The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-18
REIFF
FAMOUS JOCKEY VISITS WICHITA,
HIS FORMER HOME.
Gives His Opinion of the English and
Talks About Racing.

John Reiff. known on two continents
and the most popular jockey in the world
is in this city He arrived here last Sun
day evening from California where his
parents now live and he viii remain here
visiting his brother, Elmer Reiff Of the
Union Live Stock Commission company
for about a week.
He is under contract to ride this year
for Cautain Gallant who owns-one of the
best stables of horses in France ind he
will leave New York for France some time
next week. Heretofore his brother Les
ter has been his manager. but John will
go it alone this year. Lester remaining
for this year in California. John will ride
in the race in France for three year Odds.
1t is like the derby in England and the
winner of the first prize viii get about
$50. 00O OF course the famous Wichita
jockey hopes to ride the winner and he
will certainly do il unless somebody else
rides a good deal better horse.
a reporter for the Eagle met John yes
terday and he would not have recognized
him if he had not been with his brother
Elmer. He has very greatly improved in
appearance during the last year. He
appears to be much more healthy and has
the appearance of trained athlete. When
the reporter remarked his improved ap-
would end his race riding. John said he
hoped not. He said that he had to ride
this year at one hundred and five pounds.
but he was still five pounds lighter than
that now. Last year he only weighed
eighty-five pounds and he had gained if
teen pounds since that time.
When asked how he liked to live in
Europe John said he would rather live
anywhere in America than in the best
part of England or France. He is the
best known jockey in the world. but that
fact has not turned his head. He is the
same little gentleman that the people Of
this city knew before he became so fam
GUS John SAYS he thinks the people Of
England did not like him and Lester very
much, but he thought they stood just as
good a chance as anybody there except
an Englishman. He says we have no idea
of how the people of that country think
everything English is away ahead of any
thing. not English. He says when they
beat the English jockeys they never con-
cede that they were outclassed; they sim
ply are astouuded and could not account
for it.
The famous jockey IS very modest
about his earnings and he said the people
here had an idea that they got large
amounts Of money outside Of their resu-
lar salary when they Won 4 Ok ieCt- nc
says they do sometimes get something on
the side. but the amount depends on the
liberality Of the owner of the horse. Some
of the English he said were liberal and
others were not in the habit OF giving
away very much money after they got
their fingers on ii.
John Rieff IS the model jockey in more
respects than one. He never gives any
information about the horses he has rid
den more than TO say they are good ones
II IS doubtful If anybody ever secured any
pointers from John about the horses
which he is going 70 ride He says he
IS under contract TO ride. but ueve- does
any trimming. He may frequently be CALI
ed unon 70 ride . horse n an important
race he has never backed before When
asked II he could not ride better race
Il ne learned the habits II horse. he SAID
he did nog think that made any difference
He said he would just as soon mount 2
horse ID a race that he had never seen
before as one he had ridden severed
times. IL seemed 70 b. his idea not 20
learn the horses ways but 60 make him
do Ms way.