The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-13
DEATH OF FRANK JORDAN, JOCKEY,
Once Famous Rider OF Race Horses
Succumbs to Pneum0naa-

~
Frank Jordan. once a noted rider Of race
horses In local annals. died on last Thur
day at the City Hospital, Of pneumonia con-
traSted through exposure, HIS career az
Jockey practically began in 1892 and ended
in 1894. While undoubtedly a good rider and
q really wonderful boy at either POST. atAr<=
ing or winning. he was more or less over.
rated by St Louis's adoring turf writers OF
the last decade. To them he was little short
of a demigod. To the average good and un-
prejudiced Judge of such things he vas sttn-.
ply a bit more than an average good boy
a. good boys come about dinky tracks sucH
as Madison. South Side and East ct. Louis
and the tracks on which he made almost all
Jordan's fame was largely based ON HID
wild nature and nsubordinate demeanor. II
was said that he was half Indian, but hA
the Indian Territory. and came to St. Louis
when a mere boy. He began riding at East
St. Louis. Madison and the old South Side
eral big stake races at the Fair Grounds in
1888. He was scarce as superior to the boys
Of his season az Willie Dale wes to these Of
Of Jordan's life was made at Brighton Beach
in 1883. when he won q race with Qusent6
Trowbridse- Her price was 10 to L IN
f~erty-backed her all over the ring. she
was an unknown Western ally with an un-
known Western stable boy on her. Jordan
and won Vol ali the way. The MY was last
enough to win anyhow, but the beating he
gave the flag made 1t q shame to tako the
ferty people took $4,000 out Of the ring that
afternoon. A while later they started her
back again. but Jordan pulled her. Il =
One day at the Fair Grounds here Jordan,
on Sir Walter Raleigh, would not obey or
ders and spoiled several starts by his con-
ing. fined him $1,000 and set him down for
two weeks. During his lay-on he found z
horse named Saxophone in q soft spot. He
-. ennA = IN - C~4n-A = nd IT,
dan bet $500 more on another horse at 8 to
1. He won also. With his hat full Of monoy
the rider went up to Secretary Joe Xardn
take out your dirty $1,000 and let ns w
Nj. Martin took the money: Nj; Role
then president Of the Fair Association. He
pitied the foolish and ignorant boy, Undated
BY ilI-foundsd pride k., ana 10y oye nm g oo sa snz
deposited it to yordan's credit In the Ms
sissippi Valley Trust Company. The boy
came into possession Of It when hs was n
Jordan got much credit for winning raeeo'
with Yo Tambien when the great Smith,
m ina se Eas mare At n ever es sosi.d. Il se' bs at R ~
with her, and when she was ffsesn p0endA
the hest. Though 1t was q close hnasn, jos.
dan was given all the credit OF the vicfes5A
Always good to himself in the way Of sn.
unbridled appetite. Jordan, who Wa nee.]
could not make weight any more. He. -
came a valet for jockeys, an exercaeo ooys
a betting commissioner and In many n.y.
followed the vagrant LIFE Of the turf. yoN'
the last three years he worked a. q fhxy1op
ard plated many Of the horses racing - tn
Fair Grounds.
He was q good Jockey In his class. . 300
post-rider. but no better than Burns OF Co.
burn-indeed. not As good-and Q food ~
Usher, but no better than twenty boy1 neWi
riding East and West A. fAf a anyth1n9
but mere horse instinct went he was net 9
Jockey. He was not clever nor bright Wn0
a poor Judge Of pace and situation, but ~.
could ride horseback n finish b M
very devil.
Jordan was about . years old. Pripr -
his death he weighed fully 17b pounds. T1l1q
to his name Of Indian" he led Q semiW114
life even when his fame was at III sen1tAs
He would as soon sleep In Q stable - IN
palace, and the coarSest fare Of the 0ea1nD
kitchen was aS good to him a. the 0ae16 =
La carte dinner ever served s,sF'