The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-26
A RIVAL OF
TOD SLOANE.
Tommy Burns Said to
Be the Best Ninety
Pound Jockey In
the World.

Though Tod Sloane came out OF the
west" In a blaze OF triumph after one
almost continuous victorious career
from Indiana to California. which he
preserved on the eastern tracks and
then enhanced while on his sojourn
abroad last summer and fall on the
English race tracks. he has not been
SO successful since his return. and now
horsemen say. he win meet with de-
termined rival in the person of Tommy
Burns, who is at present heralded as
"the star jockey OF the west and who
covered himself with glory and filed
his pockets with bank notes during the
recent New Orleans meeting.
Opinions have been very freely ex-
pressed of his ability In comparison
with that OF the international cham
pion, Sloane, and the consensus is that
he can outride the latter I'm driving
finish, but some doubts are expressed
OF his riding VITA as good judgment in
a long race. The two will meet many
times in the east this season, and when
they lock" together in a race the in
terest will be at fever heat. for IL viii
not only be horse against horse. but
jockey versus Jockey.
Eastern turfmen who have not seen
him as yet naturally do not believe that
Burns is In the same class with Sloane.
but in the Crescent City there has been
nothing but words of praise for the boy.
His brief biography is as follows: He
was born in Port Oak Canada, on Oct
6, 1879. When IL years old. he began his
turf career with Tom Hurns. a noted
turfman, who gave him his first
mount" i'm 1891. From that time to the
hao IN
prestige~as jockey until he is in the
foremost rank OF riders In all classes.
His natural weight is 80 pounds. though
he can weigh out at 30 when called up
on TO do so.
Physically he bears no resemblance to
Sloane. being taller and very long In
the leg. He is boyish in appearance
ami actions. except when riding race.
Then he Is a man In experience anc
| ability In manner he Is exceedingly
polite and good natured. To his supe.
riors IL is always Yes. SIR" or mo.
SIR" Among his associates he Is in
variably easy and unaffected and Is
admired and respected.
| Once another jockey said to him
after Burns had won race: Tommy.
when are you going to let me win?
| Every time hit up against you l might
as well be on fence rail as on horse.
should have just as much chance
This remark voiced the sentiments OF
all the Jockeys at New Orleans. There
I was not a rider there, big or little, that
| could argue" with Burns in drive
through the stretch.
One day he rode four winners out OF
| five mounts through a track fetlock
deep and binding rainstorm, and on
f~11 -tx,cr Inu ha n6a
| ners. two of which were Mount Wash
ington and Laurel Leaf. On the for
mer he displayed his peculiar ability to
perfection. Getting away badly and re-
ceiving mud from about eight horses in
| front Of him, he simply steadied his
horse until he got into his old stride.
When he had his mount going he did
| not race after his field at a drive, as
many less experienced jockeys would
| have done but he waited his opportu-
/ nifty and picked up the trailers one at
| a time, zigzagging through his field like
a dog getting away from a crowd. A
furlong from home he had landed Mount
| Washington in the front division. It
| then came to question of a drive home.
| There were two horses head and head
| at the sixteenth pole. with Burns at
their quarters. Gradually he drew up
| closer and closer. and In the three final
jumps he fairly lifted Mount Washing
ton head i'm front.
After the race John McCafferty told
Burns that no jockey he had ever seen
could have ridden a better race. And
there was no dissenting voice.
! On Laurel Leaf. the same day. Burns
was asked to take a colt seven fur
longs which had never before shown
an inclination TO go over six furlong
course. Laurel Leaf got away In front
and opened up a gap on his field. After
going a furlong Burns steadied him and
waited in front, resting his horse as
much as possible. <Gilray the favorite.
was within couple of lengths OF
Laurel Leaf at the head of the stretch
and was being hard ridden. Burns new
er moved on Laurel Leaf until Gilray
was within a length OF him. which was
about a furlong from home. when he
sat down and worked with hands and
heels and won by a good length. This
was also a race inwhich excellent judg-
ment was used.
Burns will soon return to New Or
| leans TO take n mount for the brewer
| Schorr in the coming Derby.