River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-08-15

will be only the memory of the past.
Yet the names Of the great riders live
with raceg0ers even longer than the
names of statesmen who were contem-
poraneous with them. The senator
from New York of a decade ago may
be forgotten by another decade, but
the name of Tod Sloan will live for
century, and maybe longer. The
riding of Garrison served to enrich
the phraseology of the English Ian
guage, for a Garrison finish is ap-
plicable now to more things than
horse race. Walter Miller the lead
ing rider of the United States at the
present time, will be memory of rae
ing and the theme of discussion among
small boys when New York has ex-
banded SO that Belmont park shall
scarcely be suburb
For it was Miller, the boy with the
flying start" who rode more than
387 winners in 1896 and broke all
records that had been heard of in
this country or any other. 1t is mar
velous thing, so racing men think, to
be able to bring various horses first
to the wire more than 300 times in
season of summer and winter sport.
Considering the different dispositions
of all the horses that the jockey must
ride, their moods, their likes and dis
likes-for thoroughbredS are quite as
notional as petted bellies of fashion
it is no childs play for an 18-year-old
boy to beat his rivals so successfully.
Not old enough to vote, but with
the shrewdness of man of years, 1T
is estimated that Miller will earn by
his riding this year 100000, and jock
eys are not paid so handsomely as
they were five or six years ago.
Physical characteristics.
Miller is a small, we'll knit, delicate
boned boy, who at first gives the i'm
preston of being understood. A
closer inspection of his physique in
clineS one to correct the idea. Look
ing him over carefully from head to
heels, he seems to be cOmpactly built
for his age, and his flesh is distrib-
uted evenly over the framework of
bones. His racial characteristics are
delineated in his facial features.
His height and weight and moderate
manner of walk give the impression
of delicacy, but there is none of it in
his grasp nor in the steel-like hardness
of his biceps. His hands are wonder
fully strong and feel sensitive and full
of vitality to the touch. Perhaps his
hands are the most wonderful part of
him physically. If nature had intend
ed to create a jockey to order it would
have been hard to equip one with a
pair of hands that seem so alive as
those of this youngster. Possibly it is
through his hands that he gets in such
close touch with his mounts.
Takes Care of His Money.
He began with the first money he re-
ceived to take his money to his moth
er. He is not a spendthrift, and he
cares little for the luXuries of society,"
His mother took his earnings and in
vested them. They were invested so
we'll that she is proud of her work
and admits that his income has been
considerably increased by her pru-
dence and foresight Of late Miller
has advised with her as to the placing
of some of his earnings, and she is as
happy as the boy that he has shown
good judgment and business intelli-
gence in suggesting where certain
sums could be invested to good advan-
tage There is little reason to doubt
that his ambition to acquire a for
tune by his efforts in the saddle will
be realized and realized handsomely.
Scores of boys try every year to be-
come successful jockeys. Most of
them fail Why is it, then, that Miller
is a success? Is it because of his seat
in the saddle, his short stirrups, or
some other typical accessory to the
equipment of his mount? This ques-
ton has been asked time and again.
Tom WEIGH places little credit in
any of these details.
Advantage in Method.
Miller says he perches himself we'll
up on a horses neck and rides with
short stirrups because he has great
err leverage on the horses head and
can guide him more perfectly.
Il can feel the temper of the horse
through his mouth when | have stiff
rein on him over his neck" said the
jockey IF 1 were to ride in the old
fashioned English seat the horses
head would get away from me. and
the chances are that / would miss
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