The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-13

night dinners in his bachelor apartments
Nothing like it had been heard of since
the days of Fred Archer, that prince of
Jockeys who, it is said, could have married
II duchess.
Probably no American sporting man
ever received half the newspaper notice
that has been given to Tod Sloane. For tho
first day or two after his arrival in Lon
don this notice was confined to unfricndly
criticism of his style of riding. His man
ncr OF sitting his mount was decidedly UNI
English. Instead of resting we'll back on
the horse and adopting the timo honored
English roll, he sat so far forward that no
almost seemed to be on the horses neck,
and no rode as motionlcss as statue Tho
London turf writer's ridiculcd him without
mercy. The pose which his short stirrrp
straps gave him they called 'monkeylikc."
But this did not last long. When Sloane
had demonstrated his ability to win race
after race on unpromising mounts, tho
superiority of his method was frankly ac-
knoWlcdgcd Then he was stared ut be-
cause of his cxtravagant mode of living
1t was discovered that he kept II valet and
secretary; that his clothes wero made by
the most fashionable tailors, and that he
had II remarkable fondncss for smoking
big, black cigars.
Sloane began to BIO delugcd with of
fcrs from all tho prominent horse own
ers in Great Britain. Even the Prince of
Wales gave him II mount. Next society
broke all traditions, and efforts were made
TO make him the lion in several swell
drawing rooms. There is no tclling what
social trumphs Sloane might have attain
ell had he been at all ambitious for that
kind of honors. But he was not. His
common sense would not allow his head
I'm IN ,n1 a.
He was willing to meet men who could be
of use to him in his profession, but no did
not care to shine i'll drawing rooms.
Although he lived cxpcnsivcly in Lon
don he kept we'll within his income, for
during the racing season he was making
about 5000 II day, which, with all his OK
travagancc, was much more than his ex-
pcnses. Even that, he says, is not SO we'll
as he can do in America, where his income
is something like $50, 900 year.
Sloane is n native of Kokomo, Ind His
mother died when he was years old, and
his father being an inmate of the Soldiers
homo at Dayton, o., Tod was adopted by
Mr.. and Mrs. ID. &. Blouscr Before he
was years old he had acquired local
reputation as a fearless and daring horse
man. No horse was too vicious or unruly
for him to ride. Even then he had learned
to like big cigars, and he developed fond
ness for plug tobacco mt an early age. Ac-
cording to tho old tradition this may have
had something to do with his stuntcd
stature.
Tod's older brother, Cash Sloane, was
also jockey, anu in 1890 Tod joined him
III st. Louis and secured mount. He was
successful from the start. and then went
to California, where he rode for Lucky
Baldwin Later he went east, but was
more remarkable for the size of his trunks
and cigars than for his success as jockey
Finding himself outclasscd, he went west
again for timo and studied out his sys-
tenn. When he next appeared on the tracks
in tho cast, he began that most remark.
Eblc career which has recently reached
such brilliant climax on the English
courses. Ec is 23 years old and weighs
less than 100 pounds, but has ridden as
low rs 90 pounds. MARK NORRIS.