The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-10-27
THE Jockey QUESTION.
Sir George Chetwynd on Lord
Durham's Attack.
CAUSE OF CHARGES OF FOUL RIDING


Reform or Lenve English Tracks.
Possibly there is no better authority
on matters connected with the turf liv-
ing today than Sir George Chctwynd.
had the privilege of obtaining an inter
view with him at the Elysee Palace no.
tel the other day on the rather dead
set" made against American Jockeys by
Lord Durham and everything Ameri-
can ut the recent meeting of the Eng
llsh Jockey club writes the Paris cor.
respondent Of tho New York Herald.
Commenting ON American Jockeys,
Sir George said that he had no opinion
TO give about i'm and ont running OF
home horses ridden by Americans. as
no proof existed that some Of the re-
ported cases could bc clearly laid home,
and he was willing 10 think thar horses,
Ike men, did not always feel the same,
and, although a man could say he was
"oh color" or "chlppy." horse could
not express his feelings. One case, IN
connection with Mr.. brakes horses,
had been examined into boy the stew
ards Of the Jockey club, and they had
entirely exonerated Mr. Drake from
blame.
at IS American riding methods which
require such careful consideration and
about which something will have 10 be
done at once" he said. ct is beyond
dispute that in races ridden by them
they cannot or viii not keep their line;
hence accusations of foul riding. of
which so much has been heard lately.
This Is particularly serious and IS just
" receiving the close attention OF the
Jockey club.
81 am inclined 10 think that It is
not willful az all events as regards
many American Jockeys. but rather
that they lose their heads entirely and
20 FAR 70 win and chance too much.
BE It willful foul riding or a question
Of losing head or OF incapacity, the
fact remains. and it must be summarl-
ly stopped Warnings have been given,
and If these are not regarded or
through incapacity. cannot be followed
out, then. however good these Jockeys
otherwise may De. they must go. Any
level headed, unpreiudlced sportsman
Of whatever nationality viii agree with
this"
"What do you think of Tod Sloane's
being engaged by the Prince Of Walcsf
Isn't that an answer 20 accusers OF
American jockeysY
Scarcely Lord Marcus Beresford
naturally. on behalf of the Prince OF
Wales, would prefer Sloane to Morny'
Cannon-not. mark you. on account OF
superiority. real or imaginary. But
with Cannon unable 10 ride under
eight stone six pounds. and having TO
waste TO DO thaL and Sloane able to
ride from seven stone Eve pounds
upward-wcll. wouldn't you choose
such a weight where you could get
hlmY
What about American trainers|
American trainers are certainly
clever. but Wishard IS no less than a
wonder There is no doubt about this,
and it is acknowledged boy every one,
Newmarket rivals or not lie has
simply worked wonders with horses.
It isn't only Royal Flush. but the
whole lot Of them. It Is almost in
credible what he has done with even
moderate platers."
What do you think OF American
horsesT7
81 ike them. They are not pretty to
look attn fact, are vulgar looking
horses for the most part-but they
have done WELL and l Ike their action
too. They seem to steal along with n
low action. quite different from ours"
Sir George Chetwynd's name VIII be
familiar In the United States from his
connection with the famous quarrel
which agitatcd the English racing
world for some IS months during 1887
and 1899 1t arose from some remarks
made at n dinner Of the famous sport
Ing Glmcrack club at York by the
Earl Of Durham. Speaking upon the
condition of the English turf Lord
Durham complained Of the IN and out
running Of horses ridden by the jockey
Wood. He suggested that races were
being sold, horses being prevented
from winning by being pulled, and he
inslnuated that the owners Of horses
ridden by Wood were implicated
Sir George Chetwynd, as one Of the
race horse owners who trained In Sher-
rards stables, which employed Wood,
considered the insinuatlon as placed
upon himself He sent a message to
the Earl of Durham demanding an
apology. This was refused, and Sir
George Chetwynd appealed to the
Jockey club The earl laid his speech
before the club and stated his readl-
ness to stand by 1t In the law courts.
1t was ultimately agreed to refer the
matter to an arbitrator, with full pow
ers to adjudicate on the charges. The
result was that the arbitrator finally
pronounced in. favor Of Sir George
Chetwynd, but awarded him merely
one farthing damages, each party pay
ing his own costs. Sir George Chef
wynd resigned from the Jockey club
in July, 1889.
simultaneously with these proceed
ings, the jockey, Wood, who was said
to have made a fortune Of S2,5OO,0OO,
brought a libel suit against The IL
censed VictuaIlers Gazette, which had
accused him Of pulling horses. The
amount Of damages sued for was $685.
900. A verdict was returned awarding
the plaintiff in this instance also one
farthiDg damages. The stewards Of
the Jockey club subsequently refused
Wood a new license for year