The Washington herald., 1909-06-20

A turfman, the owner Of an important
stable Of thoroughbreds. was talking the
OtEer day about jockeys and their ways.
zone afternoon at the recent Pimlico
meeting" he said, I was maced for
two spot by a sad little hash OF man
who only a very few years ago was hav-
ing columns written about his midget per-
sonality in the newspapers.
Il made it a sawbuck because the sight
of the dreary little chap down TO that
pass got me going a bit. I knew that
he'd march right away TO the bookies
-coops and slough OF the ten spot in two
bean installments. but I couldn't help
Feeling sorry for him. all the same He
bet it all right in the two-bone allotments
and ne didn't cop q bet out Of it. either.
But that, of course. isn't the story
7The nub of it IS that that dismal mite OF
"a ms1-he's still under twenty-fve-was
one of the real good jockeys of a few
years ago and retainer Of $4,000 or S2o,-
Goo for first call on his services wasn't
lanything unusual for him. leaving out OF
consideration his money for mounts and
she bets he yanked down through his in
side connections.
wouldn't behave. When he was on top Of
The money wave ne fell 20 kidding with
The old juice that throws EN- all. high
and low. high-brow and low-brow alike,
IL they stick along with It,
He got his monkey eyes focused on
the shapely ones OF the choruses- He
'drifted into shady turf company, and the
flotsam and jetsam characters of the
game showed him the advantages Of the
BtrOng-aTm thing.
He began easing EN- up in races. dis
creetly at first and then in a pretty raw
kind OF way or course, he got the NAL
let After repeated warnings from the
turf authorities. he was finally set down
permanently.
Jockeys Finish.
And so there he was al Pimlico. a
seedy. mOttle-faced. rum-soaked. cigar
ette-eating. miserable little runt OF a man.
shambling wraith-lilke around the track.
bcning Old friends for small notes-this
boy who in his four or five years Of riding
could have put away perhaps $4,000. and
who had lifelong comfort, not 10 say opu-
lence. as firmly IN his grasp as any rail
road president ever had 1t.
"Of course, here and there there's an
other side Of the ex-jockey thing. For
example. on my way 20 New York from
California, where raced during the win
Ter, dropped OF at Chicago for a couple
OF days. and there 1 met up with another
jockey Of the former time He was rid
Ing around here till about nine years ago.
This one was never exactly premier,
either. but he was a boy that any wise
pwner liked TO see atop of his horse when
business was meant. He had during his
riding career picked up about the same
amount OF coin as the down -and-out jock
] met at PimlicO but he'd been compelled
20 quit the saddle on account Of increas-
ing weight
But this jock in Chicago was riding
around the boulevards Of that town in a
bright yellow town car OF about the size
OF an Erie canal boat He wore fur
coat that would have made a Russian
grand dukes eyes stick out. and he was
living IN a house Of his own. over on the
South Side OF Chicago, that reminded me
o. houses I'd seen pictured IN magazines.
Besides the works Of art and bric-a-
bIac and bijOuterie and things. this house
contained as neat a little wife as ever
you clapped an eye on and four or FIVE
Tuddy little youngsters pranking around
the stairs. enjoying the luxury their dad
had never known in his own kidhOod
Well. maybe that one wasn't by way Of a
contrast TO the dismal little mO0cher I
ran into little later on at Pimlico,
This one who. after quitting the riding
thing. settled IN Chicago. where he was
born. has about trebled the bank wad ne
-earned in the saddle, and he's there, I'm
told. with something close to half a mil
1iOn
Hes in business. he has rent roll. he
takes little vichy and milk for his'n.
thanks, when he gets out with the open
3n' wine push, and he has polished I'D
his mind and has learned how 10 dip into
books intellgently. And yet. before the
rapid taking on Of weight forced him
from the pigsl1in he hadn't made cent
more than the shabby little ex-5ock be-
gan by talking about.
Does this eX-jock bet on the horses?
Wen. just for the fun OF it I said TO him:
Kid I'm taking my string on 70 Bel
mont. and I reckon insiders OF your
kindI be able 20 get little change down
there without any bother. I've got two OF
Hhree good ones in pickle that are going
ITO force me 10 hire furniture vans 20
carry the duff away that I'm going to
pick up with EN- Better pack your bag
and trudge along East with me Itn be
all kinds Of larks for you coping the
large kale. eh?'
Surprising Reply.
''As say. 1 only made these observa-
tions 10 that shrewd little ex-rider FOR the
fun Of listening TO what he would have 10
say by way Of reply. But his reply was
more diverting than had expected it
would be.
Say he said TO me. twisting around
An his automobile seat and pointing
forefnger st me. let me tell you some
thing Ike I'd tell It to an old maty and
boss OF mine. both Of which you are.
Say. guy and he became even more
energetic with that pointing forefnger,
II there'd be at Belmont a match at a
mile between Sir Martin, carrying a sew
enty-slx-pound boy and no lead pads, and
the worst old Ossified sausage Of a badge
horse In or out OF training carrying a
tor of coal and two members Of the Fat
Mems Bowling Association. and you'd
offer me 500 10 1 against Sir Martins
chances. I'd soak you with half brick
and then run Tor fear that I might be
tempted to risk the price OF two ounces
of punk hay smoking tobacco on the out
come.
'How's that? Dye get me? Dye think
you're got me tabled as 10 that horse
betting thing new2 That's how strong
the coin hazarding stuff on the ponies is
with me, and that's no morning-glory
workout breeze. either
80 there you've got the difference be-
tween the jockey with the solid ivory
skull and the one with the top piece suffi-
ciently diaphanOus 70 let in a little occa-
sional rays OF light during the time when
the coin is coming IN and the game is
creamy and bang up.
But the big pity Of 1t is that the great