Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-28

an exhibition Of yourself this morning
Mind, if you do it here, shall take care
yon don't get much chance of-doing it in
public. Attend to what | say to you.
Get off as we'll as you can. Jim's pretty
safe to do you there but, even if he
don't, mind, you're to wait on him till you
come TO the quarter-mile post from home.
You know it. Run up to him then. But.
whatever Jim does, whether he begins rid
ing or whether he doesn't you're not
to begin in earnest till within fifty yards
of home. I'll forgive you if you wait
too long, and lose it that way; but if you
come too soon and ride him to a stand
still, we shan't want you for light-weights
at Newmarket or anywhere else"
The lad walked his horse after Load
stone with a very serious face. Like all
boys in a racing stable, of course the
height Of his ambition was to become
jockey. He was not a little proud of
being in charge of such a celebrity as
Coriander. For, be it known TO the unin-
itiated that every race horse In a big sta
bic is looked after by his own boy, and
that these boys, when their horse is one
of distinction, are immensely proud of
him. They groom him, ride him at exer-
cise-in short, almost live with him.
Coriander was the first crack that had
fallen to young Aliens care, and he firm
ly believed such a flyer never existed.
Now-anxious moment he was to ride
him in his trial. He looked even at that
as a great rise in his profession. 1t is
true he had ridden in two or three trials
before, but then he had generally been on
something that had had no earthly chance
to win. Suppose he should make a mess
of it this morning; Mr.. Pycroft would
never give him snother chance, perhaps.
No wonder the boy looks rather seri-
Gus. But they are at the post. A couple
of false starts take place, in consequence
of young Aliens eagerness to get well off.
Stop a bit, young 'un," said Jim,
laughing; ''be little steady. Mind, it
amt a race, and l won't want to get
the best of you. / only want to get away
fair. How a starter would walk down
your throat if you carried on like this p
The remonstrance had the desired effect
and the next time they were away, Jim
having a little the best of it, though not
much. Once off, the boys nerves stead
led directly. He waited patiently till he
came to the quarter post, and then ran
up abreast of Loadstone. Locked togeth-
er, they went for the next two hundred
yards. and then Jim began what is term
ed in racing parlance ''fddling" at his
horse it means riding him a little. He
drew near a slength ahead but the boy
sat still. wait till within fifty yards
of home, whatever Jim does" he mutter-
ed, land l will, if I'm beat for it."
A few strides more, and he saw that
Loadstone could hardly hold the lead he
bad obtained. Gradually he was creep
ing up to him again, though still quiet on
his horse. A little more, and Jim began
to ride his horse in earnest, and this was
the hardest trial the boy had undergone
yet For a moment Jim forged ahead.
and looked like leaving him altogether
then he seemed to hang; and now surely
he was within fifty yards of home Was
he? Yes! He sat down and shook I'D
Coriander, passed Jim easily, and went
past the knoll a couple of lengths in
front.
You'll do, young 'un," said Jim, good
naturally, as they pulled up their horses.
Don't quite know what orders you got,
but can pretty well guess. You stick as
your head as cool as you did this time,
and you'll find yourself first past the
post at EPSON some of these days"
We'll, Martin, | think thatll about
do" laughed Pearman, as the trial fin
ished. 1T will be a good horse that has
the best of Coriander three weeks from
this"
Yes, sir; he's better even than
thought he was, and l know | haven't
worked him up to his best yet I've no
fear of his not going on well, for l never
trained better constitutional colt in my
life; and though we didn't try him quite
the full distance this morning, I've no
doubt of his getting the Rowley Mile
as we'll as he's done his three-Quarters
this morning"
You did that very well, my lad" he
continued, addressing Allen. This morn
ing's ride will be little in your pocket,
if we've luck, and you pay attention to
my next orders; and they are-Hold your
tongue. You'll get riding before you're
many months older. Well, Jim, what do
you, Think"
The jockey jumped off his horse and
handed him over to the boy that had
first been on him. When out of earshot,
he replied, I'll win the Guineas, bar &C
cidents, unless there's a great three year
ola whose name we haven't heard on"
Sam Pearman, in the meantime, seat
ed on the soft grass, was busily glancing
over a neat memorandum book. Yes"
he muttered, stakes and all, it will be
goodish bit to win. It's a bigger thing
than l ever pulled off yet, and l have
had some very tidy wins in my time
Wen be off home now. Martin-eh? Good
CROUCH, Jim, isn't it?"
wish I'd your book on it, SIR" was the
that worthy's reply,
We'll, you and Martin will find that
I've not forgotten TO do something in
that way for you when it's landed"
laughed Pearman. For the present, good
by"
Must win-eh?" said the trainer.
Cant lose" responded the jockey,
unless I'm knocked over"