The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-11-21
SHILLING GETS
HONOR OF BEING
THE BEST JOCKEY

Chicago, November 2o.-Wth the rae
ing year, generally accepted as closing
with the inauguration of the winter sea-
son, rapidly nearing the fag-end. it is
aprcpos to look about and make ready
TO crown the champion jockey. In cast
ing the minds eye over the 20 leaders
of the profession, one finds that Jockey
Garner has ridden far and awav tha
most winners. Up to and including one
week ago the Pinnell protege had had 727
mounts and was first 15S times. second
1916 third log and unplaced 3l4 times How
ever. from percentage basis, or view
point, the only logical way of determin-
Ing the true ability of race rider. Car
ner falls far short of Carroll Shilline/
with 400 mounts. 1853 flrsts, 81 seconds and
unplaced 154 times. The simple method
of deduction shows that Shilling earned
a percentage of "a. while Garner has
but %
Jockey T. Koerher, under contract tn
Wayne Joplin. and at present riding at
Latonia, has probably shown the most
rapid advancement during the year, rank
ing third to Garner and Shilling with
a percentage of .16. When it is consid-
cred that Koerner rode much inferior
horses than either of the two leaders
his performance is all the more out
standing. Jockey Powers probably retro
graded faster and more pronouncedlv
imam any other rider. In fact, following
the severe attack of sunstroke with
which he was overcome July 4, at Emt
pire City, he has made little or no at,
tempt to get into riding shape Dugan
and Talpin are two more rated as first
class riders that have struck the tobog-
gan. In fact. Dugan's riding during the
jamestown meeting was only very ordi-
nary and far below his true FORM
The one outstanding feature of the en-
tire recapitulation, however, is the mar
velous work of Jockey Shilling, a rider
without peer-at present. To the abil-
ity of Shilling can be attributed tito
splendid success of the horses of Sam
Hidreth and. incidentally, the magnf-
cent sum of $15O,OO0, their accredited win
nings during the year.
John ]. McCafferty. in his day admit
tedly one of the best riders who ever
threw a leg over a thoroughbred, and
therefore very competent judge, has the
following to say of Shilling's ability as
a race rider and clever horseman:
Shilling" said McCafferty, stood out
prominently among the competitors in
the jockey world this season. O1d-timers
who remember Sloan, Shaw, Isaac Muir
phy Daredevil Fritz and the rest OF
them are, inclined to stint the praise due
nn ba hot rid
talent this year was very poor They
say that in the old days. when there
were six or a dozen riders all in the
same notch Shilling wouldn't have fig
ured in comparison.
Despite this, many of the present-day 4
horsemen regard Shilling as one of the
best riders they ever say, SO remark
able was his ability during the Saratoga
meeting that ii was often remarked that
he could take a 25-cent horse and make
it beat a stake animal He can get
away, as they say on the turf, and that's
the race half won.'' "a
Any other boy but Shilling on Nov y
city and the rich futurlry would have
gone to Bashti Sam Hildreth knew thiS
and that's why he kept the boy on the
ground at a cost of $500 day. SO as
not to run the risk of having him set
down and his services lost on Futurty
day
In winning several races on Restigouche
Shilling bore out the statement of Nc
Cafferty, in that he made a route trav-
eler out of Splinter Restigouches
forte was setting a stiff pace, then quit
ting. Shilling cured him of this In
all later rides on Restigouche Shilling
has made the race a sprint through the
stretch by taking the horse off the early
pace. There are few horses who can
outsprnt Restigouche, and fewer still
are the riders who can place him like
Shilling can. In word, the lad Is in
a class by himself, in the jockey world.