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JOCKEYS CHANCE j. Several times The Spirit has drawn attention to the excellent chances a capable and well-behaved light-weight boy has of making name and fortune as a jockey. Never were chances so bright as at the present time. Several leading boys are "suspended" or otherwise disposed of, and any boy who will satisfactorily toe the line of honesty and capability today has a raro chance. There is a tremendous demand. It has never been filled, probably never will be, and only about one boy in every ten thousand has wit enough to see this great opening and take advantage of it. On an average eighty different boys are riding at a meeting around New York, but how many of them are to be classed as competent, honest, straight or worthy of any attention by public or owner? Yet there is 0,000 in the purse for the premier lightweight jockey of 1903, and there is only one boy in sight at present. It is to be hoped that this matter will be more plainly placed before the rising generation, and that the stewards and other officials of the various associations will outline some scheme that will give the boys a little "better grade of example than has been the case of late years. The lateetistep along thi3 line, while rather stringent and severo on those punished, establishes a precedent which cannot fail to bear rich and valuable fruit, although the examplo of punishment is far behind and far inferior to the demonstrations of palpable chances of success, as a popular educator and reformer. As to the boys who have had the chance and miserably failed to make the most of it. there are the "suspended" boys, drawing princely salaries and the ball of success at their feet, only needing an occasional tap to keep it moving. Yet they did not think it worth while. Two winters ago Cochran and Dale were on the tongue of everyone connected with racing. These two were riding at New Orleans, tieing for the jockey prizs there, and almost made a dead heat for it. Dale dropped out within three months of the close of the Crescent City racing and passed up to the sage brush, practically. Cochran remained here, and under McCaffertys care developed into a fair and promising boy. Last year he was third on the list at the metropolitan tracks, only headed by OConnor and Shaw. Cochran rode 432 mounts and had fifty-seven wins, but of these thirty-three came before the close of Brighton Beach. Then he went ail to pieces. Finally McCafferty became dissatisfied, ceased to employ the boy, at last letting him go. Even after getting the chance of his life to ride for W. C. Whitney this year he had hoT the wisdom to grasp it. Mr. Whitney personally gave him a sound talking to, with the result of two wins, followed by twenty-nine consecutive losers. His contract expires November 1, and it is safe to wager that Cochran senior will not be filing applications from millionaires to study at his leisure. Another problem is Redfern, who came hero last fall, absolutely unknown, introduced and "fathered" by the Pepper stable. Ho rode fifteen mounts at the 1901 Brooklyn fall meeting, winning two and then winning five races in forty-seven mounts at Morris Park. He continued working along that line. Always doing his best which has always been good up with ihe crows exercising with a clear brain and an appetite, attending strictly to business, riding good, well judged races with a steady improvement in every detail, en til there was an offer of 5,000 for the reversion of his contract, and 0,000 for the boy, not inclusive of tho usual winning and losing mount fees made for his services and declined, and then the figure placed on his services was said to be 0,000. There is success within reach of any decent boy! Their more or less complete failure may be avoided by any boy who can understand and apply a very pertinent object lesson. Spirit of the Times.
