Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-07-31
.14-YEAR- OLD FRENCH BOY
ALREADY FAMOUS JOCKEY
jean l1cpintc May Head Winning
List This Icar-IIas Had In
tcrcStinE Career.
nv VIII tuols
by VIII Cook.

tcTcStinS career.
by VIII Cook.
PARIS. July MN most import
ant part OF the horse program
In France Is now a thing of the past
but the race-for mos; Jockeys. III,
biggest OF all-for the top OF tn,
winning list is still kccnIy contested
At the present time Frank ONciil
. of St Louis. heads the list. with fifty
winning mounts out OF possible 800
He is closely followed by Matt Mac
Gee. another American Then come
English and French Jockeys Th,
former always figure high up in the
list a; the end of each year. while
the Frenchmen usually make up IN,
tail.
This year. however the roles may
he changed. for several promising
young French boys have come 10 the
limclighi in fiat racing Undoubtcd-
" the best OF the group is little Joan
l,cpintc. Il years old lie stands
barely four feet high and weighs :,
little under SIXTY pounds Jean. as
most people ON tho tracks call him.
was born at Maisons l.aiiittc. near
Paris. one Of tho big Centors Of horse
racing and training in France. His
father WAS hricklaycr and was not
at all interested in horse racing. His
Young son. however. showed his af-
lection for horses ana racing VERY
carly. He was barely years old
when he could be seen out on the
training tracks carefully watching
the preparation OF horses for big
events He would follow horses on
the way home from the tracks and
out of pity for his small lcre, stable
boys often gave him Il lift on one OF
the horses Nothing pleased the boy
so much. anG one day lie decided that
he also would try his hand at train
ing horses for races and bid boldly
for chance 10 ride them in racc9
Perseverance, Wins.
When 10 years old. Jean told his
father and mother that the time had
come for him to quit school and 20
out in the world and work for his
living. Receiving his parents con-
back from the track waylaid George
Lawrence, one OF the oldest British
trainers in this country. rontblauk
Jean asked Lawrence for a job and
said lie could soon learn to ride
horses as the other boys did Law
renee at first smiled. but in view
ot the boys insietencc told him To
come ROUND TO the stable next morn
ing.
He was an carly arrival 1t the sta
hlc but created something Of a ScnSa-
tion when he revealed himself in
knickerbockcrs and wearing socks
watched tho horses being prepared
for their trials and. pending the ar
rival % Trainer Lawrence, wandered
round the stable questioning other
boys as to which horse he was to
ride. He only received coarse laughs
in reply and began 10 feel unhappy,
particularly when the head man
showed IN and gave Jean huge
wooden fork and told him to get
busy and clear UP the boxes once
horses We're out. But manfuNy he
undertook the task. and he had his
reward few days later. when he
Was put up on a horse for lessons.
lie learned his job very rapidly. and
very soon aftcrward he was seen out
III the trials.
Alittlc later Lawrence had reason
TO be dissatisfied with the two jock
cys attached TO the stable and told
them that he would find someone else
10 ride his next running horse. Law
renee. as good trainer, watched the
work Of his staff. as we'll as that Of
the horses. and paid particular attcn-
tion 10 young Lcpintc. He decided
, that the boy should have the ride on
his next horse 10 ran in race. Lee
rintc simply jumped for JOY at the
prospect and could not believe his
ears when Lawrence told him that II
h" made good lie would IN him up
with contract, making him tho
stable jockey.
Minis Ills First Race.
hiVen MS chance. l.cp!ntc proved
his value. for his first ride was his
nrSt winner, and throughout the race
he showed a lot of good judgment
never allowing himself To get too
much mixed up.;.n big group and
always making f9. the rail on enter
. Ing tho home stretch His FIRST APP
; pearance created a sensation how
. ever, owing 20 his height and weight
Whereas most jockeys wear close it
. ting TUNES. Lop.ute's was so J,, that
: ~ practically SmOthcred him so
heavy Was his Suddlc-:n order TO
make up tho weight that he could
!, not carry H., and there were many
. people who during tic race shouted
themselves hourso. believing Il Jockey
. had fallen or As matter Of fact
. i.eD'n'c appeared SO small on the
! morse that there were many persons
. who could not 500 him.
/. on being congratulatcd after tho
:. boys first race. Lawrence was joking
ly asked n ~. had amy moro young
sters in The cradle" but the trainer
replied: wait and youn sec this
hoy make good" Lcpintc has done
this, for today he Is eagerly sought
by owners ana trainers alike to ride
their lightly weighted horses \, the
oeginnins Of The year. because he had