Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-06
JOCKEY REDEEM HERE.
Talks Interestingly Of His Career and
His Habits

Arthur Redfern, mere strip of boy.
barely seventeen years old and weighing
less than IS pounds, who for his next ten
months work will draw a salary nearly
equal to that of the President of the
United States, Is in Washington. He ar
rived yesterday and is stopping at the Lin
coin Hotel, where his mother is critically
Ill. 1t is useless to tell the initiated that
Arthur Redfern is a jockey. rider Of the
ponies Of the first water. Of whom Snap
per" Garrison. Father. Bilr' DAILY and
Philip J. Dryer have united in saying HE
Is the greatest rider on the American turf"
Redfern Is diminOtive youngster, a
mere shell OF flesh and bones. yet he is
capable Of coping with the strongest OF
the equine animal kingdom. He Is "heady,
gamey and brainy," and John G. Madden
once said Of him: Il would prefer to have
Redfern in the saddle with thirty pounds
dead weight than to have a. dead one in
the saddle. He can ride and possesses the
knack Of instilling life into q horse. while
the poor jockeys are just like so much meal
on their backs" nh 81
Redfern will ride for7william C. Whitney
the coming season, and for this the former
Secretary Of the Navy has paid $25, 900.
Mr.. Whitney gave Colonel ]. M. Pepper
$4,000 for the privilege and Redfern $4,000
as retaining fee. 'e'f
Redfern is barely four feet three inches
in height slight in stature. His pale face Is
handsome, having regular features and ex-
pressive eyes. But dop't,Jud him by ap-
pearances. You will be deceived He pos
sesses the strength and agility of prize
fighter with the activity OF q trained wrest-
Ter. His muscles appear to be made of
steel, those in his arms and thighs and
chest being particularly wel1 developed.
Riding race horses IS the greatest pleas
ure Of my life,' he saidGtofa Star reporter
this afternoon. ''Whens was a small chap
you needn't smile. was once smaller
than am now-I used tor watch the horses
on the country roads and long for the day
when I would be old enough to back one Of
them. Ny first Instructions In riding were
received from my father. At first was a
little befuddled, but 1t soon, came to me.
and was perfectly at home on the back
of horse. No, / never had any fear of
falling. From this soon got to riding race
horses for exercise and branched out as
real jockey. You know I have been rid
ing professionally barely three years.
While I did not win my first race, which
was ridden in Montana, can never forget
that first mad ride-the sensation creeps over
me to this day. I was fascinated with
1t that made up my mind then and there
to be the best jockey in the world.
THE first winner I rode was Malay, a
Calfornia-bred horse, owned by DR.. Row
ell, the father-in-law of Lester Reiff. Ma
lay was game all right and responded to
every cali made on him That was three
years ago at st. Louis. In 1901 during the
Canadian circuit 1 had some success, and
quit Dr. RoWell, as he did not give me
enough chances to ride.LI got all the rid
| ing in Canada could attend to, however,
and began to ride winners and gather in a
little coin for future use.
Il do not take on flesh easily. and 1t Is,
therefore, not necessary for me to do much
training. I have always found that I
could eat anything like and am particu-
larry fond Of roast beef. I keep in good
shape by going to bed early and getting
plenty Of Sleep
In speaking Of his style Of riding Red
fern said: II ride just like the other boys.
I sit well forward on the shoulders of the
horse, crouched in American fashion, and
take fairly short hold of the reins. In
riding race I am governed by the gen.
eral conditions. OF course. I always try
to get the shortest route to the finish.
never use the whip unless I am absolutely
compelled to do so; most horses have only
one good squirt in them. and If you save
them for the finish and then call on them
you can generally manage to get it OUT
Redfern will remain in Washington until
after the Benning meeting. where he ex
poets to ride, and has every reason to be-
lieve that he will land a number of winners.