Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-07-11
MAKING A l0CKEY.

writes Allen Sangree, in Ainsee's, one
must go to the stable boy. He is the
jockey germ. His development is begun
as early as his fourth year. The three
DAILY brothers, who are riding this
season, are instances. From their
fourth till their eighth year they did
nothing but lead horses around track.
Never in that time we're they allowed
to sit on horse.
The modern trainer holds such tedious
apprenticeship Indispensable. He has
an exalted regard for the horse. He
looks unon him ae ap exquisite and deli
cate mechanism, TO handle which re.
quipes infinite subtlety. He is therefore
exacting in bis demand for the traits
physical and mental that go to lake
what he calls "a good mechanic. The
boy must be worthy OF the horse. The
trainers test is so severe that of 10, 90
boys who apply yearly for admission to
the racing stables Of the country not
more than few hundred are accepted.
or these, possibly 10 win JOCKEYS
license.
At the training school Of William A.
DAILY. on Coney Island, | saw this
famous maker Of Jockeys refuse two
dozen applicants in rs many minutes.
He rejected the first because OF his
name
"Schalk, heyf' ne cried, cycling the
lad narrowly. Then you're German,
amt your"
"Yes. "
81 knew II the minute clapped eyes
on you. Now, listen, boy
There never was German yet that
made goud Jockey. I've had nine.
and out of the whole lot could not
pull winner. A German has courage,
but no wits; and that's something /
can't put In him. For good, smart
jockey give me Yankee, an English
man or an Irish American. 7"
How about FRED Taral?'' l sug-
gested.
well, Fred has Irish blood mixed
with German. Anyway, he's an ex-
ception. Now, boy" he went on, turn.
ing again to the llnluoky Schalk, you
could hang around track a thousand
years and never get mount. Better
| go to school. -
A freekled.faced, red haired O'Dono-
nre Was next in line.
'DoDohue!" chuckled Mr.. DAILY.
THAT'S better. But, say, you've got
rolling lin, mouth ain I firm aud your
eyes don t set right. One fall'd scare
We to death. Pass up!'
Then came LOOKING boy, neatly
aud pressly built, named Corrigan. For
a moment IL seemed that he might be
accepted. unhappily nature bad
equipped him with a pair Of ears that
stood at right angles to shis mead.
Heavens !" whooped the trainer,
radiant with his shrewdness; lust
look at them ears ~
| lie grabbed the boy by the shoulder
and held him at arms length, explain.
| ing that such ears are Invariably the
sign of faint. heartedness.
Give me q lad with ears pinned
close to his head. 1t shows gameness.
That was the frat thing | noticed
about Admiral Dewey. Soon as | saw
his ears knew how be come to sink
thu Spanish fleet at Manila"
Mr.. DAILY 10 renowned for having
turned out more crack riders than any
trainer in this country or in England.
He is faniliarly known ms " Father Bill
DAILY" He told me that for 900 years
his ancestors in Ireland have been
either owners, trainers or jockeys. He
looks it. About feet ii 10 height,
Mr.. DAILY Is of massive build. with a
forearm that eau hold a stable boy
dangling in midair. His face is rudy
and tanned by wind and weather, and
his gray eyes rove fnrtively. not because
he fears you, but because he has his
doubts.
Generally, Mr.. Day has in tuteage
10 or 10 boys. coming from all parts OF
the United States. They are linden
ttired to him for period of five years.
He agrees during that time 10 feed
them, clothe them, teach them to ride,
and pay them $50 per month for their
services. All money earned by them
in riding, whether for his stable or for
another's, gees to Mr.. DAILY. The boys
agrees to this readily, for his training
Is reputation, and they know that
wealthy turfinen are waiting TO offer a
retainer of any sum up to $40, 600 the
moment Mr.. Days contract expires.
Again, big stable, like that of W. @.
| Whitney or August Belmont, may
arrange to take DAILY boy befure his
apprenticeship is served. The stable
pays 81, 900 or. $40. 900 for the boy, aud
this money is divided between Father
Bill'' and the relatives or guardian OF
the jockey.
AS illustrating the hazardous life OF
q jockey, / need only point out that in
the season OF 1899 five boys were killed
outright; both arms of snother lad
were broken. and - jockeys endured
injuries such as fractured wrists, ribs
and ankles.
One would think that human beings
haring common peril of death every
day would feel only generous con
4 sideration for one another, like soldiers
In bayonet charge. But the opposite
is true of jockeys. With sentiment
chilled and hearts that never tap an
extra beat, these fellows often strive in
cold blood to main a comrade for life.
There is one jockey riding this season
with the record of having killed three
boys on the track.
| When Winnie O'Connor began riding
at New Orleans last year he came in
| from the first race crying bitterly that
he could easily have won if a we'll
known jockey had not fouled him. The
trick that c. used is one common
among jockeys when their own horse is
tired. c. rodo benide O'Connor.
aud crooked HE leg over 'Connor's
knee. The result was that O'Connor's
horse had 10 drag the other steed along,
At the same time O'Connor had 10 use
the utmost skill TO save himself being
tossed from tho saddle. Father Billy
DAILY, O'Connor's uncle, told the boy
not to complain to the stewards Just
then. But he gave O'Connor in.
structions to follow, when he should
meet this same jockey in another con-
test In the fifth race the spectators
were amazed to see the two Jockeys
finishing, linged leg and leg. while
little O'Connor was slashing his older