The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-24
AREPREMIER JOCKEYS
Lester and Johnnie ReiR Visit
ingin Wichita.
WILL RETURN To ENGLAND
Both are Under Contract to
Richard Croker.
WILL RETURN To ENGLAND

The premier Jockeys OF the world, Les
ter and Johnnie Reif. are in wichita
their old home. visiting their brother.
Elmer Rein, 1910 North Main street
They arrived here last Friday night
and went at once TO the home Of their
brother. No one knew they were in town
until they appeared on the streets yes
terday morning.
Johnnie Will remain here visiting his
brother until February. when he and Les
ter Will return to England to ride in the
races there all during next season. Les
ter will leave the middle OF this week for
California, where be will visit for
short tine and look on at the winter
racing at Sacramento.
Johnnie. who Is one Of the youngest as
well as the lightest jockeys II the world
IS stu quite a boy. He is, Of course,
gaining quite a knowledge Of the world,
but he has q boys manners and love OF
play.
He says that he likes 70 ride horses,
and especially TO ride in England He
was made great pet on the English
tracks He has large scrap book in
which he has pasted all the comments,
pictures and stories he has seen in the
papers regarding himself and Lester. The
book IS a bulky one and IS filed with
clippings and illustrations. Johnnie be-
a. VI =
viii continue Il even Il It is necessary 70
get Two or three books TO hold the clip
pings.
Lester Is quite enthusiastic on racing
in England. He says he went over there
first in 1896 He did not go over again
until last season. when he and Johnnie
went over. Both he and his brother had
remarkable success on the British race
courses. In the last days races the
American jockeys won practically every
thing in sight. Lester Won the races. in
Guiding the Final Plate" the last race
OF the season. worth so sovereigns;
johnnie won one race and Tod Sloan one.
This left but one race for the British
Jockeys, and Weldon. a British Jockey Of
some note captured It.
Lester says that racing in England Is
preferable to that IN this country for a
number Of reasons. One Of the principal
reasons Is that there are better class q
people engaged in racing horses in Eng
land. There It is more OF "a sport and
less Of q business, which naturally places
it upon q higher plane. Then, again. the
purses are larger and a man with good
horses finds something worthy OF his
nettle and is also sure OF meeting with
e feld OF good horses.
He says that the American Jockeys
have met with remarkable success in
England They have been well treated by
The English Jockeys and the race-going
public al large. Johnnie has been pre-
scented 10 the Prince Of Wales. as has
Lester. Lester says that the prince takes
G keen interest in racing and has a large
stable CT fine horses. and he wins a good
share Of the prizes during the season
The two boys are under contract 70
return TO England in February. Richard
Croker, the well known leader Of New
York Tammany, has first call upon them,
and, It is understood. pays each a salary
amounting % about $1,000 a year. Y
Bailey, the South African diamond king.
has second call, and the boys viii also
pick up other mounts. They have no
difficulty in doing this. Indeed. the great
est trouble IS in refusing the requests
made Of them.
The boys have purchased a home for
their parents al Findlay. Ohio. Lester
says that he does not know when or
where he VIII eventually settle down.
He has been riding for the past nine
years and has met with remarkable sue
cess Johnnie has been riding three years
and attracted attention both in California
and Chicago before he wea- 10 England
where he made his greatest reputation.
The principal English jockeys who are
riding on the British turf at the present
time are Sammie L9a-es. Mont Cannon.
Woods, Madden and Als1p. The Arnerf- +
can jockeys who rode in England rsst
season were Lester Re.n. Johnnie Rein. /
Tod Sloan and "Skeets" Martin.