Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1915-12-17
ONCE AN IDOL
NOW -FR|ENDLEsS
(By FRANK G. .MENKE9,

NEW YORK, Dec. 17.-Tod Sloan
came back to America few days ago,
an outcast from his adopted land, al
most unnoticed in his home land; for
gotten by the majority of those who
knew him in his days of glory; u.
known almost by the present genera
tion.
Sloan's life story is story that
reads like fiction; a story of n
eoric rise from obscurity to fame, and
then a descent from the heights as
rapid as was his ascent.
He rose from the unknown class to
fame as the greatest jockey in the
world; he rose from comparative pov-
erty to the possession OF wealth be-
yond his widest boyhood dreams; he
rose from the position as stable boy
to a place where his friendship and
was sought by the ar
istocracy Of two continents. And as
climax to his wonderful career, he
married one of the most beautiful and
most winsome girls on the American
stage.
From these heights Tod Sloan has
fallen; from riches he has descended
again to comparative poverty; from
fame he has slipped down to near
obscurity; from the position as So
ciety's pampered pet he has skidded to
a point where he is regarded in Eng
land as an undesirable citizen; and,
strange as it may seem, his plight pro-
vokes but little sympathy.
Tod Sloan in the hey.dey of his ca
reer forgot the Golden Rule; he ig.
nored with almost an upturned nose
the chums of his boyhood, the friends
of his earlier and infamous years.
Those were friends and companions
who were good enough when Tod was
just an ordinary Jockey, but they fall
ed to measure up to Tod's new stand
ard. And so he ignored them and
their friendship toward him turned
to enmity and It has lasted through
the years.
Sloan ever will rank as the greatest
jockey the turf ever has known. His
success was phenomenal-time and
again he mounted plugs. pitted them
against field of thoroughbreds-and
brought them home in front. No man
could outrlde him; no man could out
general him; his judgment and his
courage were marvellous.
He was the most sought after jockey
in the world. American horse own
ers offered him fabulous sums to ride
their ponies exclusively, but after he
had achieved nationwide fame Sloan
turned his back on America-it wasn't
aristocratic enough for him-and he
went to Europe where his success con-
tinued and his fame increased.
During his career as jockey Sloan
earned close to 100000. During one
season in England his earnings are
said to have totaled $8OO,OO0. He con-
sidered 1t poor season when his earn
ings did not reach in the neighbor.
hood of 100000.
Sloan originated the monkey
crouch" system of riding which event
ually revolutionized the racing game
Before Sloan's time the jockeys al
ways sat we'll back on the horse, per.
mitting their weight to center In the
horses back. Sloan slid far forward
in his seat, laying almost on the
horses neck, taking the weight from
the back and putting 1t on the neck.
Those who pooh.poohed the method at
first later adopted 1t and 1t now is the
universal riding method r-r-.
Ten years or 80 ago Harry Payne
engaged Sloan to come from
England to ride one OF his horses in
the Futurity. He paid Sloan $4,000
for that one days work and paid his
passage both ways across the Atlantic.
Sloan arrived amid pomp and gradeu
on the Friday night before the race,
went at once to Whitney's stable,
looked over the horses and chose to
ride Ballyhoo Bay. The trainers in
stables thought Sloan's de.
cision was an error. They pointed out
that the two other whitney entries
we're faster horses.
"Pll ride Ballyhoo Bay and I'll win
with him." said Sloan.
He rode Ballyhoo Bay in the Futur.
ity the next day-and won easily. The
two other Whitney entries were not
In the money.
On the Monday following the Futur.
ity Sloan sailed again for England. A
short time after he reached there he
applied for renewal OF his jockey
license on the British tracks and was
stunned when II was refused. For
some reason never made exactly clear,
Sloan turned his face to America. but
II was In vain. He found the bars
had been raised egainst him there too.
And then Sloans descent from fame