Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18

WeH the unexpected happened One OF
those little things that change the course of
lives. Johnny was unable to MI the engage
ment, so Sam looked around for . good substi-
tute. He went TO the jockey quarters, took a
good look around and saw the kid Fator He
gave him the mount.
The horse won and Sam looked around for
the man who held his contract Mr.. Polk said
it would cost $4,000 to release Fator to the
RancocaS Stables Sam Hildreth scratched
his head and said he would give Mr.. Polk an
answer in few days. And few days later
Mr.. Polk had a certified check for the money
FOR 10 years now LaVerne Fator has been
riding under the Rancocas colors. During
the first eight years of his riding contract he
won nearly all the big stakes and one Summer
in Saratoga he broke Walter Miller's mark Of
"a victories with 80. On May 10, 1895 he won
five races at Jamaica.
Here's transcript of Fator's record during
the first eight years:
19l9-MountS, sos: first. 1879: second lO5;
third. 80; unplaced 289. Amount, $2l3O5l.
192O-MountS, 1897 first, 80; second 25;
third, 81; unpaced. 49, Amount, $43,48O
192l-Mounts, 438: first, ITO; second 100;
third, So; unpaced, 1856 Amount, 1928, s48
1922-Mounts, 403: first 80; second. 70;
third. So; unplaced. 1876. Amount, $lS5, 1924.
1923-Mounts 343; ArSt, 81; second, 46.
Amount, $119,8O2.
1924-Mounts. 32T first. CT; second Sc;
third, 80: unplaced, 155. Amount. $l48.l82.
1925-Mounts. 3l5 first. 81; second 81;
third. A. Amount. $305,775
1926-Mounts, 5O7: f1rSt 143; second, so;
third, 86. Amount, $36l,335
Eight years-MouutS, 3,108: first T07;
second, SOS: third, 1868; unplaced. 1878; per
cent % Amount 81 61OS97
Beginning with 1927 Fator took the lead
among the jockeys Of the country by plotting
403 winners across the tape with earnings
totaling $270,0 23. In 1928 he kept the crown
with 500 winners TO his credit and earnings
totaling $178179.
Among the famous events that the young
Jockey won during the 1928 season were the
Stakes, both at Saratoga: the Helpful Stakes
and the Walden Handicap at Pimico. And
there were many others.
His total stake earnings for 1928 were
$96,065.
When the matter of renewing Fator's con-
tract for six more years came up in 1926, Sam
Hildreth advised Sinclair to sign the lad up at
any COST
"Hes the best jockey in America" Hildreth
told his boss. He always makes the best
horse win, and many occasions he lands
the second or third best horse home in front
The best horse in the country is not worth
quarter unless he is ridden by a competent
jockey. Bad riders throw away thousands of
dollars every year. Fator doesn't, and no matter
what salary he asks for hes worth it. You'll
save money by keeping him. Some other boy
is likely to come along and toss off Futurity
or a Hopeful for u.s."
EATOR says his greatest race was in the
Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park in 1925,
when he had leg up on Pompey. The race
was valued at $50 40.
although I am under contract to the Sim
clair Stables I was permitted to ride Pompey
in the Futurity," he said. "Pompey broke with
the field and w3S headed momentarly by
Harry Payne Whitney'S Macaw and j. E.
WidenerS Haste. We passed the former soon
after the break and Haste was the only one
between me and the goal, which now was less
than seven furlongS away.
Getting away 50 well and having all but