Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-21
MANY JOCKEYS, BUT
FEW OF ABILITY

NEW YORK, April 20.-Between seventy
five and one hundred jockeys of more or
less ability are now in lire for mounts.
OF the lot probably not more than fifteen
can be rated as first-class. and the more
critical would be inclined to say that not
more than half a dozen star saddle ar
fists will be in commission. Unlike other
years, the winter tracks will contribute
no sensational youngsters whose abilities
We're not recognized last year Apparently
the only real crack developed was A.
Brown at Oakland. and this boy goes to
Seattle for the summer. 1t will be only
a short time until the Pacific coast summer
racing center becomes an active competitor
against the Jockey Club tracks for the
services of high-class riders.
AS was the case last year, the eastern
turf will continue to be dominated by the
lightweight rider-the boy who can scale
at 100 pounds or less. glance over the
material that will be available shows that
Jack Martin will be about the only artist
in his line among the riders who are class
ed as heavyweights. The absurd condi-
tons that bring more than 20 per cent of
horses to the post carrying about 10"
pounds have virtually forced abroad or
into some other vocation the boys who can
properly handle a thoroughbred. Martins
rivals In skill last year have found other
fields of activity-Wilfe Shaw going to
Germany, I.ucicn Lyme to England and
Frank ONeill has quit riding III favor of
training.
Martin outclasses the remaining heavy
boys. among whom are Knapp, j. Jones
and w Davis There is Just slight chance
that Arthur Redeem Will resume riding In
the east this season. He accepted a few
mounts on the coast during the winter and
displayed some of his Old skill. Two years
out of the saddle. however. usually means
loss of skill that can never be regained.
Tod Sloan rode like the verlest novice when
he essayed to return to saddle duty at New
Orleans a little over year ago. Yet
Sloan in his prime was probably the best
rider the turf of any country had ever
known. Redfern at his best was Martin S
superior, and If he cared to keep down to
lis 11S pounds could probably make
thousands of dollars this year.
Among the lightWeights Miller. Radtke
and Garner appear to stand out. The last
named was not greatly in favor at the
close of last season. but he improved with
rush at New Orleans and was easily
the star jockey of the Crescent City winter
meetings. He won nearly 100 races there
despite more or less protracted absences
from the saddle. He will be handicapped
in the east in his efforts to keep pace
with Miller and Radtke by the fact that
he will not be able to secure mounts Of
the same class that the other two boys
will have. Miller will again be connected
with the strong Newcastle stable, and
apart from their mounts he can practically
take his pick of the other horses belonging
to stables not employing riders under con-
tract.
Radtke will ride for the strong stables
Of the Rainey brothers-Paul and Roy A
in addition to the other owners for whom
William Garth is training. Like Miller,
he will also be able to select good mounts
from outside stables when he is not other
wise employed. Garner, OF course, will
be In demand by owners who have good
horses, but 1t does not appear that his
chances for running up big list of win
ming mounts are as good as those of his
rivals.
Close behind the trio mentioned in the
race for premier honors will come Jimmy
Hennessy. ]. johnson. who did some good
work at Benning; c. Koerner, L. VIII
liams, Notter. Preston, Mcdaniel Horner
C. Ross. Mountain and others.
]. F. Seagram. the Canadian turfman
has made an offer for first call on the
which Is taken to mean that the Seagram
stable Is more formidable than usual Nc
Daniel has several other propositions under
consideration and will not make a decision
in haste. Woods Stockton has sold the
four-year-old mare Anna Smith, which won
at Benning. to W. H. Mosby, who will race
her on the Canadian circuit. Mosby has
contract with eighty-pound Dallin Nc
Carly, the boy who rode Chippewa In
clever style and looks to have a brilliant
future in the saddle. John r. Madden said
the other day that young Goldstein, the
Jockey who has been making good at
Washington, will in the course Of time
develop into a second Miller. Louis Celia.
who has q big stable this year. trained by
Henry Mcdaniel, will race exclusively on
the eastern tracks. 1t Is said. Celia VIII
also put on q number Of books In the local
betting rings.