The Washington herald., 1907-11-10

/ TO him. It's a wonder il his head hasn't
been turned by It. but they say II hasn't.
Possibly that is because, like some
others, he has had his own taste OF dis
cipline in his day. having been shut out
Of French racing at the same time and
for similar reasons as the Reiff boys
were. Between the time of his adversely
in France and the reissuance of his IL
cense there he tried his hand in the
States, but for some reason didn't do
much His notable winnings IN the past
included the English Oaks in 1901, with
j. r. Keene's Cap and Bells, but he did
not sign with Rothschild until the close
of the season of 1906. after making a great
record. II was feather IN Heury's cap
this year that after having won the
French Derby with Ephrussis Mordant,
that horse, ridden by Stern, the Anglo
/ British jockey now at the head OF the
list, lost the Grand Prix de Paris 10
Rothschild's Sans Soucl. with Henry up.
! Although Willie X" Vanderbilt gave
Jay Ransch the lemon az the close of
last years French racing. after he had
made a big string Of winnings for the
Vanderbilt stable. the jockey was well
placed this year as chief rider for Jean
| Pratt one OF the stewards OF the Jockey
/ Club. And while he has not won so
many races this year as last. his friends
maintain, and most French racing men
/ agree. that his fewer victories this year
We're due to the lack OF good mounts
more than the lack OF good form Ransch
was the leading jockey on the Pacific
Coast in 1902. and has been riding three
years in France.
Harry Spencer. an American jockey.
4 who had been out of the saddle for sew
] xa-hf h. ~ hfc
hand at picking winners without becom-
ing a multi-millonaire, appeared in
France at the beginning Of the season.
determined to get back into the riding
/ business and with the expectation Of
signing with one of the big stables. He
didn't succeed in this, but he has done
some fair work, one OF his winnings he
/ ing on Thorns Thoughtful Liar. Spencer
is living with Nash Turner. the American
trainer, at Maisons Laffitte, near Paris.
/ He is about thirty-he began to ride
twelve or fourteen years ago-and in
1890 was ruled off the tracks for a bad
ride on J. r. Keene's Commando. but
later was reinstated. He used to be noted
for his cool-headedness when he was at
his best in America, and then was nick
named The Iceman.''
O'COnnOr AII-'round Athlete.
/
American jockeys in France is Winnie
O'Connor. who has been riding there
with great success for several years; he
boxes. does fancy stunts on the bicycle.
and performs most elaborate clog dances
as cleverly as he rides. His winning
1 career as a jockey is one Of the many
| evidences OF the excellence OF, Father
/ BIZ Days ability 10 bring up the right
/ boys 10 be good Jockeys. O'Connor rode
this year for Count Won Hatzfelt and
! Count La Marois. He Is a good talker
! and he tells a good story. He rides
/ over the sticks" a good deal. He was
/ In Germany last year.
/ l. Spencer. younger brother of Harry
rode in both Italy and France this year.
but mostly Ia Italy. Frank Duffy. an
American steeplechase rider in France
for the last three years. once rode for
Mike DAILY. and began in France for Eu-
gene Leigh. He is now employed by
/ Percy Woodland, an Englishman. T. Nc
Intyre is a newcomer in France from
America This was bis first year, and
ne promises we'll
All the American jockeys In France ara
| earning good money" Winnie O'Con-
nor gets big retainer--6O. 900 francs. they
| say, and spends IL easy" CormaCk has
/ a retainer Of S0.Q00, and earns much
more Milton Henry must be doing as
well: Ransch almost as well, If not quite;
/ Harry Spencer half as well, at least.
/ and so on. Most OF them are saving
! their money. too, and il is no secret in
/ France that they. well as all other
| jockeys, are now watched pretty closely
! by the Jockey Club authorities, and that
| evidences of too great spendthriftlness
/ or riOtOus living Of any sort are followed
/ by the most rigid inquiries-by discipline
also if that is considered necessary.
American Riders in Austria.
Four or five American jockeys are ac-
! credited to Austria Fred Taral. best
known Of the lot, is a remarkable chap,
for he is Just completing his twenty
sixth year Of continuous riding. He was
forty on August of this year, has never
been hauled before the judges or stew
ards Of any race track. and probably is
| the oldest jockey now alive i'm active
| service. Taral is of French and German
descent. but he was born I'm Peoria. In
! this country he has won both the Su-
burban and the Brooklyn handicaps He
ran away from home in order 20 become
a Jockey when a boy, and has always
worked at the business with the utmost
! seriousness ever since he got into IT,
| In spite OF his seriousness he was long
/ known in New York as the Smiling lit
/ tie Dutchman," because his face was al