The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28
Jockey HiIdebrand's Rise From
Peanut Boy.
Now Recognized as One of Fore
most Riders.
BUT 8 YEARS. SERVICE.
For This Reason His Record Is
Considered Remarkable.
Interesting Items From World
of Sport.

Chicago, Dec. 28-The Chronicle says:
Just few short years ago Eugene Hill
debrand was selling peanuts in Chutes
park, San Francisco, with no idea of
ever becoming a world famous jockey,
but as the year 1904 draws to a close
he finds himself the kingpin rider of
them all, with the credit of putting
more winners over the plate in one
year of racing than was ever accom-
plished by any knight of the pigskin,
and before the new year rolls around
he will probably have reached the 300
mark of winning mounts.
Hildebrand never rode race until
three years ago. so his success in the
saddle is without precedent. Vic Gill
bert, who has trained around the Cali
fornia tracks for a number of years,
first secured a contract on the boy and
is entitled to considerable credit for
developing him. PInnger Joe Yeager
purchased the lads contract from GiI-
bert for a paltry consideration, judged
from his remarkable success this sea-
son. The first winner ever ridden by
Hildebrand was Sterling Towers,
horse whose name is familiar to race
goers everywhere.
Hildebrands record at the end of the
present year will probably remain un-
beaten for years to come, as he has av-
cry racing day. There are approx
mately 313 racing days in one year, but
a fortnight must be allowed for travel
between California and New York, and
a full month would be nearer the time
lost.
Beginning the first of the present
year, Hildebrand rode 81 winners on
the tracks near San Francisco, when
Los Angeles, where he landed over 40
winning mounts. When he left the
coast to try conclusions with the crack
riders around New York he had 81 win
ners to his credit.
The youngster made rather an in
start on the eastern tracks,
as the trainers there were slow to
recognize his merits, and he got only
of moderate ability. 1t soon dawned
upon race devotees, however, that
was an extraordinary
rider, his Quickness at the post gained
fore long Hildebrand was quite the
fad.
Horses seemed to improve greatly
under his vigorous riding and in very
heap. Hildebrand rode 165 winners in
The east this summer, while Redfern,
who was second on the list. had, but
30 wins to his credit. and, Shaw had
-rimmins ST, H. Phillips So. Travers
IS. Lyme 54, Cormack Al, Odom Al,
Davis SO and Cochran 21, and they
finished on the list in the order named.
Hildebrand piloted Artful to victory
n the Futurity and also won the
Great Trial stakes with Flyback. He
ode Irish Lad when he beat Ort Wells |
n a nose finish at Sheepshead Bay and !
anded Coy Maid a winner in five con- |
;ecutive races. His first winner in the |
east was Lord Badge, and, strangely |
enough, he won his last race there on |
he same horse.
At Ingleside track last February he |
ode four horses to victory and fin |
shed second on his fifth mount, and at
Bay on June IS he rode |
our winners out of six mounts. -.
Hildebrand's showing since has been |
luite a disappointment to his follow ,
RS and his average suffers in COM I
,arison with his eastern record. He
to California with 262 wins /
o his credit and has since ridden two
Winners at the Oakland track and |
bout a score at Los Angeles.
1t will be seen that he established the /
nucleus of his record-breaking season
N the metropolitan tracks in the vicin-
ty of New York. 1t was thought that |
aces when he got down to Ascot park
n Los Angeles, as he was not called /
lpon to hook up with many star
while the fields We're much
mailer, but, as a matter of fact, he, /
las had to fight hard for. every victory
nd the numbers of. times, he has been
,eaten out by a very small margin
ave been astonishing large for such
killed rider. 80;
He is said to be riding in his best
orm. however. and has a big lead on
he other boys.
In the past ten years the winning
title has not changed hands very often
nd until the advent of FIildebrand the
ecord of Jockey c. Reiff, with 292 win
ling mounts in 1885, has remained I'M |
In 1898 Tommy Burns made
bold effort to outstrip this record and |
wound up the year with 277 wins, which
vas still fifteen behind little Reiff. Two /
ears ago Jay Ransch was the leading
ider of the day. with the credit of
,iloting 276 winners, which was one be-
lind the record of Burns and sixteen
behind that of Reiff.
G. Reiff never rode in California, but
S a cousin of Lester and Johnny Reiff. |
Burns rode at Oakland the year he
made his high rum and Ransch is
California boy, who served his appren-
iceship with the weIl-known racing
irm of Burns & Warehouse. For the
,ast two seasons he has been riding
uccessfully in France.
Western Association Notes.
st. John, the crack Leavenworth