The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-08-11
JOCKEYS IN TRAINING
KEEPING THE WEIGHT DOWN IS NOT
A DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

at is a popular belief" well known
trainer said to reporter recently,
'that a 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.
or course 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 supernuity Of
flesh, but he certainly does not starve
himself, as is generally supposed. IL
he did so he would break down entirely
in a very short time. A jockey must
also be i'm the best possible physical
trim and have his wits about him be-
fore a race, and TO attain that he must
be careful how he uses his constitution.
There are two very important things
jockey has TO consider In studying his
dietary. He must see to II 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,
puddlngs 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 eschsw
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
enlng for his constitution. A few days
before a race a Jockey who has a
mount In IL 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.
have known one or two who We're 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 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. II Is needless
TO say that no jockey could stand too
frequent repetitlons of such severe
measures TO subtract from his weight
without danger OF permanently injur-
ing his health and even sacrificing his
I oft lN 10 oh,
|. get hight weight quick methods where
they see good opportunities of making
a name or pile of money for them
: selves.
'It must be remembered that by ma
ture jockeys as a whole are not of sub
Nstantial physique or imposing In height,
Ialthough they are as tough as whip
4 cord. IL 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 I'M the big hotels and restaurants
at th@ various racing sections after
race( tuclIing in big and expensive din
nersf with a gusto and relish that
woVld give chronic dyspeptic an ap-
petite for hard tack.
|Walklng. running cycling, punching
h le bag and hurdle jumping are favor
G exercises among jockeys to keep
-nelr weight down. On going out for
Z. walk or ran they wrap themselves in
The thlckest OF woolen sweaters and
Z 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 a gallop, nS
matter If the weather be boiling hot.
81 should say that ten or twelve
years Is the average of a Jockeys ac-
tive turf life. The length of his career
however, depends a great deal on his
riding ability and luck
Jockeys are not of n 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 foDdness for the liquor busi-
ness, and know few one time jock
eys who are prospering 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. ] 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 immedl-
ately went into the real estate business
In New Jersey. Today he is doing well.
He was fortunate enough, however, TO
receive a good common school educa-