Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-09
JOCKEY JOHNSON
A COMING STAR

jockey is generally a long and arduous
road. yet little j. Johnson has travelled it in
just twelve days. Two weeks ago he was
happy If he was allowed to touch a thor
Oughbred; now he is one of John E. Mad
dens star riders. and is regarded as the
jockey find" of the meeting at the Ben
ming track.
Johnson went to Washington from New
Orleans in horse car, which carried the
thoroughbreds OF his employer. Tom Man
nix. He was not treated any better or any
worse than the other stable lads who had to
make their hunks on the'straw close to their
pals, the racers. during the trip. He had to
help water and feed the horses When the
trip ended 1t was his part to gallop the
horses during the early morning hours in
sleet and rain The weather was bad be-
fore the meeting commenced
Johnson arrived in Washington in that
style He will ride henceforth in parlor
cars, with valet to carry his grip The
change in his income and mode of living Is
due to the grasped opportunity. 1t happened
in this wise: Benny Beach, the trainer of
Malacca. was short of jockey to ride his
horse in the Benning handicap. Malacca
had worked poorly a few days before the
opening OF the meeting. and Beach, discour-
aged at the outlook. did not make UP his
Ulllu 10 start the colt until the last minute.
When he eventually determined to start he
looked around for jockey. but sought in
vain, as all the star riders had been en-
gagged Just as Beach was about to give up
the quest friend caught sight of Johnson
walking in the paddock. Turning to Bea CHI
he said:
There's Johnson: try him. He's not a
Miller or Radtke. but he is not the worst
rider in the world"
Beach engaged Johnson. and the lad won
with Malacca. He rode his horse well-so
we'll that he landed his mount nose In
front of his two great rivals. In subsequent
races Johnson made good" He rode win
ner after winner and up to yesterday had
ten to his credit. He rivals Miller for the
honors of the saddle, as the latter has only
an equal number to his credit.
johnson has a good seat, fine hands and
frequently displays good Judgment His
one fault. trainers say, Is a propensity to
take the overland route" Under the
wizards tuition this error will be Grad
icated. Then Johnson will be star
Notes of the Track.
Jockey England did not add to his repu-
tation as a skillful rider by his poor work
on Delphie, while some of his rides lately
on Eurpedes. Milestone, Old Colony anc.
others have been very careless. to say the
least Had Powers, who usually rides Del
phie. had the mount the chances are that
was she yesterday.
John Madden has never raced at Pimlico,
but he said yesterday that he expected to
send several of his horses there next week
This will add to the interest felt In that
meeting.
Kilt Smith. the promising two-year-old
filly. was sold yesterday by William Garth
TO w l.. Maupin of Virginia Garth will
continue to train the young miss.
Edwin H.. full brother to Nealon
warmed up through the slop If he liked
mud as well as his noted relative, but at
the start he was knocked back and lost all
chance.
Jockey McCarty rode Chippewa like
veteran He did the same thing on Azelina
Saturday and is looming up as most
promising lad.
E. w Moore who formerly trained for
the Hendries OF Canada, has Gold Coin and
bourias at Benning. He will race at PIN
leo after this meeting closes.
Long Ball showed improvement though
still green. On the lower turn he was
jumping over the pools of water on the
track yet when he got into his stride he
closed like a shot and would have been sec
ond In another jump.
The alternate rain and snow this morning
made the track still heavier at Benning,
and only the most pronounced mudiarks
will prevail this afternoon.