The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1903-12-12
JOCKEYS IN TRAINING
KEELING THE WEIGHT DOWN IS NOT
A DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

- nue. hhUeE8 Last a DOZGm years
and ms n Class Are Not avIng
'It is a popular belief a we'll known
trainer said to a reporter recently
"that a jockey has to resort to all sort
of injurious practices in order to keep
his weight within required limits. The
idea, however. is a far stretched one.
OF purse a jockey has to go through
certain exercises each day and has 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. If
he did so he would break down entirely
in a very short time. \ jockey must
also be in the best possible physical
trim and have bis wits about him be
fore Il race. and TO attain that he must
be careful how he uses his constitution.
''Tl,ere are two very important things
a jockey has to consider in studying his
dietary. He must see to it that his food
is of the best quality and that it con
tains practically no flesh forming prop
critics. All such fattening foods as. for
instance. soups, beef. pork. potatoes.
buildings and pastries a 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 a jockey has to eschew
c11.I foods, fl,aro oro mann ,tha. r,r ~
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 rae Il jockey who has q
mount in it will not stint himsrlf-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. ]
have known IL or two who were par
ticularly anXious to ride in certain
races. but for which they We perhaps
as much as eight or nine pounds too
heavy. who reduced that weight in the
same nunber of days. 10 accomplish
that. however. they have to resort pTac
tically to a starving diet leaving as
little as tire strain on the vitality will
permit without breaking down and try
ing TO ref'Ice their overweight by GER
tain sweating exercises. 1t is needless
to say thai no jockey could stand too
frequent r"petitions 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 d pile of money for them
selves.
1T must De remembered that by ma
ture Jockeys as a 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
1ulge every day in the heavy bill of
fare that the average business or work
ing man part"kes of it is not probable |
that they would increase much in
weight or height. You often see jock |
nys in the big hotels and restaurants
II IL 'htF laying wv ~ ~ /
tucking in big and expensive din
iers with a gustO and relish thai
would give a chronic dyspeptic an ap
Detitp for hard tack.
walking. running. cycling. punching
the bag and hurdle jumping are favor
tie exercises mOng jockeys to keep
heir weight down. On going out for
a walk or run they wrap themselves in
he thickest of wooden sweaters and
other heavy clothing. no matter how
nigh the temperature may be. and the
Xercise is kept up for II distance per.
laps of eight or nine miles. or. as we
:ay. until you are drowned in sweat
Turkish baths are also frequently in
iuleed in by many. and they must
vea excessively warm clothing after
also when going for a gallop. no
natter if the weather be boiling hot.
Il should say that ten or twelve
ears is the average of a Jockeys &C
We turf life. The length of his career
lowever. depends a great deal on HE
lding ability and luck.
Jockeys are not of a saving class
with but few exceptions | know
# none who has eve managed to pul
nough money away to keep him ir
wen half decent comfort after retiring
rom the turf. The majority, however
in scraping up a bank roll OF
dimensions to start in some
business. Like retired pugilists, they
lave Il fondneSS for the liquor bust
less. and | know a few one time jock
Us who are prospecting in that trade in
lifferent parts of the country. Others.
gain. become 'bOokies.' pOolrOom keep
rs and enter into such businesses as
'nable them to crafty their inveterate
owe for gambling. | know of only one
'x-jockey who is an exception to this
ule. He retired some years ago with
to his credit. and he immedi-
tcly went into the real estate business
n New Jersey. Today he is doing well
lie was fortunate enough, however, to
Pceive a good, common school educa-
ion in his early boyhood days-and
a thing jockeys very rarely get
of their knowledge Of horse