The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1903-10-09
JOCKEYS IN TRAINING
KEEPING THE WEIGHT DOWN IS NOT
A DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

Os 6hs
Judfcious Exercise Is@Gourted-Al
a Rule, Riders Last a Dozen Year
and as a Glass Are Not saving.
ut is a popular belief" a well know
trainer said to a reporter recently
"that a jockey has to resort to all sort
of injurious practices in order to keel
his weight within required limits. Th'
idea, however, is a far stretched one
OF o)urse a jockey has to go through
certain exercises each day and has tt
be very much mor careful regarding
what be puts in his stomach than mos
people in order to keep his weight dowr
and from acquiring a superluity OF
flesh. but he certainly does not starve
himself, as is generally supposed. II
he did so he would break down entirely
in a very short time. A jockey must
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
a jockey has to consider in studying his
dietary. He must see to 1t that his food
is of the best quality and that it con-
tains practically no flesh forming prop
critics. All such fattehing 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
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 ice a jockey who has a
mount in 1t 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
number of days. To accomplish
that, however, they have to resort prac-
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. 1t is needless
to say that no jockey could stand too
frequent repetitions of such severe
to subtract from his weight
without danger of permanently injur-
Ing his health and ven sacrificing his
life; still, many willingly resort to such
get light weight quick methods where
they see good opportunities of making
a name or q pile of money for them
ut must be remembered that by ma
ture jockeys as a whole are not of SUBJ
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 partskes of it is not probable
hat they would increase much in
or height. You often see jock
US in the big hotels and restaurants
1t the various racing sections after a
-ace tucking in big and expensive din
with a gusto and relish that
would give a chronic dyspeptic an ap-
for hard tack.
"Walking, running, cycling. punching
he bag and hurdle jumping are favor
tie exercises among jockeys to keep
heir weight down. On going out for
/ walk or run they wrap themselves III
he thickest of wooden sweaters and
,ther heavy clothing. no matter how
high the temperature may be, and the
is kept, up for a distance per-
of eight or nine miles, or, as we
Jay, until you are drowned in sweat
Turkish baths are also frequently in
in by many, and they must
year excessively warm clothing after,
also when going for a gallop, no
if the weather be boiling hot.
81 should say that ten or twelve
rears is the average of a Jockeys ac-
i've turf life. The length of his career,
lOhe hCpCINlo a SICdl UOoi Oh AbS
iding ability and luck.
Jockeys are not of a saving class,
md with but few exceptions | know
# hone who has ever managed to put
,nough money away to keep him in
wen half decent comfort after retiring
rom the turf. The majority. however,
in scraping up a bank roll of
efficient dimensions to start in some
BUSINESS. Like retired pugilists, they
a fondness for the liquor bust
less. and | know a few n time jock
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. l know Of only one
,x-jockey who is an exception to this
ule. He retired some years g with
80. 900 to his credit, and he immedi-
Ltely went into the real estate business
n New Jersey. Today he is doing well
lie was fortunate enough. however. to
eceive a good common school educa-