The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-29
GOOD JOCKEYS ARE
SCARCER THAN EVER
Willie Martin Tells Why Boys
Have Fallen in Their
Ability

NEW YORK, Jan. 2S.-Willie Martin,
once one of the greatest race riders that
ever put his foot into Stirrup, and now
an owner and trainer, is of the opinion
that no feature of the race game has de-
ter1orated as has the class of riders which
are now before the public.
Why, a good rider is scarcer now than
ne ever was, says Martin in recent in
terview I have not seen boy in years
who was judge of pace. All they know
nowadays is to try to get off and lead
from start to finish.
Such thing as nursing horse which
mas lot of speed is a thing of the past.
Why, you tell a boy to lay behind these
days, and if he happens to get off in front
horse out
IF they happen to get off poorly they
VIII Kill your horse in the first quarter
trying to get up.
Jockeys Made Too Quickly
Jockeys, are made too quickly these
telegraph. company one day and the
next you will find him riding in races and
people betting on him.
They do not serve their apprenticeship
as they used to when 1 started in the
business.
"They do not have an opportunity to
study the peculiaritieS of a horse and
they never think of such thing as
watching other horses in a race for fu-
ture reference.
II 7 started to ride for Green Morris in
L d
year and a half before he would ever al
low me to ride with whip. He wanted
me to learn how to use one before he
would ever let me have one.
! Nowadays they put a stable bow up
and give him a whip and the whip loses
many race, because there are few boys
VINO can WhlpN and ride winning race
Most of them are lucky to hold on, let
alone win."
Yes. that's true. Boys aren't as good
as they used to be-" ehimed in Rome
aolie +Io.ak 1 e,
system as beating the races it is this
Let man decide on the best two boys at
a track and play them, but only when the
prices against their mounts are as good as
to l or better.
Let him adhere exclusively to this sys-
tenn and l believe that it will get the
money in due time"
Martin Great Finisher
Martin was the greatest fnisher since
the days of Mclaughlin and Garrison, and,
in fact was the peer of them al stages, it
is believed.
Jealousy of RAJ Eastern owners was the
cause OF his nndoing Martin put it on
and he was forever marked after that
The year Pat Dunno took Flying Dutchman
East he beat one of Belmont,s best handi-
cap horses by a nose. Flying Dutchman
was In too light they claimed
The next time out they put the weight
on him, and Martin won with him by an
eyelash from one of Keene's best.
the latter day riders, and for repartee and
wit had no equal. He was no respecter of
persons when tackled about ride, either.
An old timer tells this story:
II remember one race in which Jim Muir
ply, the bookmaker. who owned Buck
MaSsie, got much the worst of an argu-
ment with Martin. 1t was at Latonia.
Charley Thorpe was up on Buck Mas
sic and Martin had a leg up on Captive.
Murphy bet a bunch of money on Massie,
and Captive was also the medium of
heavy plunge.
"The horses were about equal at the
weights, and it was matter of the best
jockey. Martin had the rail with Captive
until the stretch turn. when he left an
opening for Thorpe. The going was a lit
tie heavy next to the rail in the stretch.
and Thorpe went right into it.
"Down the stretch 1t was nip and tuck,
but Martin put ii on Thorpe by a nose at
the finish 1t was tight fit, but the
Judges gave the verdict to Captive. Muir
pty was red hot with anger and berated
Martin after the jockeys returned TO the
why don't you ride your own horse in
q race. instead OF trying to ride two?'
said Murphy. Hereafter, when | have
horse in race don't you tell my bog what
to do
Anybody can ride one horse, hut 1t
takes a clever Jockey to ride two, was
Martins only rejoinder.