The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-21
National League.
AVEsT
NOW a $4,000 JOCKEY.
Walter Miller, Too Little go BE an
Office Boy, Found His Forte.

Up four flights Of a dingy tenement in
the heart OF the East Side, New York
seventeen years ago-a little one crowded
further trouble into the family of a poor
cigarmaker.
lie was a tiny mite-wee enough TO
make his home in a hat lie was - per
cent appetite and 10 per cent voice
Although the cupboard was sometimes
bare, the new entry was never scratched
at meal time. He went TO post at top
weight and came away under wraps.
lie fattened against adversely out OF
sheer perveTsity ana toddled into the
street to grow I'D. He was q prodigy,
but his way 20 fame was hard. There
was no little red sch0oIhouse around the
c0rneT-it was d monster Of brick And
the rails he split were the broken pine
boxes carried from the Dutch grocer's.
He grew up-a little bit At fourteen
he was the size of d doll and tipped the
scales at siXty-five pounds.
What shall he do2" cried his father
in dismay. He is not big enough to get
him a job
His father was the greatest financieT in
the world. II is wrong to believe Wall
street holds the NapoleOns. The big finan-
cieTs are to be found on the East Side
where families Of ten and twelve thrive
on less than half the salary of a Wau
street Office boy.
Make him a jockey" suggested a
friend
And the father did.
He had a friend who knew the intimate
friend Of Henry Stedeker, the bookmaker
Stedeker was willing
Bring him around and let me look at
him." said Stedeker.
We'll, you are Il pony" said Stedeker
when he saw him. But / think you'll
do You look dead game"
Say, Jimmie" said Stedeker to his
friend. James Mclaughlin, at the track.
I know a kid I think would be a find
for YOU if you'll break him into the
game"
What's his name?" said Mclaughlin.
''Oh. forget it." said Stedeker. Its a
furlong long Can him MiIler-Walter
Miller. His real name means hunch in
English"
That's how I got Walter Miller" said
Jimmie Mclaughlin at the Brighton
track. He was the brightest lad / ever
saw. He didn't know a horse from a
mule when he came to me- But he took
to the game Ike q fish to water and de-
veloped quicker than any youngster
ever saw.
His first mount was at Benning. He
didn't win his first race. but he kept COM
ing. He was game youngster He
could run, box, or wrestle. and wasn't
afraid of anything alive"
And / want 10 say with all due re-
spect TO little Miller" said Stedeker.
that he was the costliest investment I
ever made. Why I paid out a fortune on
dead ones that clever youngster carried
under the wire
Little Miller weighs ninety pounds now.
But he is carrying gold for age. The
other day he gave his mother a S250J0
ONE in Flatbush.
He Is the premier jockey of America.
fhe first time he was put up on a live one
at Morris Park the plungers kicked up a
terrible rumpus- When his name was
posted as the rider of ConsueIo II they
ran around inquiring. who Is Mfllerq
Can he sit on a horse?"
Miller showed them he could. He has
been in constant demand ever since. He
has the biggest ring following the ring
has ever known. A1iller's mount is always
well played.
There has been much speculation re-
garding Walter Miller's income. II is va
riously estimated at from $500 to sJ00o0
a year.
But for all that he is still boy. II is
doubtful if he ever carries a yefloybaek.
Yet he is satisfied. All the little Millers
are blooming in luxury And he is the
greatest Miller of them all.
GOnsnIufSans of