The Washington herald., 1906-12-24

thdin foremost as race riders all the
world over. With these youngsters start
ing out in their profession. anxious nat
urally to make a name for themselves
and get 10 the front, some trouble is 10
be expected To discriminate between
stubborn disobedience. and the faults
caused by oveTanxiety to do the best
for his mount calls for the exercise OF
considerable Judgment on the part Of
starter. l have always endeavored TO eX-
ercise patience and dealsas leniently as
possible with riders whose faults mainly
arise from oyeranxiety and inexperience.
With the older Jockeys. who are better
acquainted with what is required of them
and whose example Is followed by the
younger riders. / am inclined to deal more
firmly.
Furnishing the Riders.
I Go not believe much good is achieved
by "bulldozing" riders. little quiet talk
to refractory boys, pointing out to ,hem
the inevitable result which must follow
If they persist in wrongdong. such as
lunging their horses at the barrier l have
found VIII do more good than stormng
at them and indiscriminately innicung
fines. As a method of punishment, and
especially for repeated msbehavior, 1
| have very little faith in the efficacy OF
fines. Suspension is the punishment that
all jockeys dread. and a week on the
ground is more apt to teach disobedient
jockey the necessary lesson than any
amount of fines. There is reason in tins,
for the fines are frequently paid by the
owner Of the horses. Who inStruC1s the
jockey TO get away well at any hazard.
and that he. the owner. viii be respon-
sible for anything that happens from
pecuniary point Of view / sometimes
think if some punishment could be meted
out to owners who issue such instruc-
/ tons to riders il would do a great deal
/ toward tightening the starters labor. on
the whole, the boys now riding are well
| behaved and Obedient. II a starter pos
SeSscs their respect and confidence he
viii set on well with them If they see
that he Is anxious 10 give all of them
what our worthy President terms "a
square deal" they appreciate the fact very
quickly and respond 10 his efforts 70 OBJ
tain and retain that confidence Of the
jockeys that is born Of the knowledge
that they will be fairly and justly treat
ed IS for starter 10 win more than half
the battle.
Bad Actors at Post.
The question is frequently asked, How
IS 1t that we have so many bad actors?"
The query has no reference TO the num-
Der Of gentlemen out Of a job who may
be found along the Great White Way"
In racing parlanCe, a bad actor" is
horse which behaves 0bstinately in a half
crazy manner when lined up at the post
Tor the start Of a race Bad actors In
nine cases out of ten are made such by
Dad jockeys, the remaining exception be-
/ ing some animal which has been imper-
lectiy broken or is cursed by heredity with
very bad temper Horses soon get to
( know what Is wanted OF them ~ the post
and they cannot understand why they are
needlessly twisted and wheeled and rush
ed toward the barrier. only 10 be stopped,
and the process repeated again and again.
Continually "tiptoeing' their mounts i'm
this fashion rOuses a horses temper, and
in time many of them become mulish and
sour on the game. The object OF the
rider IS 10 get OF well in motion as a
. horse. even though he be a couple of
/ lengths behind The rest Of the field VIII
obtain big advantage and quickly forge
10 the front If the barrier IS released just
as he Is in the act OF swinging. I am Il
. thorough believer In the great advantage
10 starter Of having competent assist
ants, who must be experienced horsemen
ana reliable men. In addition 10 their
duties when horses are at the post. lt is
part Of their business TO school horses
( and III proportion 10 the care and iutelli-
gence exercised by them IN this very i'm
pOTtant detail are successful results OBJ
tanned by the starter. The use OF a wbin
by assistant starters is objected 10 bv
some II is the abuse OF that aid which
/ is Objectionable In the hands of a COM
petent, coCl-headed man, whip is un-
( doubleday OF great assistance in helping
I TO control big field OF horses at the
post, and recommend its use when wise
II used