Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-01
JOCKEY KNAPP
IN GREAT FORM

The fashion in jockeys changes swiftly.
and 1t IS quite in keeping with precedent
that an absolute newcomer on the eastern
turf, one Willie Knapp. from the Pacific
coast. has ridden his way from obscurity
to leading place the list of winning
Jockeys within the time covered by the
meetings of the Coney Island Jockey Club
and the Brighton Beach Racing Associa-
ton. Knapp's arrival was not sudden
as the bound into fame made by Frankie
O'Neil two years ago the skyrocket sue
cess of Eugene Hidebrand last season
Still. Knapp is the fashion now and COM
mands the best riding to be had, and needs
only the aid Of as able manager as Hill
debrand had to take a secure hold of the
leadership. while O'Neil, married a few
days ago. and Hildebrand still distance
from his majority, are termed "old-timers'
by the racegoing crowds
Knapp. in the opinion of horsemen. al
ready ranks with the best OF the eastern
riders, and in point of earning ability has
shade the best of the better-known boys,
as he can ride at a lighter weight than can
Jack" Martin. William Davis, David Nfcoi
and Hildebrand while in the matter of skill
and generalship he is rated as in no way
inferior to William Shaw. Lucien Lyme.
been his success. Knapp has not Jared so
well as his predecessors, for 1t just hap
pened that he made his appearance in the
east In a season when, with an undimin-
ished demand for capable race riders, there
is big shrinkage in the fees paid to
jockeys.
None of the big contracts for jockeys
which were talked of last season have been
renewed this year for the reason that the
Jockey Club disapproved of the sharp COM
petition for the best riders. which so mag
nified the Importance of jockeys for several
years. The only boy now riding in the east
who has a contract in any way resembling
the inflated values of jockeyshp year
ago is Martin, who is under engagement to
Capt. s. S. Brown for $1,000 a year. 1t Is
said. That agreement was made before the
Jockey Clubs attitude had reached Capt
Brown. but as Martin has been riding in
his best form for the greater part of the
season the Pittsburg turfman has received
fair returns. The retaners paid to the
other leading jockeys range from sums well
down under $4,000 to the practical guar
antee of the riding of certain stables at spe-
cial fees for winning mounts, and as most
of the big stables have found good boys
available whenever wanted without the ex-
ira cost of paying big annual retaners, 1t
begins to look as If the rewards of race
riding have been reduced as a permanent
thing.
So 1t Is that Knapp who a year ago. with
the same ability that he has showed re-
Gently, might have secured a contract that
would give him between $4,000 and $40 900
for season of riding from one stable. now
may lead the winning list and still earn a
far less sum. Knapp a western product,
who, by his own statement, never went
through any apprenticeship. but rode on
even terms with experienced jockeys from
the start, figured in the winning list for
the first time last season, when, riding on
the lesser tracks of the west and in Califor-
MIA. he was fourth in the number of win
ming mounts, Hfldebrand leading. with 300:
logv.
third with 1e5. and Knapp next, with 1853.
Knapp was brought to New York under q
contract with Walter B. Jennings and rode
first at Belmont Park in May. where he
landed his first winner After that he fell
into 'hard-luck streak" and, though he
repeatedly rode placed horses. fell into such
disfayor with that portion of the public
which follows success that he became re-
garded as a positive handicap There was
nothing wrong with his craftsmanship. how
ever. and when he got the chance at Sleeps
head Bay he began to land winners with
such regularity that before the end of that
meeting he was in demand. and when the
Brighton meeting opened Knapp was. all the
vogue. The last tribute to his success Is
that hackers have begun to bet on his
mounts and frame systems on his riding. He
is a well-mannered, iorid boy, who can
ride at 81 pounds without trouble.
Next to Knapp, in the success they have
attained this season. come the older Jockeys
in the east, Hidebrand still riding at 100
pounds, and under first call to Harry Payne
Whitney: Martin. retained by s. s. Brown
and riding at 1o3 pounds; w. Davis. under
the management of A. j. Joyner, trainer
Of the s. Paget stable. and riding at 1O2
pounds; ONeil. engaged by N. Bennington
and riding at 105 pounds; Burns, retained
by Z. E. Smathers and riding at 100 pounds,
and Lyme. unattached but employed Chiefly
by T. c. Mcdowell and Woodford Clay and
riding at 107 pounds. These include about
all of the older riders of the east. as Odom.
Redfern and pullman seem to have dropped
out of the competition against the keener
and more alert younger riders, though they
get mounts Occa siOnally.
OF the newcomers who have attracted at
tention, aside from Knapp, the most sue
cessful have been the featherweight lad
Miller under contract to w. A. Staunton
and riding at IS pounds; Nicol a clever rider
from the west. who had the distinction OF
riding Sysonby in his most important stakes
and victories at Sheepshead Bay, riding at
1902 pounds and under contract to Fred
Cook and Harry Baird, who. with ability to
ride at 81 pounds. still is entitled to an ap-
prentice allowance. and who Is under con-
tract to w. H. Snyder and ]. e. Madden.
Others of the boys who have attracted at
tention and who command riding are Jo-
seph Kelly. underground boy. under con-
tract to C. T. Henshall; "Puddin' Me-
Daniel, the eighty-hve-pound youngster.
who rode frequently for ]. R. Keene early
In the season, and Lloyd Fountain. ninety
seven-pound boy from California. who b
as yet unattached. though he has done much
of the riding for 7. @. Ferguson and c.
DurnelI.