The Indianapolis journal., 1904-02-28
CLEARER VIEW OF CASE
AGAINST TOD SLOAN
Facts Which Go to Wipe Out Any
misunderstanding in Regard
to Jockey.
HE IS IN RIGHT LIGHT

PARIS, Feb. 27-There seems to be much
misunderstanding with regard TO Tod
Sloans case, recently before the courts here,
and as TO his present standing a few lines
to clear away the fog will be Of interest
to American sportsmen.
When the wonderful little American
horseman first went to England he at once
became a sensation and a popular favorite,
and he would probably be still riding there
and making a very handsome income had
he not proved as vigorous at the game OF
gaiety off the turf as he was at the game
of getting home first on his mounts on the
race course. With money to burn. Tod
kept the bonfire blazing brightly, and in
so conspicuous a manner and In such con-
spicuous places that the racing authorities
became annoyed, for jockeys in England
are not favored when they frolic too freely.
and Tod flashed his frolics like fireworks.
However, nothing could be done by the Eng
lish Jockey Club, and as his riding was so
remarkable and his honesty so completely
unquestioned Sloan's merrymakings would
doubtless have passed officially unheeded
had he not ignored the rule that jockeys
must not bet Oh or against their mounts
Plenty of jockeys do So but they do not
do it openly, and this Tod did not hesitate
to do-of course, backing the horse he rode
This fact, taken together with his banging
a waiter over the head with a champagne
bottle on the lawn at Ascot, decided the
stewards of the Jockey Club to discipline
the young man, and he was privately ad-
vised not to apply for a license to ride dur
ing the following season. the hint. comm e
he knew from headquarters, being taken.
Then there was no ruling off, nor, indeed,
even any official refusal of a license, so that
Sloan merely became a private person in
no way officially connected with the Eng
llsh turf. This was his position when he
came to France.
He did not apply for license in France,
thus remaining a private person, and as
there was a great deal OF sympathy for
him in England il was generally felt that
his license would be given back.
What happened in France was this: One
day in May at Chantilly (the French New
marketO, a great training center about an
hour from Paris by rail, and where the
course, Sloan was asked by trainer to gal
lop a filly called Rose de Nal which the
stable greatly fancied, but which the book
makers were laying against freely owing
TO rumOrs that the tilly was touched in her
wind. The race was a very important one.
and the trainer asked Tod TO gallop the flly
at racing speed over similar distance and
give his opinion of her condition. This was
early in the morning of the day of the race.
and Tod said there was nothing whatever
the matter and that she was extra good.
the afternoon
The story of this private trial reached the
French stewards and they at once ruled
Tod off the French turf SO far as forbidding
him to ride or 10 enter any OF the jockey
Enclosures. but his right 10 pay his way
into the race course was not challenged and
he was steady patron, paying at the Gate
like any other private person. Ii was felt
that the French Jockey CLUB had gone out
of it's way to punish too severely a very
trifiing breach of the rules, for owing TO
its action the English Jockey Club (as is the
etiquette of Jockey club management had
10 follow suit, and SlOans position became
at once very much changed for the worse.
So he brought suit for $4,000 damages
against the jockey club. the revocation OF
their decree. and this suit, after much in
teresting argument. has been decided in his
favor although no damages were granted.
He was. however. allowed his costs. The
Judge took the view that the jockey was
merely n private individual when he was
asked as a favor TO try the horse, and that
the punishment inflicted upon him for sc
| doing was illegal and must be quashed.
| Therefore Tod stands as before, with no
| smirch whatever. officially, on his position
as a future jockey. The French Jockey
| club is not likely 10 grant him a license
unless it's English prototype does so first
| and what will be the ultimate outcome OF
the matter remains TO be seen.