaly that,
but he engaged the most expensive
apartments in the establishments
suite of four rooms, by the way, with an
outlook on the Thames. A Jockey who
lived at the Cecil was novelty.
Tod's clothes were another matter OF
wonder in London. Sometimes he
came from the track after a hard won
race completely covered with mud from
head to foot An hour later, however,
he emerged from his dressing room
clothed in garments of the most lash
ionable cut and the most expensive ma
terial. He wore evening clothes with
as much ease as he did boots and
blouse. When the English discovered
that it was his habit, instead Of passing
his evenings in the vicinity Of the sta
bles, to hire a box at some fashionable
theatre. they were amazed. l. startled
them to learn, too, that he gave swell
midnight dinners in his bachelor apart
ments. Nothing like it had been heard
of since the days of Fred Archer, that
prince of jockeys, who, it is said, could
have married a duchess.
Probably no American sporting man
ever received half the newspaper notice
that has been given to Tod Sloane.
For the first day or two after his arrival
in London this notice was confined TO
unfriendly criticism Of his style OF
riding. His manner Of sitting his
mount was decidedly un-Enghsh. In
stead of resting we'll back on the horse
and adopting the time-honored English
roll, he sat so far forward that he al
most seemed to be on the horses neck,
and he rode as motiOnless as a statue.
The London turf writers ridiculed him
without mercy The pose which his
short stirrup straps gave him they
called "monkeylike.
But this did not last long. When
Sloane had demonstrated his ability to
win race after race on uIpromising
mounts, the superiority of his method
was frankly acknowledged. Then he
was stared at because of his eXtrava-
agnt mode Of living. 1t was discovered
that he kept valet and a secretary;
that his clothes were made by the most
fashionable tailors, and that he had a
remarkable fondness for smoking big,
black cigars.
Soans began to be deluged with Of
fers from all the prominent horse
owners in Great Britain. Even the
Prince Of Wales gave him a mount.
Next, society broke all traditions, and
efforts were made to make him the lion
in several swell drawing rooms. There
is no telling what social triumphs
Sloane might have attained had he been
at all ambitious for that kind Of hon.
ors. But he was nFt Ills common
sense would not allow ais head to be
turned by any such empty flattery.
He was willing to meet men who could
be of use to him in his profession, but
he did not care to shine In drawing
rooms.
Although he lived extensively in Lon
don, he kept well within his income
for during the racing season he was
making about 5000 a day, which, with
all his extravaganza, was much more
than his expenses. Even that, he says
is not SO we'll as he can do in America,
where his income is something like $751;
Geo year.
Sloane is a native Of Kokomo, Ind
His mother died when he was two
years old, and his father icing an in
mate Of the Soldiers Home at Dayton,
Ohio, Tod was adopted by Mr.. and Mrs.
D. G. Blouser. Before he was s years
old he had acquired local reputation
as fearless and daring horseman. No
horse was too vicious or unruly for him
to ride. Even then he had learned to
like big cigars and had developed a
fondness fer plug tobacco at IN early
age. According to the old tradition this
may have had something 10 do with his
stunted stature.
Tod's older brother, Cash Sloane, was
also jockey. and in 1890 Tod joined
him in st. Louis and secured mount.
He was successful from the start, and
then went to California, where he rode