Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-06-02
JOCKEYS IN TRAINING

JUCAE1S LIN IHAlNlNG
KEEPING THE WEIGHT DOWN Is NOT
A DIFFICULT PROBLEM.
Cntt~ning Foods Are Avoided, and
Judscious Exercise Is Courtcd-Am
o Rule, Riders Last "a Dozen Years
and as a Claus Are Not saving.
ut Is popular belief" we'll known
trainer said to reporter recently,
"that Jockey has to resort to all sorts
of Injurious practices Ia order to keep
his weight within required limits. The
idea. however. Is Il far stretched one.
OF course a jockey has to so through
certain exercises each day and has to
be very much more careful regarding
what lie puts In his stomach than most
people in order to keep his weight down
and from acquiring IL supcrllulty of
lcsh but he certainly does not starve
he did so he would break down entirely
In very short time. \ Jockey must
also be in the best possible physical!
trim and have his wits about him be-
fore q race, and to attain that he must
be careful how I've uses his constitution.
There are TWO very important things
Jockey has to consider In studying his
dietary lie must sec to 1t that his food
is of the best quality and that it CON
tains practically no flesh forming prop
critics. All such fnttcning foods us, for
instance, soups, beef, pork, potatoes,
buildings and pastries n Jockey must
deny himself Coffee. tea or other
drinks are only taken very moderately,
us all liquids help more or less In put
ting on flesh.
"Altlough n jockey has to eschew
such foods, there are many other varie-
ties which he gets Just as much pleas
urc In eating and which Mt the Same
time are equally as good aud strength
ening for his constitution. a few days
before race n Jockey who has n
| mount In 1t Will not stint himsclf-pro-
vided he has no fear of overlapping
his proper weight for the race In amy
| thing which he thinks will not inter
fere with his digestive apparatus.
"Somc Jockeys. of course, take on
and lose flesh quicker than others. I
have known one or two who We're par
ticulnrly anxious to ride in certain
races, but for which they were perhaps
us much MS eight or nine pounds too
lenvy, who reduced that weight in the
same number of days. To accomplish
that, however, they have to resort prac-
tic,illy to Al starving diet leaving us
| little rs the strain on the vitality will
permit without brenising down and try
| Ing to Mslucc their overweight by GER
tain sweating exercises. 1t Is needless
to say that no Jockey could stand too
| frequent rcpctitions of such severe
measures to subtract from his weight
without danger OF permanently injur-
ing his health and even sacrificing his
life; still, many willingly resort to such
get light weight quick methods where
they see good opportunities of making
q name or pile of money for Them
4 selves
ut must be remembered that by na-
trre jockeys as II whole are not of sub
stantiul physique or imposing in height,
although they are us tough as whip.
cord If they were, therefore, to in.
dulgc every day in the heavy bin OF
fare that the average business or work
ing man paltalles OF 1t Is not probable
that they would increase much in
weight or height You often see jock
4 cys in the big hotels and restaurants
ut the various racing sections after Il
race tucking in big and expensive din
ncrs with Il gusto and relish that
would give chronic dyspeptic IN ap-
petite for hard tack.
WALKING. running. cycling. punching
the bag and hurdle jumping are favor
itc exercises among jockeys to keep
their weight down. On going out for
walk or run they wrap themselves in
the thickest of WOODEN sweaters and
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 AFRO drowned III sweat
Turkish baths are also frequently in
dulged In by many, and they must
wear excessively warm clothing after
and also when going for gnllop, nc
matter If the weather be boiling hot.
II should say that ten or twelve
years is the average OF u Jockeys ac
tive turf life. The length of his career
however, depends n great deal on his
riding ability and luck.
Jockeys are not Of a saving class
and with but few exceptions 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 n fondness for the liquor bust
ness. and know Il few one time jock
eys who are prospecting In that trade III
different parts of the country. Others
again, become 'bookics,' poolroom keep
ers and enter into such businesses as
enable them to crafty their invcterate
love for gambling. know Of only ono
eX-jockey who IL an exception to this
rule. He retired some years ago Will
$4,000 to his credit, and he immedi
ately went into tile real estate business
In New Jersey. Today he is doing well
He was fortunate enough, however, tt