The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-15

and could obey orders. he was quick, alert,
none better on a free running horse, ana hau
the same crouching seat, far forward o.el w.
horses shoulders, and although ne was a.
first ridiculed a. Sims had been, he won hts
races and England went crazy over his success.
What is the secret? American trainers have
answered the difference In training methods:
Yet the English trainers are undoubtedly great
trainers. producing grand animals, making
fine records In their performances, They are
also smart business men. All this must oe
what a horse can do, and, giving a Jockey rid
ing orders, expect to be obeyed.
Authorities in England state that the greatest
the obtaining Of decent Jockeys; that ,he, ma
tcrial at hand has been wooden and thick-
headed. devoid Of the slightest trace Of orlgl-
n,slity, and tha, for ,, years sn. every VERY rae race o rom .Isr sSe
typed lines. The start once made. all rode a
waiting horse until the last half furlong. when
every one sat down to ride q terrific finish and
win by a. narrow a margin "a possible, IN
other words. distance races were robbed OF
their value, and sprint races practlcalk cut N
hall. simply because Of the dyed.in-the.w Wool
tradition that the acme. Of jockeyshlp was to
win by a short head with seven pounds up his
sleeve. This was heartbreaking 10 trainers
boy holding back a free running horse. say. like
Firearm or old Pontiac In days gone by, just
TO make a grand-stand finish possible, ire
spectlve OF what the effect might be on the
horses chances for success.
just at this moment Sloan. appeared. The
Eh9iish trainers were not asleep. Ihey saw
ne was not, spoiled by adulation. &c, as some
prominent English Jockeys appeared 10 he; they
knew he had come over to win out IL possible,
and they knew what his record here was, so
they were willing enough TO give him the needed
trial. He was brighter than the rank and file
at command, he was ready 10 take chances IN
a tight place. and he obeyed orders implicitly,
with sense enough TO Use his own, judgment
in. unforeseen happenings. His mission was to
win, whether by twenty inches or by twenty
lengths was not important. Sloan did not pull
his mount around, spelling pace and stride
and when ioid that A horse could do 80 and so,
he did not al once try to make II do something
dramatically opposite for the sake Of a grand
stand finish, BY the most open and artistic tsuS
acknowleda ed would have been losers ip the
hands Of even the best OF the English boys
and he has repeatedly snstched failure and
turned II into victory at the last stride.
The truth Is that his success seems to be eN-
planned by the tendency Of Americans 10 seek
progress constantly. While the English Jockey
has dug around and evolved new methods for
himself. Fifteen. twenty years ago II was
the era NJ the lone-legRed jockey. the one who
be, and lock toes under the girths That was
the day Of the English Archer. the American
Mclaughlin and others Ike them, The short
for awhile To-day. the lon9-legeed one has
vanished and the less ley the better. The
stirrlps are brought IN until the knees are
level with the pommel. the thighs Of the rider
are practically horizontal. the body is bowed
forward over them and with the resistance
TO the wind reduced 10 a minimum the entire
weigh Of the boy is placed right on the strong
eat part Of the horse. the shoulders. and there
the how swings with the horses movement.
a living part Of the animal for the time being,
to al intents and purposes.
II Is now generally accepted that the English
STYLE must be changed and some 81 the brighter
boys have alrppdy learned the new alphabet
The trainers md horsemen are ready and willing
10 welcome the change. but the boys are another
maller