Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-09-19
JOCKEYS IN TRAINING
KEEPING THE WEIGHT DOWN is NOT
A DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

JudiciOus Exercise Is COurted-As
a Rule, Riders Last Dozen Years
and as a Glass Are Not Saving.
cit is a popular belief" well known
trainer said to reporter recently,
'that jockey has to resort to all sorts
of injurious practices in order to keep
his weight within required limits. The
idea, however, is a far stretched one.
Of course a jockey has to go tt ugh
certain exercises each day and nas to
be very much more careful regarding
what he puts in his stomach than most
people in order to keep his weight down
and from acquiring a superfuity OF
flesh, but he certainly does not starve
himself, as is generally supposed. II
he did so he would break down entirely
in very short time. A jockey must
also be in the best possible physical
trim and have his wits about him be-
fore race, and to attain that he must
be careful how he uses his constitution.
''There are two very important things
a jockey has to consider in studying his
dietary. He must see to 1t that his food
Is of the best quality and that 1t con-
tains practically no flesh forming prop
critics. All such fattening foods as, for
instance, soups, beef, pork, potatoes,
buildings and pastries jockey must
deny himself. Coffee, tea or other
drinks are only taken very moderately,
as all liquids help more or less in put
ting on flesh.
although jockey has to eschew
such foods, there are many other varie-
ties which he gets just as much pleas
ure in eating and which at the same
time are equally as good and strength
ening for his constitution. A few days
before a race a jockey who has a
mount in it will not stint himself-pro-
vided he has no fear of overlapping
his proper weight for the race-in any
thing which he thinks will not inter
fere with his digestive apparatus.
''Some jockeys, of course, take on
and lose flesh quicker than others. l
have known one or two who were par
ticularly anxious to ride in certain
races, but for which they were perhaps
as much as eight or nine pounds too
heavy, who reduced that weight in the
same number of days. To accomplish
that, however, they have to resort prac-
tically to a starving diet leaving as
little as the strain on the vitality will
permit without breaking down and try
ing to reduce their overweight by GER
tain sweating exercises. It Is needless
to say that no jockey could stand too
frequent repetitions Of such severe
measures to subtract from his weight
without danger Of permanently injur-
ing his health and even sacrificing his
life; still, many willingly resort to such
get light weight quick methods where
they see good opportunities of making
a name or a pile of money for them
selves.
cit must be remembered that by ma
ture Jockeys as whole are not Of sub
stantial physique or imposing In height.
although they are as tough as whip
cord If they were, therefore, to In
dulge every day in the heavy bill OF
fare that the average business or work
ing man partakes of it is not probable
that they would increase much in
weight or height. You often see jock
eys in the big hotels and restaurants
at the various racing sections after
race tucking in big and expensive din
ners with a gustO and relish that
would give a chronic dyspeptic an ap-
petite for hard tack.
"Walking, running, cycling, punching
the bag and hurdle jumping are favor
lite exercises among jockeys to keep
their weight down. On going out for
walk or run they wrap themselves in
the thickest of wooden sweaters and
other heavy clothing, no matter how
high the temperature may be, and the
exercise is kept up for distance per-
haps Of eight or nine miles, or, as we
say. until you are drowned in sweat
Turkish baths are also frequently IN
dulged in by many, and they must
wear excessively warm clothing after,
and also when going for gallop, no
matter if the weather be boiling hot.
81 should say that ten or twelve
years is the average Of Jockeys ac-
tive turf life. The length Of his career,
however, depends great deal on MS
riding ability and luck.
Jockeys are not of saving class,
and with but few exceptions l know
of none who has ever managed to put
enough money away to keep him In
even half decent comfort after retiring
from the turf. The majority, however,
succeed in scraping up bank roll OF
sufficient dimensions to start IN some
business. Like retired pugilists, they
have a fondness for the liquor busl-
ness, and know a few one time jock
eys who are prospecting in that trade IN
different parts Of the country. others,
again, become 'bookies,' poolroom Keep
ers and enter into such businesses as
enable them to crafty their inveterate
love for gambling. l know OF only one
ex-jockey who is an exception to this
rule. He retired some years ago with
$4,000 to his credit, and he 1mmedl-
ately went into the real estate business
in New Jersey. Today he is doing well.