Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-08-05
JOCKEY AND HIS SCHOOLING

When boy enters jockey school he
shuts the world behind him like a nun
energy of body and soul is consecrated
to his craft. To him life means the clank
OF the bride, the hoof thud the smell OF
straw. and the bookmaker's cry. He
never learns anything unrelated to this
life. OF "A dozen stable boys | found only
two that could name the governors oi
their respective states Most OF tnem
believed Roosevelt to be simply Rough
Rider and knew him as Teddy" Only
one could tell me his present office
What they do develop is a savage grit
that lets them nudge death Familiarity
with smiling face a fore arm and leg OF
flexible steel. and wits unnaturally keen
on "a single line. And also, that ptiful
legacy ol the veteran trainer-crabbed
age behind Il baby face. You have the
living picture of it in li-year-old Johnny
Reiff. who earns in year more than Il
dozen college professors.
ough, severe and relentless The boys
sleep in a stable loft over the horses;
Summer and winter they are awakened
At daybrcak by a groom pounding on the
boards They jump into their clothes.
SHY, ring in the early mornings chill,
cold water sweeps away the cobwebs Of
sleep. Then for the horses, and for two
hours each boy exercises his string \
string consists of two horses and ''eN-
ercising" means walking them about the
track until they are agreeabiy warm.
After breakfaSt-and the food OF Il jockey
school is of the most nourishnG sort
he youngsters exercise another string,
and employ an hour or more III doing
chores. The afternoon they spend at tnc
rack, and by $ O'Clock the evening
hey mast be ahcd. Plenty Of time is al
lowed them for recreation The trainers
snc"u.a~c the hoNs in such sports A
swimming. running and ball playing Ey
constant practice of open air diversions
rud Sloan has maintained his excellent
condition. 10 this day he VIII leap \,
.ivc-rool fence. rather than 80 through
he gate. Marbles is the iavorte game
f tho stable boys. ---.cr winning
,',.tDi race at Manchester. last year.
inhnnN kciiI was found dGepiN iiteIcS,.,u
ia wing marbles. while i-ord RoseberE
was waiting outside the paddock to con-
;ratulatc him. r
The Gfc OF tn, embryo jockey is fun Of
.ontrast l'ntn boy shows signs OF
treat talent. he is Liable to rough treat
ncnt for any mistake or disobediencr
He learns to dread the traincrs balestick.
IL is on record that Ludden. an EnEliSh
ROY. was Killed through the cruelty Of MS
mister ON the other hand as soon ~
he apprentice displays promise ne IS nur-
ured and tended Just as scrupulousiy a.
he colt OF hig.. degree.
Trainers are particularly anxious that
the boys so to church every SUNDAY
ON" Of them told me; with a flicker o.
days for a quaker mectinc-hoiSc. as y"
nau lust indcntured a Quaker boy from
la PENNSYLVANIA poorhouse.
Tod Sloan has said that out OF hltN
noys that lead the elephant 10 water tw"
get into the circus, and he makes IN
same average OF boys who reach distins-
ton Of exercising horse under thc
saddle" This is the second step IN tht
sc,ool: and tho majority Of apprentices,
after three years. attain to 1t only to learn
that they have taken on too much weight
ever to he Jockeys. Little wonder, theh:
ltbat such unfortunate youths. sickened
at soul dribble out a cheap existence as
tout" hostlers and vagabonds. You
can pick them out in sporting purheus.
wan-faced stunted. misfits of men, If
boy has not attained to the second step
before MS sixteenth year, and while ne
is under 15 pounds in weight, ms future
is behind him.-Ainsiee's