The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-12
RIDERS ARE IN DEMAND
At HIGH SALARIES
Unprecedented Bidding for Clever
Jockeys at New Orleans
Track.
TRAINERS HOLD ALOOF
Refuse Almost Incredible Sums tor
First Call on the Lads
Services.
TRAINERS HOLD ALOOF

NEW ORLEANS, La, Jan. lin previ-
Gus years New Orleans has always been
as great storm center in jockey specula-
ton as is the wheat pit or the stock market
in times of panic.
This year in the early part of the winter
meeting it was supposed the days of high
priced riders had gone by. The exciting
scramble for riding talent heretofore ex-
perienced was not expected TO be repeated.
1t appears. however. from developments OF
the last few days that riders with ability 10
successfully pilot winners in big turf events
are still in demand. This was made plain
last week when Alex. Shields and >. T..
Farmer came here ostensibly Tor their
health and TO escape the rigors OF the
northern climate. Farmer had not been on
the ground twenty-four hours before he
made two offers for promising apprentice
boys. One OF these was rendered 10 Jack
Baker for the services Of Sporting, lad OF
promise, but who has not as yet SHOWN
any marked ability. This proffer was MADE
for George Hendrie. of Detroit, and Farmer
thought he had the deal closed until the
activity of the market scared Baker and ne
declined TO sign contract.
Farmer then offered $4,000 for a three
years contract with w. Hennessy. one OF
the most promising of the lightweights here.
Il. r. Watkins. to whom the boy is under
contract, intimated that Hennessy was
worth a good deal more than that price.
and Farmer, acting under instructions from
a wealthy Austrian owner. asked him to set
a price the contract. This Watkins has
not yet done, as he expects David Gideon, of
forx Aox md he
lieves he can dispose of the boys services
to better advantage either TO Mr.. Gideon or
to some other prominent owner.
These liberal offers for jockeys that have
shown no really great riding talent, were
only mere indications. After Mr.. Shields
concluded he had left the Icy winds or the
north behind him he also got busy on the
jockey question. He had heard great deal
about Phillips
lips win the Gentility handicap with Dan
McKenna under circumstances where Dan
Mckenna had no more right TO win than
any one or two or three other contenders.
He was SO taken with the horsemanship
which the boy displayed that he immedl-
ately sought out the lads father and OF
fered him $4,000 for a two years contract.
Phillips refused to entertain the offer, mas
much as the boy for the last six or eight
months has been riding successfully In the
West and earning big retaining fees. More
for awhile until more wealthy turfmen in
search OF jockeys might arrive on the scene.
Phillips is the find of the season: He heads
the jockey list with so clear lead that it
looks as IL he would finish on top to GER
tainty, barring accidents.
GREAT DEMAND FOR FULLER.
Archie thinner practically says that Full
ler's services are not for sale. Although
the we'll known owner recently had an Of
fer of $25 900 for the first call on the boys
services for the coming season, he asks
$4,000. However, last year Frank Farrell
gave him $4,000 for second call on Fuller.
and relying upon this demand for the
Jockeys services last year. thinner is In no
hurry to sign a contract with anybody at
any price. Outside OF Fullers established
riding ability and his known disposition to
indulge in stimulants. If some stories told
of him are true. he is worth an indefinite
amount. Last summer at Saratoga on one
occasion. when he said to be not in
condition, he rode four winners In one day,
beating both Burns and Redfern in driv-
ing finishes. After this display of horse
manship IL was conceded by good judges
that Fuller out of condition was better
than most other jockeys in condition.
From the present keen competition for
the services of competent riders there is
no telling to what limit Jockeys salaries
will go. Many practical horsemen have
given up the idea of Strengthening their
stables from year 10 year, devotlng their
entire time TO the development of young
riders with the hope that they, like many
others, will find treasure I'm the material
they are handling. The success In this par
ticular, at this point-that is, winter meet
ings here at New Orleans-seems To justify
all experimenting that is being done. Still.
with competition for promising aspirants
in the saddle has come an extraordinary
degree of caution with parents and guard
ians who have young lads to put at the
calling. The tendency is TO make contracts
short and salaries liberal from the start
The batch of two-year-olds shown in Sat
urday's race, which incidentally was the
first appearance Of the youngsters with
colors up speaks well for those that are
yet to be introduced. The winner. Stella
Allen, comes from Il stable that has fur
nished the winner of the inaugural scram-
BILE for several years. Still in this miss
Mr. Parke showed one which In looks and
general conformation promises better than
Navasota, Ruth Park, May Beach, Muey
Chica and others that he has intrusted with
the task of bidding for these early spring
races. Saturdays winner stood at the post
like an old campaigner and during the run
ming of the three furlongs kept TO her work
with observation-disclosures that was next
thing to startling TO local trainers that are