The Washington herald., 1922-12-21
ROUGH-HOUSE
RIDING TABOO
AT JEFFERSON
Example Set by Stewards at
New Orleans Meeting Should
Be Followed in Maryland.
By LEONARD w. COLLINS.

~ h<ASoAN"AsD Soh<ALhANOs
THE stewards at jefferson
Park, New Orleans, should
- be commended for the pol
icy they have adopted to elimi-
nate rough and hippodrome rid
ing, which had become so con-
spicuous during the early days of
the meeting. At first but q small
fine was plastered on the offend
ers, but finding this Intellectual
to stop the practice, the officials
decided upon more drastic action.
No more are the boys fined for an
offense which not only endangers
their own lives and limbs, but
those of their mounts as well. Sus-
pensions ranging from a week to
ten days are now meted out. This
is proving to be the most effective
manner in which to eradicate the
practice.
In suspending a jockey for any
length of time the officials are
hitting his pocketbook with far
greater force than they could by
merely assessing a series of small
fines. Where a boy draws a small
fine his contract employer generally
pays the amout. but when that
boys services are denied his EN-
ployer for considerable length
Of time, then is that the employer
begins to hand out some rather
stiff assessments himself.
The boy not only loses what
salary may be due him while he
is under suspension. but he also
loses the opportunity of picking
up available amounts Of from SIS
to $40 for accepting mounts in
races in which his employer does
not have a starter. A week of
this and the daring jockey is gen.
orally cooled down. At least 1t
takes some of the recklessness out
of him.
There were any number of in
stances during the past Maryland
season where riders were getting
away with murder This was
in a large measure due to the fact
that in the stewards stand there
were men who weer either weak
kneed or feared the wrath Of some
powerful racing owner. III the truth
were but known the later reason
was probably the all-impOrtant one.
Times without number fragrant
violations of the rules were indul
ged in by reckless riders, yet Other
than an occasional light rine the
incident was generally passed over
OF the many stewards who Of
ficiated throughout the Maryland
sea son but one, Frank ]. Bryan, Al
Pimlico, refused to be cowed by the
influence of some well-known own
! or. Bryan absolutely refused tt
allow rough or hippodrome riding
| melting out punishment to the of
tenders that had the desired ef
feet.
The public admires the rider
| who rides to win, one who viii
take a chance of slipping through
on the rail or one who will at
| tempt to get through an opening
in the middle of the track. but i
will just as quickly condemn I
| jockey who tries to batter his wa,
through an opening at the risk o
the lives and limbs of both rider
and mounts
Many a time a jockey is cen
sured for what to all intents ant
purposes looks like a timid effort
No one is in a better position Z,
judge the psychological moment t,
| make a move than the rider him
1 self. and IL in his Judgment h,
| does not have a better than evei
chance Of getting through ne shoul,
not be condemned. He should bt
| given credit for at least ridinl
| with judgment. And your average
| racegoer can ask no more.