The evening times., 1897-04-16

With the opening ofthe legitimate racing
season tomorrow at Bennag will come
revival of the question of supremacy among
the crack jockeys OF America. While sew
eral new aspirants for fame in the saddle
are booked to make the season in the East
itis reasonable To passthis new element by,
for the home element have been well tried,
and found not only capable, but the equal
OF any this country has ever seen
IL is an old saying that good horses ma ke
great jockeys, and it frequently happens
that some rider ascendS TO the top of the
list. thanks to a succession of mounts on
horses that outclass competitors, but in the
long run ability is bound TO tell.
Nearly all prominent Jockeys are un,ler
contract for the year, and are now at work
riding trials, for their services are espe-
cialIy valuable in this sort of work.
The majority are still little above con
tract weights" but it viii not be long be-
fore they will tip the beam at the desired
figure.
TaraI. vino is under contract with Marcus
naIy. has been with Trainer Byrnes at
Cape Charles, Va, for three weeks. The
string at the farm is an extensive one, and
from all reports includes a hot Of promising
material OF outside mounts Taral Will,
OF course, have plenty, for his Skill is un-
questioned. and as for integrity bis repu-
tation is second TO none. Heis lighter than
he was at this time last year. and expects
60 be able 20 ride at 0S pounds
Griffin will do the heavyweight riding
for L. S and w T. Thompson, but from
present indications his mounts viii be
few and far between, for last week, just
before he left for BroOkdale, he weighed
l31 pounds,
Under Jimmie Rowe care. Griffin's task
Of reducing will, OF course, be a thorough
one Still, it is doubted if he will be
able to get down below lis pounds. He
was in California nearly all winter, but
the trip was entirely one OF pleasure, and
the consequence was he put on flesh very
rapidly His work last season was belo W
the standard OF previous years What he
will do this year is. of course, matter
OF conjecture, bat it is reasonable TO ex-
pect return of his old-time form.
The Oneck stable viii have first call on
Doggetts services, and as the stable is
an extensive one, he viii probably prove
a valuable help in their bids for the sea-
son DflL6S. clE hdlltf anu Aitlluisl uft
the only old horses in the string. but the
two-year-olds viii keep Doggett busy, for
several OF the lot have in their trials
proved that they viii be heard from when
asked TO show in public. Doggett, in his
CONTRACT, agrees Ia ride at los pounds, and
he will have no difficulty in keeping this
part of the agreement.
He said yesterday that he could without
trouble pass the scales at i05 pounds, but
if he would announce his willingness to
do SO. some one would want him 10 dc
less, and as result he would be compelled
to reduce regularly, which he wishes TO
avoid, as he believes that without the er-
fort ne can retain all his strength, which
means considerable at the finish OF r race
Hamilton viii sport the white with
blue spots of James r. Keene, and the
arrangement should prove most advan
tageous one, for if the stable = representa-
tives run up to expectations there is Plenty
of glory ahead for both. This rider has
been repeatedly condemned on the score OF
being timed, and at times his work would
warrant one in believing his nerve was
weak, but TO offset this he has made mar
veiously brillian Mt showings In fact, some
of the best OF judges do not hesitate 70
class him among the cracks Of his craft
He has been at the stable every morning
for weeks, and is thoroughly familiar with
the horses, both old and young. This viii
prove a great aid when it comes to asking
them to run n company.
Reiff is at Saratoga with Duke 6
wishard's stable, and he will do the rid
ing for them when the weights permit
His work in England last season was, from
all accounts, little short OF brilliant, ant
~ a winters rest has not dulled his Gun
ming, Reiff will have little difficulty il
securing mounts
John McCafferty, under whose tutorsfil
Reiff learned TO ride, has an extensiv,
string of two-yeaT-olds, and when Nc.
cafferty does not ride himself there is lit
tie question that his old pupil will be
called on.
Reiff's work before he went abroad wa
decidedly puzzling. At times he would
show form that both for style and vigo
co,id not be exceIled, but on frequent &C
casions his work would have disgraced I
statse hoy. Theresult OF this inconsistenc!
was a fail from favor. and many Of the
Taungers refused TO even bet when he wa
on their choice His season abroad ma,
have brought an improvement ia this fe
spect
Sims has renewed his engagement witt
10th M. F. and p. j. Dwyer, a combina
tion that IL sure TO be profitable to al
concerned.
Roth stables shelter material OF the
proper sort, and so Ear as the riding goei
spe work could not be In better hands, fo