The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1933-12-15
BY HYPE IGOE

| IO0 SloanS 1OrWar0 pOSlIlOLl
when perched on a race horses
back wasn't merely q matter OF
accident.
The English critics called II
the monkey seat" but 1t was
anything but a baboon idea.
From the day he first laid
eyes on a race horse, Sloan be-
gan an intensive study Of the
animal, its peculiarities, moods
and capabilities.
His "seat" on a horse came
in for Litter criticism from the
start. It was no cas-. matter
for q mere tyke to convince the
hard boots Of racing that Too
Sloan had a saner idea Of sit
ting astride a horse than the
old, accepted style.
Backed Sloan
When Sloan began his career
as a stable boy and later rider
for Ed Corrigan, one Of the
most powerful and Influential
turfmen in this country, Toe
found the gruff old Gear" al
ways back Of hi l. Corrigar
listened to little Sloan's theo-
ries and was especially i'm
pressed with sloan's "horse
sense"
Sloan went the weight problem
one better by clinging to his
horses withers with his knees
In this way, his legs serving as q
belt, he held his mounts ito
gether" and eased his own weight
from the animals shoulders.
The clinging knees worked like
ball-and-socket joints, and when
his horses front legs hit the
Eground, Sloan's body was clear OF
the horse entirely, save where his
knees chung to the races withers
When Sloan began riding NJ
weighed IS pounds. He was pow
erfully built for one Of his weight
and this poundage, plus a remark
able riding "bean," and he was 8
gold mine to those who shared II
his triumphs.
A Sure-fire Winner
He was a sure-fire money
rider if his horse had it in him
to win. Tod went as far as tc
gauge the wind which swept across
a course, this way or that. II II
came toward him, he placed his
mount behind the others, TAX
ing advantage Of running vino
breakers. If it came from behind
Sloan would place his horse In
such a position that nothing II
the race would prevent the WING
boosting his horse along.
He studied the condition Of tn
"going," taking the trouble tt
visit the turns if the weather wa
bad, that he might sound tn
depth of the sluSh, mud or heav,
sod. Mentally he took tabs o
where and where not to ride in I
race to come later. He Away
worked his own horses in tn
morning. When it came time TO
the real test, he knew better thar
any other man on the race tract
just what he had under him. HI
knew the champions Of his da!
needed proper guiding and thi
he gave them to the utmost degree
George E. Smith, who was to q
down in turf history as "PittSburgI
Phil" though his name WASH
Phil and he didn't come from
Pittsburgh, brought Sloan cas-
with him. The noted plunger. on
of the few men ever to laugh a
the old wheeze, "A1l horse player
must die broke"-was going il
wretched fashion when he &C
quired the services of the little
mite.
Under pittsburgh Phil"
Sloan developed under pitts
burgh Phil's" tutoring in leaps ant
bounds. Smith was a Thorough
horseman and wasn't afraid tt
back his opinion with ereenbsck
His bankroll had dwindled to (
taw about the time he met Sloan
Smith had lost $150,00C and tina
was not chicken feed in thosC
days.
Sloan's mastery over horses anc
his ability to make them ru1
kindly attracted the attention O
all the fashionable trainers. w. C
Whitney, with James R. Keene
was one of the pillars of New Yorl
racing. Sloan caught mis- fame,
instantly. Tod still weighed wei
under 100 pounds and this mad,
him a riding treasure.
1t is a remarkable fact tina
Sloan. in all his famous days, re.
NAMED around 100 pounGs. elthel
two pounds under or TWO pound,
over that mark.
Sloan arrived" so far as him
self was concerned, at a happy