The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1908-01-25
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The old jockey is not so very old,
but chronic rheumatism and the acct
dent that put an end to his racing
career make him look It. 1t is many
a day since he sat in a pound sad
die and felt the mighty sinews of a
trained thoroughbred under him. or
knew the fierce rush and strain Of
hardfought race
But l remember him the beau ideal
of medium-weight horseman, active
and fearless and whenever | find my
self in the village where he is ending
life's race | stop for chat, and to
listen to his memories Of the brave
days of long ago.
The little man receives me with the
easy, respectful manner that comes of
association with the great ones of the
turf. AS he rises from the chair by
the fire his hand goes to the spot
where his forelock used to grow
"Ay, sir, eightthirteen as | am" he
says in answer to my usual question
for he still Clings to the old, daily
habit of going to scale, and it would
disappoint him were | to forget 1t.
But I'm gettin' a bit suspicious of the
scales over at the mill. It's worryin'
to think that, perhaps, they're a few
ounces out. And to be weighed like
sack of -four, too! Times have
changed"
l watch his eyes go sadly to the
corner where his six-ounce riding
boots-very old, but newly polished
stand with the trees in them; then to
the worn racing saddle on its bracket,
and the doublereined snaflie bride
that hangs below it. The leather is
glossy with soft soap, the stirrup-
irons and bit as bright as new silver.
The gear wouldn't be safe to ride in
after 20 years of dsuse. but that never
occurs to the old jockey. They get
their weekly attention in readiness for
the mount that will never come.
The weather, too" he goes on.
Here's the first July meeting comm
on and I'm covered up in tianne,s as II
| was going for sweat up the Lime
kilns. Seems strange to be sittin'
over the fire at midsummer and read
In of a cold Ascot, don't it, SIR"
"A strange Ascot altogether, Tom"
agree.
He purses his thin lips severely.
"Ah, sir, you may well say that when
the gold cups took from under the
very eyes of the police and the stew
ards. Such thing couldn't have hap
pened in my time. The gold cup!" he
gasps Il should have liked to see the
race for it, though. The horses seem
to have made a good finish of it"
And the riders" | suggest.
"Oh, the boys" he corrects. He al
ways speaks of presentday jockeys as
boys Il don't know about them,
don't hold, and never shall, with
stirrupleather six inches too short,
Yes, sir, | know what you're goin' to
say about Sloan and the rest; but they
had the pick of the mounts and would
have got wnnin brackets whether
they rode short or long. Go anywhere
and watch a start, as | did two years
ago, and see how helpless every
blessed boy is directly his mount
gives him any trouble. And then
when the flag falls-or this new gate
thing starts them. Hardly a one with
his horses hind legs properly under
him, As for gettin' the last ounce out
OF an animal at the finish, how's it
possible to hold him together, to feel
his heart beatin' through the saddle
maps, to nurse him and push him when
you cant get your legs down to grip
and squeeze until you and the horse
are part Of one another?"
The American seat is the old jock
ey's pet aversion.
"Bumpn' and borin', this White
knight and the French horse? OF
course they wcre-both Of EN- he
proceeds. What else can you expect
when their jockeys are crouchin' over
their horses care without any pur
chase on the reins? What's to pre-
vent one Of EN- sayaging the other
when there's nothin' controllin' his
MOUTH"
In his day he has been at grips with
old John Osborne, and Custdnce, and
the Challoners. He has fought a ding
dong finish against the redoubtablc
Tom Cannon, laid necktoncck with
the "Tinman," and il anyone should
know the whole art OF riding 1t Is he
That's what stops EN-. get that
ri,ed. sir. when | read about horses
bein' pulled, cant tell you! Who
wants to pull horse when the easiest
way 10 make him lose Is to ride him
with a slack rein? Just think for
moment The breeds always improy
in, and yet, times are no faster than
they were in my day. And why? Be.
cause It's the borses who DO the racin
by themselves. With this American
seat they get no help from the chaps
on their backs"
Only those who have worn silk have
right 10 argue the deba. able qucs
ton avoided II by asking the old
jockey whether such charge as that
made against Stern grasping bis OPP