El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-03

But it remained for Tod Sloan. the
dean of all riders, without doubt the
most accomplished horseman that ever
threw a leg over thoroughbred, to
completely revOlutiOnize the seat or
sitting position in the saddle From
the full length stirrup first elected
much criticism, then merriment, but
subsequently, as turf history shows.
threw the entire riding brigade of
three continents into a more or less
chaotic condition.
SIOan's Claim Substantiated.
Sloan claimed, and in this he was
borne out by some of the cleverest
horsemen in the country, that to ride
short with the knees tightly lpressed
against the mounts withers, had the eff
feet Of throwing the weight forward
and materially aided the animal, when
in full stride. With Sloan's success both
here and abroad came emulation even
by the effete of England, who at first
derided him and made the lad the but
ting stone of much ill-timed English
wit(0. However, of the vast army Of
youngsters who affected the Sloan
seat, few entered the hallowed circle
of sUccess-in fact the Jockeys using
this seat who have made name for
themselves can be counted on the fin
gers of one hand. Danny Maher, the
most successful financially and other
wise, adopted it.
Wooten the little Australian, who for
two years has pressed Maher hard for
first honors in England, rides even
shorter than did Sloan, and there is
Suy Garner the present day champion
rider on this continent.
Harking back to jockey Powers. Here
is a lad who has a style all his own and
characterized as sloppy or diametrical-
| ly opposite to any other style either
here or abroad. In the first place. Pow
ers affects the long stirrup; then, too,
he does not allow the stirrup iron to
enter the hollow or arch of the foot (as
/ almost every other rider does) but re-
atins the iron Immediately under the
! ball Thus posed, or poised, and with
the animal under him in full stride, he
gives the appearance of being in a
swing. Aside from this, the most dis
/ tinctive feature Of Powers horseman-
ship is his wrist riding.
Doesn't .'ShOOt Ducks"
Unlike Sloan, Maher, WINFIELD, Not
ten, Garner and nearly every other
rider rated as topnotchers. he does not
/ shoot ducks" as the turf parlance has
it-a movement Of the arms and the up
per part of the body toward the mounts
head, and supposed TO be helpful to a
firing horse On the contrary, Powers,
at all times, is almost flat upon the
! mounts neck, and when a little extra
.exertion or help is required, then the
! only observable movement on the part
of Powers, aside from his swinging
feet, is an upward inclination of the
! wrists which accompanies every stride
of the horse.
Questioned as to how he came to
ride in this manner. Powers frankly told
me he didn't know, and that it just
came natural Regarding the wrist rid
ing, however, the lad was extremely in
telligent.
You see,'' he said, when a horse be-
gins to tire, that is the time to hold his
head steady. I never try to life" a
horse home, just keep his head up, al
lowing it enough leeway with the
reins to enable it to stretch its neck
(Which it does every time it strides)
and encourage it by word of mouth. In
this respect I have a little advantage
over some of the other boys, because
l am strongly muscled in both arms
and shoulders"
Herein probably lies the lads propen-
sity for making cutters" stick and the
sobriquet of muscle rider"
The Jacksonville Races.
1t has been mi-officially announced
that judge Charles T. Price Of Louisville
will be presiding official at the forth
coming winter meeting at Moncrief
Park, Jacksonville. This announcement,