Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-11-02

has visited this country four
times. and has been to Santa
Anita and Bay Meadows, but to-
morrow, will mark his first APP
pearance under silks in the
United States, and he is sched-
uled to ride only in the WASH
ington, D. c., international.
The mere mention Of john
stones name brings a knowing
look from any one familiar with
racing, for 1.-THE Crocodile" Is
one Of the worlds best modern
riders. And you may take our
word for it that he is one of the
most reasonable. Listening to
him and Tim Rogers, who will
saddle Northern Clean. discuss
horses and races was a pleasant
and unforgettable experience.
"The Crocodile" is a nickname
Rae gained through his riding
| tactics. He likes to ride q watt
ing race and come on at the
finish, he said, and some writer
pinned the name on him be-
cause he "ate them up at the
finish"
The strategy has paid OF
handsomely for tombstone. who
counts ~ victories in the five
British classics among his
| achievements. This group in
cludes the EPSON Derby and
Oaks, st. Leger, the Two Thou
sand Guineas-a race for colts
and the One Thousand Guineas,
for fillies.
In addition he has won the
Prix de rArc de Triomphe and
nearly all the other famed
French races. including the
French Derby three times. He
also won the Irish Derby twice,
and one year won the English,
French and Irish Derbys.
n \ y
Johnstone's first English Der
by triumph was scored on the
Aga Khan's My Love in 1948,
and it is one of the races Rae
remembers best because he not
only rode the winner but had
recommended the colts purchase
by the Aga Khan a year before
the Derby.
Rae won this years Arc de
Triomphe on Sica Boy, who was
invited to the international, but
whose several owners couldn't
agree what to do about it.
1T seems that was fated tt
win the Triomphe this year.
tombstone said. because I was
to have ridden Native Dancer
if he had been in it. It was al
arranged until the injury forced
them to change their plans.
would have won by 20 length:
with him. Sica Boy is O nice
horse, mind you. but Native
Dancer is a great one.
"And guess who I sat with or
the plane coming over? ALFRED
Vanderbilt. We were the only
lorsemen on the plane and we
had Q nice chat"
tombstone and the other for
eign trainers and riders have
been invited by Vanderbilt tc
have a look at Native Dancer TO-
day at Sycamore Farm, where
the famed gray is in stud.
| Australian-born tombstone be.
came a jockey almost by acct
dent. He aspired to be a rugby
football player, and as a 4
stone-7 (63 pounder) played
serum halfback in an 8-stone-7
(1l9-pounO league. A serum
halfback losses the ball In tc
begin the melee and is the only
position a lightweight can play
in rugby. But Rae's father, q
coal miner, took him to the races
when he was Is, land it sort
Of struck a bell" The boy was
fascinated by the Jockeys color.
| full silks. the spirited horses and
the excited crowd. He decided
to become a rider.
"Being only 10, I had to wait
a year before passing my 'leav-
ing certificate" Rae explained
A leaving certificate" Is more
or less a work permit. indicating
the bearer has satisfactorily
passed certain educational re-
quirements.
Rae rode for 10 years in Aus
tralia before deciding to "gt
home" or visit England.
"You never speak Of it as 60.
ing to England" he explained
"but as going home. since it Il
where we Australians came
from"
The trip included q visit Is
ireland, and John Reynolds
racing manager for Sir Victor
Sassoon, wanted him to stay and
ride for his stable. BY chance