Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-29
The
SPoRTLIGH7
Great Jockeys Differ
In Their Abilities
BY GRANTLAND RICE,
CnrreSpondent of Tha Star

Special Correspondent of The Star.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y,
Aug. 20 (N.AN.A9.-A group OF
wel-known trainers here were dis
cussing jockeys-the best and the
worst-with all the wherefores and
the why's. In the subtle art OF
knowing and handling pace they
gave George Woolf the call.
For example" one of the veteran
trainers said, Earl Sande belonged
to the old Father Bill DAILY school OF
Get the jump, keep it if you can
and ride 'em out This works for
some horses, but it doesn't work for
others. George Woolf can pace a
horse perfectly. He seems to know
exactly how much pace a horse can
handle to be ready for the stretch
and the way to the wire"
I'll agree with you here" another
trainer said, but the best of all at
this art was Tod Sloan. In addition
to his handling pace, Sloan was the
best all-around jockey I ever saw,
He always seemed to know exactly
what a horse was thinking about at
any stage of the race"
Another feature of Sloans rid
ing" John Partridge said, was the
fact that he rarely used the whip
I'd like to say here that more horses
have been whipped out than have
been whipped in. A tap or flick,
Just enough to let the horse know
you are looking for something extra,
won't hurt. But I don't believe
whipping horses helps them to win. y
Tod Sloan ProbobIy Best
AIl-Around Performer
Ben Jones agreed with John Par
fridge on this point, and you can
remember both know their trade.
So does Sunny Jim FitZsimmons,
another great trainer.
IF you want my Jockey rating"
one of the best known ex-jockeys
and trainers added, "I'll give 1t to
YOU. Post riding-Dave Nichols and
Don Meade; I know of no others
better at getting a mount away.
I'LL take Woof for pace. I'll take
Johnny Adams for position; he
rarely is bottled up. For strong
finishing you also can give me
Adams. Tod Sloan probably was
the best all-around jockey, but If
YOU move the selection up to 1910
I'll travel with Eddie Arcaro. He is
about the best I've seen in some
time.
"I'll slip you another fine Jockey
who shouldn't be overlooked. I'm
talking about LaVerne Fator."
Fators name brought a general
nod from the group. Nash Turner
was another who came in for a
fancy bouquet.
Stew people understand the ad-
vantage a licensed bookmaker can
bring both the bigger and the
smaller players" one Of the bookie
mandsrins told me.
Bio Bets in MutueIs Work
Against All Who Wager
Here's what I mean. Suppose q
horse hangs around to 1. Up to
this point he gets most of his back
ing from the 50 and IS bettors.
Then some bigger bettor chucks IN
$4,000 or more. The 6 to l drops to
4 to ]. A few more big bets and he
is only 2 TO /. So the So and IS
bettors may receive only third or
half of what they might have won.
"But If tracks had licensed book
makers as they do in England and
other racing countries, the big bet
tor would stay away from the mu-
fuels and protect both himself and
the smaller player"
wouldn't the bookmaker lay of
part or all Of his play In the ma
chinese" asked.
"why?" he asked. "If I am bet
ting 4 to / horse won't win, why
should I drive the price down to
2 to / that he will win? I'd have
to bet twice as much money to
break even. That wouldn't be the
best way I know to make any
money" 3
GAS it is today" on big player,
a well-known owner said, about
20 per cent of all money bet on
races is placed with bookmakers.
You won't find many bettors toss
ing in 5000 or more through the
mutuel window. They would be
playing against their own money.
nII- 4 Il a.,