Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-05
MAHER'S ONE FAULT
GREAT JOCKEY THE POSSESSOR OF
A BAD TEMPER.
Study of Horseman of Character
Made Him Leader in His
hosen Line.
From the New York Telegram.

From the New York Telegraph.
The cable tells US that Danny Maher, the
American jockey who has come to be the
idol of the English turf, has again distin-
guished himself by plotting the winner of
the English Derby, which makes a third
time in succession that an American jockey
has won the blue ribbon event of the Eng
lish turf Lester Reiff, who has been BAN
ished from the turf by the edct of the
English racing stewards, and ]. H. (Skeets)
Martin share with the Hartford boy the
honor which so many jockeys of the high
est class have striven for in vain
An erroneous impression has gained cur
rency that Maher is under contract to the
King of England This is not exactly true,
although there is an arrangement by which
King Edward may avail himself of the
American Jockeys services from time to
time whenever Sir J. Miller does not re-
quire Makers services. Tod Sloan and
Danny Maher. and possibly Skeets Martin,
are among the very few American Jockeys
who have been successful in England who
made their reputation in the saddle before
they went abroad. The Reiff brothers and
several other American boys who have won
fame in England figured in class c
on this side.
There is story which has gone around
to the effect that Makers parents, who
are fairly well-todo and highly respected
people, intended him for the priesthood.
AS matter of fact, he was sent to Cath
Ollie school with some such idea in view but
when it became known that the boy was
set against it the idea was abandoned:
Instead of being educated for the priest
hood Dannie somehow became mixed up
with Father Bill Daily. Young Maher was
a natural horseman; he knows horses, and
he loves them AS child he liked to fool
around them. Father Bill in him an
apt pupil and Father Bill is a mighty good
judge of the qualities that constitute the
making of a good jockey.
For, didn't he develop Snapper Garrison
Jimmy Mclaughlin and the Lamley boys
in fact, at least dozen riders who were
stars in their days?
Father Bill Days methods are heroic.
He makes plentiful use of the bale stick
and has but little consideration for the
comfort Of the youngsters on his schooling
list-none but hardy and fearless young
ster could hope to find great favor in the
eyes of Bill Daily. Now, Maher was never
a robust lad, and he was never noted for
possessing the daredevil qualities which
prompted his stable companion of other
days-Winnie OConnor-to squeeze through
a seemingly impossible opening In order to
win a race
1t is altogether unlikely that Danny
Maher will ever .be set down for reckless
riding. He has too much consideration for
the rights and safety Of others.
Incidentally, Danny Maher is not taking
chances with his own life. There has been
noticed in his handling of his mount in
large held OF horses q certain amount OF
timidity which would suggest the idea that
he is DESTROYS of remaining on this terres-
trial sphere as long as he can, and has no
desire at all to spend any part Of his time
in hospitals.
Maher is now twenty-five years old; he
began riding early in 1897, but did not at
tain prominence until the fall of 1898, when
he began to attract attention. 1t was along
about this time that Sloan had reached
the height of his popularity. Danny Maher
was present the day Ornament won the
Brooklyn handicap. That day will go
down into turf history as Sloans day, for
the Indiana jockey all but swept the card.
He had five mounts and won five races.
One of his mounts was Ornament the Ken
tucky-bred colt quoted at to 1 In the
betting. Maher was so much impressed
with the work of the Indiana jockey that
he had been studying his methods rather
closely, and after his exhibition on that
never to-be-forgotten handicap day in 1898,
he became more and more student Of the
Sloan methods.
There is just one unpleasant incident in
the career Of the American jockey who has
conquered all England. The case of Ban
astar Is referred to. Maher had won the
Toboggan and the Brooklyn Handicap in
1890 with Banastar. and the horse was q
natural favorite for the Suburban. The
horse was left at the post. Quite naturally
the late Mr.. Clark and his friends were
very angry; so was the jockey, for when
he found that he had been left at the post
he began applying the whip with the great
est vigor. This unnecessary action on
Makers part angsrsd Mr.. Clark all the