The sun., 1903-12-06
TEMPTATIONS FOR JOCKEYS.
LOTS or THEM IN THE WAY OF
LADS At THE TRACKS.
The Earning Of S3S 900 by Arthur Red
fern m Incentive, Though, to Other
Race, ,Riders-Traps for Jocke3s-Lads
whose Heads Are Turned by success.


Race, ,Riders-Traps for Jockeys-Lads
whose Heads Are Turned by success.
1t takes strong minded boy who rides
racehorses for living to Withstand temp
tation. On the other hand, the rewards
Of those that succeed are great,
1t was only the other day that the father
Of Arthur Redfern, W. c. Whitney's star
jockey, declared that his son had earned
81, 900 during the season just closed, and
that he would have reached the $4,000
mark had it not been for broken collar
bone received in an accident at the Aque-
duct track last spring. And yet young
Redfern is not yet out OF his teens.
His case is an illustration OF the posi-
bilities in the way OF successful jockey.
Here is an instance Of different kind.
A dozen years ago little stable boy
named Sloan was living from hand to
mouth on the winter track at Guttenburg.
His rise to fame and fortune was meteoric,
and he soon came to be not only Americas
most successful jockey. but later earned
the patronage of British royalty.
At one time Tod Sloan was reputed to be
worth half million dollars. unsuccessful
attempts to break the bank at Monte Carlo,
high living and other eytravagances soon
reduced his bank account until few months
ago it was said Of him that he was engaged
as a chauffeur by a French automobile
concern
Sloan's head was turned by success
and when he came to this country several
years ago to ride w. G. Whitney's Ballyhoo
Bey in the Futurity, his old friends feared
the worst, IL only because of the assumption
of an English accent and the presence OF
! Rrown-up valet. Sloan probably made
more money from riding racehorses than
| any other American-born jockey, but he'd
| fern, if he can keep up his average. may
be able to surpass him.
| While all Jockeys cannot hope to make
money so rapidly, their opportunities are
great According to the prevailing GUS
| tom, jockey receives $25 for a winning
mount and SIS for loser Six races are
run each day, SO that steadily employed
| rider makes a good thing Of 1t.
Sometimes he has chance to increase
these earnings in dishonest way and
| here is one sort of temptation. The sue
! cess Of the racehorse naturally depends
great deal upon his physical condition
But when the thoroughbred leaves the pad
dock gate his welfare rests solely in the
hands Of the jockey.
If the horse is favorite he carries thou
sands Of dollars of the public's money.
In the betting ring the bookmakers have.
| perhaps, laid short price against hlm
because OF the Jockeys reputation Tor e1,
treme skilfulness. Ia 1t not natural
inference that some bookmaker. a Dook,
maker not inclined to be honest would
like to tamper with this particular Jockey!
| Does ANYBODY believe that the Jockey
would never receive an of1er OF 5000 to
pull the horse?
Ii has been sho wn in times past that such
I offers have been made. and in some cases
Jockeys have been ruled OF the turf for
life for accepting them That is why,
possibly, the Jockeys OF the present day
turn away from temptation OF this KIND
! fearing banishment from trade that
Welded ss much as sss 600 to Arthur Red
70 ride honestly is not the hardest thing
Jockey has to do. The notoriety, he
! company. 1t is the height Of some race,
goers' ambition to know star jockeys and
| trainers. 1t seems to them to be the proper
thing to spend money on them, ..-
Late euppers at fashionable restaurants
are held out as an attraction. with music
wine, flowers and brilliant lights. IL 1t
strange that the boys who perhaps, have
| come from some country town where thev
were brought up in absolute want. md IL
| hard to refuse?
| II il at these late spreads that the young
sters meet boon companions who are older
| and more experienced in the ways OF the
world When they are on familiar terms
these companions can go to Jockey IN the
| paddock and ask him what he thinks, and
they can also make proposition TO him o
do something wrong in return Tor bundle
| of money. -
One night last week Sun man saw a
well known Jockey, not more man 10, sitinH
was long after midnight, and his COM
panions were a we'll known gambler, two
| bookmakers q confidence man and three
yellow haired women. The Jockey was
opening wine and was smoking black
| cigar that Bill Devery would have eN-
perienced difficulty in handling
| The supper was in fun blast when cuet
looking man slipped up to the jockey 4
| chair and whispered in his ear
| "'rbe boss wants 10 see you outside
The Jockey arose reluctantly and went
out into the street There he vas CON
| frorted hv his employer, who rde'"d him
peremptorily to go to hotel and take the
frat train in the morning Tor Washington.
bow. but his employer was obtiurate and
marched him OF to bed.
| Another Jockey of renown caused end
less trouble for his employers his past
campaign by disappearing. from ne track
! inst AT a time when his services were needed
In some important race. He was unheard
of a little more than year ago, but being
| a natural horseman and lad of daring, he
lea ped int O the front rank of popularity.
| His success completely turned his head.
Money came so easily that he saw no reason
why he should not spend it IA fast as it
| came.
He dropped completely out OF sight one
elay and the race track Diet tectives went out
on still hunt for him. The jockey could
not be found. That night his manager
met a stranger in Broadway who said
aIf YOU will take trip to certain Hat
lem saloon, think you will find your boy
The address was given and the manager
r,shed away When he entered the back
room of the resort he found that The in-
formation was correct;
The Jockey was holding high carnival
His companions, from their appearances,
did not have cent. The managers intrl-
sion promptly called for a protest from
the propreor of the place, who did not
care TO lose really good thing. But the
Jockey was literally dragged out, and after
ysceiving a tongue lashing he promised
This boys behavior at one time at
tracted the attention OF the stewards, but
his promises to reform STAYED off official
action. His prospects were never brighter.
| Several millonaires want him TO ride for
them next year, hut he liz under contract
- ~ tho l,ast known turfmen in tho