Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-19
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCIS ,7Aup
Jockeys Are People

Martin the veteran from Baltimore. studying the
gram Not Haleahs but the bill for the nights a aiai up
the road can't wait get those games Bobby admitted
How it," question posed that man connected
with one betting sport be concerned with another? How
does q top jockey make out wagering on jai alai?"
"WelLp Martin grinned Il figure that If break even
for the season it has cost exactly nothing to have
good time nearly every night of the winter I'm about
$40 losers right now, but beat em last winter and so
balances out"
To many horse players jockeys are knights in shiny
silks. Close up, the small size of the riders is apt
to surprise Conn McCreary for instance could have been
the original Puck AS group they are short and extremely
light and of mystery is visited jockeys by
the FANS who somehow feel that reinsmen apart
Wrong. Jockeys are people
THEY ARE NOT APART, except for making living
In hazardous way They like anybody else enjoying
the little pleasures of life when they not working The
crop today Is like the baseball BY and large, they
stay out Of gnlls Some make fabulous money and what
Uncle Whkers lets them keep they keep Isaac Murphy
and Ted Sloan the Jockey Hail. Fame at Pilico
but both died and the riders today have read
up their and sudousy avoid the Wild spending
of those distinguished but unfortunate predecessors
Take Bobby Martin. Aside from jai alai, he spends
whatever spare time he finds with his wife Sunny, surf
casting OF che beaches at Key Bscayne near Miami Add
onay Bobby and Sunny are proficient on bongo drums
They live at trailer home and have extensive collection
of Latin tunes Bobby and Sunny take turns the drums
to accompany the records.
Most Of the jocks. they admitting this day,
for golf Dave Erb, for instance conesses shooting in
the low Dos when he isn't bootng Needles Summer Tan
something ell home
Nick shuk who is back in Maryland to defend his
title the Old Line States leading rider for the past
five years. is golfer So Sammy Boulmetis Kenny
Church and Ken Scawthorn. Before he retired rider
and became trainer, Ira (Babe Hanford the king
Of golfers among the riders Remember Ira? He the
first apprentice jockey to win the Kentucky Derby
ONCE UPON TIME Stout raised chickens hobby.
But one day at the Miami Springs he goofed
tee shot 1t went almost straight up the and fell
in front Of Stout Gee" Jimmy exclaimed 1--WE got hen
that can lay egg farther that that"
Dangerously is the jockeys make their living Many
times afternoon they asrde metashod horoughbreds
that weigh half ton and at breakneck speed
Thus is that Willie Harack the leading rider
more or less routine to XK-140 Jaguar
Remember Johnny Adams? He has son who is a
successful rider in New Orleans Once twice. at least
he beat his dad The elder Adams only 4feet-8 boxed
once and sandot baseball catcher Sports just ran
In the family Johnny saying in the Jockeys quarters
MY dad Joe, who is 80, played with Kansas City
in the American Association"
Steve Brooks another veteran who is second to Har-
tack in Hialeah winners flies apanes relaxation Steve
has more than 1000 hours logged On the other hand Ted
Atkinson has an of beat MISUNDERSTANDING.
1T is AN EXPERIENCE to visit Jockeys room and
hear Of the variety Of tastes Atkinson the great
riders Race writer's call him THE slasher" because he
yields the whip tagging with an unmatched style
and vigor And with very little urging horticulture
I've got group of wild dogwood trees of matched
height which collected last summer" Atkinson saying
Il planted them along the drive Of my farm at Woodbury.
Long Island I've got eVergreen spruce white pines and
hernocks along the other side the drive can't wait
to see how 1t turns out"
Next to golf Atkinson being exception fishing seems
to intrigue the top Jocks. Eric Guern, famed Native
Dancers rider was poison to inervewers after his big
but the guy spoke at length 22pound channel
bass he caught
ITS the greatest thrill" Eric was saying my other
hobby although this is poor time to mention It, is roofing
for the New York Giants
LESSER-KNoWN RIDER, although veteran, is Cow.
boy Jimmy Nichols who is regarded in the Jockeys room
as the bravest not the best The other Jocks kid about
him, saying Hell ride anything with hair and four legs
Nichols simply grins. He made quite for himself
riding wild bulls in rodeos
Two Of the riders at Hiaeah proficient skin divers
meaning Hartack and Eddie Decker.
Probably the bestkept automobile in Florida the out
growth OF another Jockeys hobby Willie Lester the like.
able youngster from West Virginia, poor farm kic
whose dream was to own block-long Cadillac He finally
was able to buy one about three years ago and he
pink for Its color Daily he spends spare time polishing
1t and tinkering with the motor.
III he could" colleague TESTED. willie would throw
q saddle on that Caddy."