The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-09-13

TIT big starter. however. has a heart
in him as big as Higgins IS all together
Well. he'll be good. Barrett; won't
You: Higgins"" pleaded the reporter
Sure III be good. Mr.. Dade. Now. you
| see, sir, that mare she done bust inter
your barrier afore 1 seed her. II I
knowod she layn' for to do anything like
that I'd broke her jaw"
Go on. now, You little villain said Mr..
DaGc- You're, up. but You d. it again
Mr.. Daic gave Higgins a chance. He
made the most Of it. The turf writer who
had often scored Willie's bad rides now
| feels very glad that he had a hand in
helping the lad along.
Higgins made the most of it. He IS now
the star lightweight rider of America.
WON WITH FIRST MOUNT.
Higgins celebrated his first appearance
in the East by winning n race at one mile
and a quarter on the grass. 1t seems that
Newton bennington and Fred Burlew, the
men who are exploiting the Frank young
stcrs just now, have another O'Neill Hig-
gins IS a more useful lad than O'Neill. He
is much lighter. He can ride at ninety
pounds.
Higgins is a Jockey of the new school.
| He sits well up on a horses withers. with
his knees tucked pretty well up under his
chm. He uses very short stirrupS. He
has not Yet shown particular aptitude for
getting away from the post. but he may
be = good post rider for all that. He
has, however, other attributes which rec
Urnmcnd him to the high consideration of
owners and of turf patrons. He knows
what to do after getting away from the
post and he understands pace.
\ GAME RIDER.
Nothing seems to daunt this little st.
Louis lad. When he left the post in the
2-year-old race at ~three-quarters of a mile
with Fred Burlew's FLY For Luck. he was
not in a particularly good position. and
three or four other horses crowded Fol
Luck in against the rail.
Most jockeys would have pulled up, and
they would have had good excuses. But
TINS little man did not. He kept For Luck
going as best he could and did not Surren-
der his position. He found Il chance to
get through at the turn out of the back
stretch, and took it. For Luck was con-
sequently in Il position at the turn into
me h"Inestrctch to run around the lead
efS ana take 2 commanding lead. Other
hoy MIGHT have gone to the whip in the
'--'", hut Master Virgins did not He
rode the race out with his hands.
In the selling race, at one mile and a
AIabe. Richardson to victory well in ad-
yanc5 of Nincennes. ridden by O'NeiII.
Higgins was as cool as n cucumber He
allowed Mabel Richardson to galI5p
alongside the old Victory gelding until
ne reached the last furlOng pole. Then
ne gave the Halma mare a couple of
kicks and she shot ahead. When he saw
that he had VinCeuues beaten he care
fully took Mabel Richardson UU Obvf-
ously young Higgins knows a thing or
two about riding. 1t is a pity he did not
go East sooner. If he had he would have
made his fortune.
HIGGINS WILL DO WE'LL.
With Bennington and Burlew keeping
a watchful eye over him. Higgins will do
well. They viii not permit him to fall
into temptation or go astray. And they
all the weight riding fpr the Gfl blas
Of Mr.. Bennington. K. II. McCarter Pot
ter and J. q. Follansbee.
II | had had Higgins on Eagle on
Tuesday" Mr.. Follansbee remarked. u
believe that | would have won the race.
Little O'Brien Is a pretty fair sort of an
apprentice. but he is not in this lads
riGer than a mere apprentice
JOCKEYS RISE AND FALL.
1t Is a peculiar thing how jockeys flash
to the front in this country. Two weeks
ago most New York racegoers had never
consciously heard of Higgins. If they had
lone so, the information had gone in at
enc ear and out at the other. and when
his name appeared on the board as the
rider of Embarrassment In the last race
August -. 1t is good betting that the fact
kept hundreds from backing the knight
Of Elierslie 3-year-old who would other
wise have done go.
Now. in every place where racing men
do CongreGate, Higgins's name was on the
up OF every tongue. Nothlng succeeoS
like success. and this unknown ad-un
known In New York a~nyhow-is known all
over the turf.
Higgins is going to Illustrate once more
the old, old story that no sooner do jock
eys reach the zenith. than over goes the
show" The point has been developed far
too often already, and TURTLES are hoping
for exceptions to the rude that has
brought so many high-class horsemen
down with n run from their lofty pin
naCles.
If Higgins will walk the straight and
narrow path. not only of honesty, but
Of sobriety and abstinence from the good
things of the flesh. this youngster of
of ninety pounds. may be riding just as
well as ever twelve or fifteen years from
nov. But If he goes the usual route he
wifi Tnss. comet-'ike. across tho turf skv
and disappear like one that has never
ha.p known