The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-15
THREE REMARKABLE CHILDREN
One q Jockey, Another a Swimmer and the
Third a Golfer.

George Odom is only 10 years old, but his earn
ings amount 10 many thousand dollars year
lie is the lightweight jockey who has been en-
gagged by William c. Whitney 10 ride for him
during the next three years Mr. Whitney agrees
TO pay him $40 600 annually, in addition to which
there is the regular S25 fee for every winner landed
and $40 for every loser Odom, at the same time,
can ride for other owners and such is his skill
that present OF several hundreds Of dollars will
frequently be made him for winning a race. and
the lads brother who trains him, expects that
George will make more than $50, COO year
Many boy will envy the lot Of George Odom
and, pcrchancc. strive to emulate him, but be-
fore doing so let such boys stop and think of the
lie this jockey leads. When, mounted on a power
full race horse like Mesmcrst, young Odom can
ters out on the track invariably a gasp Of amaze
ment and pity is heard from the grand stand
The eyes Of every woman are turned on this
little fellow with a baby face. and the wonder
is that lie can even maintain his seat There
are perhaps fifteen horses in the race with com.
binatiuus Of Jockeys. skilled and unprinCiplcd
whose object Is 10 get Odom in a pocket or crush
him against the rail: anything 10 prevent him
from winning But this lad is not to he intm
dated and will take any chance Thousands
Of persons all over the country bet ing on his
horse oftentimes only because Odom the rider
and this is one Of the most dangerous fcats in
turf riding. The Jockey must guide his horse
To the rail and, if necessary force him in be
tween the rail and another mount whcreupon
he Is hurled against the wooden fence. After
taking the rail boy will often be practically
paralyzed for days and the whole side AZ his body
disColored
George Odom is one OF the few ockcys who will
take the rail, and the betting world knows this
Moreover he weighs but eighty seven pounds and
keeps in splendid training. Like the other boys
he must go To bed al o'clock every evening
attend church on Sundays, use no tobacco or alCo-
hOlic Stimulants and continually take long walks
IN heavy clothes IN order 10 keep down his flesh;
lie spends his evenings quietly reading some good
novel or n history and is a modest, unaSSuming
little fellow whom association with the racing
track has not contaminated. lie is Georgia boy
by birth
With fifty gold and silver medals 10 her credit
Miss Elaine Golding, seven years old, asserts that
she Is the champion swimmer Of her age for dis
lance and speed in this country. She has lowered
the pretensions Of all her rivals in he East, and
| since no one has turned up from the far West or
| foreign countries 10 challenge her she believes
| herself supreme in her class She lives in Brook
Ign in the winter and III the water during the sum
mcr In INC summer she IS one OF the sig hts on
| the Long Island beach, and is always sure OF a
large crowd of spectators when going through her
| performances The art of swimming Is W her in
| hcrited, as both her sister and brother are cham
pons, and when they tumblcd her into the water
| the first time she struck out naturally without any
! gurgle or iiOunderlng. Her friends are now ar
| ranging To have her give ambitions al Pans next
| year and incidentally represent Americas youth
| full pTOwess in the water against all corners
| Only four lessons under the careful instructions
81 MungO Park OF Scotland, have made Curt Hugo
! Reisnger who IL only eight years old, the cham
| pon golfer ut his Ag" Of this country. his friends
! say. tuTt Is midget member If the HOpatConR
Golf Club and he has demonstrated his ability hS
| a player His progress ~ astounding and con
| sidering his size and experience he is n marvel
Mungo Park tho we'll known Scotch golfer says
| that Master Rclsingcr IL the most remarkable
pupil hdehhs ever taught There is never day
but whatthe | tile fellow makes a high score In
practising, and when playing with others almost
invariably outclasses them