The San Francisco call., 1909-01-04
Vincent Powers Great Rid
ing Record

Jockey Vincent Powers. who has
headed the American jockey list for
three months and will figure in the his
tory of American racing as the cham
pion jockey of 1908, is a graduate Of
the Canadian racing circuit His home
is at Panama, a small village in the
state of New York, not far from Buffa-
10. and his early instruction in the
handling OF thoroughbred racers was
impaired 10 him by Trainer John Nixon
or the valley Farm stable, who took
him at Fort Erie a 5 an exercise bow
Powers is an exceedingly well behaved
and scrupulously honest lad, of retiring
habits and tastes, no matter how great
his success. His career has not been
that of skyrocket for he has worked
his way steadily, overcoming every op-
position and without any sensational
periods to the position which he now
holds at the head of the jockey list
The great factor In his success has
been his reliability and consistency,
coupled with his remarkable gift of
horsemanship- Powers has the faculty,
possessed in q high degree also by Tod
Sloan, though his is much more ad-
mirable character than Sloan's, of get
ting more out of his mounts than
other riders could. Over and over again
he demonstrated that under his skiIlful
handling horses would run faster and
stay farther than for any other boy.
Those that used TO beaten at seven fur
longs would stay mile and win for
him. He was alert at the post but al
ways so obedient that he was never in
trouble for spelling starts or disobe-
dience of the starters orders. During
the running of a race, no matter how
large the field or the natural eagerness
of his competitors TO best the star rider
IT came TO be looked on as a matter of
course that Powers horse always kent
well to the front and in a good position
TO make the deciding run Powers
wonderful ability IS a hand rider has
been in evidence in several races re-
Gently run at Santa Anita park, Ehere
his mount, when firing and almost fall
ing in the stretch, was brought home a
winner under his vigorous hand finish
Powers started this season riding at
New Orleans, where he met with con-
siderable success, having 81 wins, SO
seconds and So thirds TO his-credit
earning for the different owners for
whom he rode the sum of s35.334. AT
the Kentucky tracks. Churchill Downs
Lexing gton and Latonia. Powers work
in the saddle attracted the attention
Of the entire turf world He rode rs
winners. As seconds and 3S thirds at
these meetings, which represented to
the owners for whom he rode the sum
of s39,S65. IL was on the Canadian cir
cult where Powers began his real
struggle for the leading jockey hon
ors The contest betwete Powers and
Shilling on the northern circuit was
so keen and close that 1t was one OF the
most striking features of the Canadian n
racing Powers rode p winners at
Windsor. 50 at Fort Erie. IS at Mon
treaI and six at Toronto. Since coming
TO the coast. Powers. although at times
he has found it difficult TO make weight.
has upheld his reputation for consist
ency.
Powers work in the saddle during
the season of 1907 was rather mediocre
for out of 461 mounts he only rode so
winners and finished the season with
a percentage of II, while last year he
rode more than 300 winners.
Jockey Powers. it is said. may ride in
England next season for l. de Roths-
child, who. ii is alleged has offered
him retainer OF $4,000 through Au-
gust Belmont.