The Washington times., 1923-10-18
DONOGHUE SEES
VICTORY BY
PAPYRUS
Famed English Jockey Is Only
Worried by American Dirt
Track an dRuIes.
By FORD C. FRICK.

By FORD T.. FRICh.
Written for Cosmopolitan News Service.
NEW YORK, Sept. Is. - Steve
Donoghue. England's crack jockey.
pride of British turfdom, friend OF
royalty-the best pocket rider who
will guide Papyrus over the dirt
track of Belmont Park Saturday
when two nations match their best
speedsters and 100000 people stand
BY to watch the spectacle-todIy
began putting the finishing touches
on his mount.
He's an interesting person this
Donoghue, who will wear the cOlors
Of England, and send his steed
down the stretch against the speed
Of Zev and the cunning Of Earl
Eande. And he is just as interested
rs he is interesting.
For twenty years, since 1908. ne
has ruled English riders, sending
his mounts to glorious honor In
long line OF victories. Now. with
his career stretching behind him.
he has come for the final test of
riding greatness, eager and ready to-
match his wit against the clever
ness of a Sande in the biggest turf
event of modern track history for
an $4,000 prize award to the win
ming horse.
Soft.VOiced and Dapper.
He's a dapper little fellow, is
Donoghue well dressed, perfectly
groomed.
His voice, soft as a woman's, was
liquid in its smoothness-a voice
that seemed more fitted for gentle
lullabies than the stern reality or
urging speeding horse flesh to its
ultimate of effort. He was not shy,
nor was he reticent. He talked
freely, but there was no bravado
and no egotism in his speech.
He is 80 years old, his thirty ninth
birthday having been passed yester-
day at sea. He has ridden since
1903-ridden in France. in Ireland.
in FEngland-always with success,
always with assurance.
Five times he had pushed his
mount to victory in the Derby,
greatest of all English races.
WEI ne win? That WAS not
q matter for prediction. He had
great faith in Papyrus. He knew
the horse, he explained, knew his
feelings and actions and his char
acter. He believed Papyrus had the
speed and the power to win. Ger
tainly they would give their best,
morse and rider together.
There was Il glimmer of disap-
pointnlent in his eyes when he was
told bluntly of the odds on Zev-
and q shadow Of doubt in his express
sion as he listened to the stories of
unsatisfactory trials at the Belmont
stables. But they were only momen-
tary and they passed quickly.
Worried By Tracks.
.oil
"Amv. ~ Ils naturally would favor
their own entry. even as we in Eng
land are ready to back Papyrus.
And our training methods are diff
ferent than yours, too. Perhaps
that has something to do with this
unfavorable impression"
For a moment Donoghue was seri-
Gus and his rudy skin took on a
deeper flush as his eyes glistened
with the fire that his spirit knew.
81 am only worried about your
American tracks," he said, simply.
"You know l never have ridden On
dirt tracks. nor has Papyrus raced
on them. 1t will be different. And
you go around the track differently
than we do. But We'll learn, Papy-
rus and me. Well get along, for we
understand each other"
Thick set through the chest, with
q sturdy torso that dwindles away
20 rather. thin legs and birdlike
ankles, Donoghue stands four feet
eleven inches tall. His hands are
small, almost too small, it would
seem. and lacking the strength
necessary TO hold in check the
thoroughbreds which have been his
mounts.
Weighs lib Pounds.
But a glance at the arms proves
the fallacy of that contention. His
arms are not large, but they are
muscular, with muscles running
sleek and wiry, like whip cords from
shoulder to elbow and from elbow
to wrist.
His weight is eight stone, one
pound, he said, using the English
standard. That's 113 pounds Ameri.
can measure. He can reduce that
easily and probably he will ride at
seven stone, ten pounds, he said
II necessary he could go even
lower, but that, he figured, was
about the proper weight.
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