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JOCKEYS RIDING AT THE MEADOWS. Continued from first page. duce., I am one of that class free from such inconveniences." "No, sir, I dont want my picture taken," said Charley Borel, a few minutes later. "Its a hoodoo. Last time I had mine taken I was set down the day following." "Used to be he same way," put in Buchanan. "Why, 1 was so superstitious that I would count my steps from quarters to the paddock. It the steps rim over a certain amount, it was all off. It meant a bad day But Ive outgrown those fancies" Just then genial Sam McGibbou arrived with a little mite in tow "The Midget of tin; Meadows." This little fellow with a big title is no other than Robbie Harrington, who tips he scales at fifty.-fclx pounds, stripped, and is bowed down with the snows of thirteen winters. "This Is the chap well make a rider yet," saiil Sam. Contrary to all rules of youth, Robbie didnt blush and smirk. Not Robbie. When asked if he expects to sport silk soon, Robbie, with a wisdom astounding in one of his years, said: Yes, I was one of dem city guys six motifs ago. Den Coffey got a hold of me, and Im gallopin for him now. Im on Elota the other morniii wid de schoolin hunch. I gets her away in front and holds her head up a ride, see? I wisht I knew this- fellow Egbert. I tink if I could get to hitn hed let mo up." "Tell them about how you fooled Jim Neil, Robbie," said Sam McGibbou. Jim Neil Is father of Frankle Neil, the lightweight or California, and according to race track gossip, it takes an early bird to best ihe elder Neil. "De other day," explained Robbie, "Jim comes to me and says What do you like, Robbie? I tells him, and. lie cashes a sweiler. But he doesnt come round to see me. De next day he comes round again and wants another hot bird. I says to myself, Heres where I get even with foxy Jim, an I slips hint de hound. Jim puts a wad on her nose, ami she runs nowhere Jim comes after me and says, What do you mean by giving me a dead one, Robbie? "I says, Well, I wins a bet for you, and you dont kick through, so I gives you a lobster. Yuh oiightuh see Jims face when I said that." Robbie is under a live-years contract to J. J. Coffey, and it is freely predicted that the little chap will lie In the boot before another year. Sam JUcGlbbon soys that Robbie has all the earmarks of a comer. "I hit de road with Frankie Keogh.onc mornin," continued Robbie. "Yuh oughtuh see flat hoy when ires reducin. He covered wid heavy flannels. He sweats down le pike and me after him. I quits after a few miles, but Frankie keeps up his hike. I dont see bow Unit boy lives." And then.. Robbie launched forth into a dhmssion of schooling horses, not in a flippant, childish way, hut witli the confidence and authority which bespeaks a mind trained and sharp. Robbie, at the present time, receives 5 a month, besides board and lodging. By association with his employer Robbie is dubbed "CofTco and Doughnuts." Robbie arises each morning at 5:30 oclock, and may be seen perched upon the backs of fractious animals as they are dally schooled. The embryo jockey is the smallest boy at the track, and those who know say he is the cleverest lad of his JCirs who haunts the stables. Cricket Kelly, whose shrill voice is familiar to the- rail birds as the thoroughbreds sweep down the backstreteh, has been known to leap from a horse any place on the track when things didnt lireak to suit him. Cricket is a hard worker, but will brook no interference. -Joe McBrhle is one of the boys who fortunately Is not compelled to seek Turkish baths and heavy road work to reduce Ills weight. A large boy like Bobbie Palms has a hard time keeping down to pounds. Once a jockey starts the task of fighting nature In an effort to take off flesh, he is compelled to keep it up for all time or quit riding. You in the grandstand" Who have been following, jockey Mandors with more or less success little, know that the boy would give a pot of gold for one; deep draught of water. He wins a race,- but he would rather have one glass of water than the. plaudits. He dares not drluk, for that would add; .lwunds to his weight aud he would be out of the paddle. It is not all gold tiiat glitters, Last year when Charley Borel rode four winners on the last day few spectators knew of the wear and tear this little rider underwent. During the last week of the meeting P.orel weakened himself to a frightful degree in the sapping retreats of a Turkish hath. It is a question whether the game was worth the candle. "Hand-riding" Kelly, a clever jockey wlicn down to weight, is now at The Meadows, hut Judge: Egbert, for reasons best known to himself, will not allow Kelly to ride, aud the boy, discouraged; and careless, now tips the beam at nearly 110 pounds. Some Idea of how he can reduce may be gained when It is known that he can do 100 with little trouble. Kelly Is about to desert The Meadows for Petalunia, CaL, because Judge Egbert will not allow him even a trainers license. Jockey Ilelgesen, who rode The Picket in tlte American Derby and who subsequently suffered a terrible injury, is a familiar figure in the paddock. Ilelgesen is not riding to his best form by long odds. Sam McGihhon exerts a fatherly interest over tlie jockeys and is constantly on -the watch that no boy is duped by unscrupulous owners. "Tlie principal advantage to a budding rider," said Stun, "is the wise making of contracts. Shrewd work by agents lias been the making of many a hoy. Take a midget like Harrington. He is smart and has the possibilities of a good boy if he Is handled with discretion. If a boy is herded about like an animal and treated with no consideration, it will be reflected in his life. Many a promising jockey is spoiled in the making by shortsightedness." Down along the hanks of the .Duwamish the lioys live in quiet simplicity. They must live in accordance with nature, for any extended defiance of her laws is painfully reflected in their daily saddle work. When a boy lilts the toboggan the ride is swift and certain. To ride with any degree of success a boy must keep himself in physical perfection. With a clear head and a steady hand the way to fat contracts aud fame is open. But the youth whose head is turned by temporary success and seeks the bright lights is apt to fall into a snare from which there is no escape. As little Robbie Harrington would say: "De guy wot hits de booze soon gets throwed into the discard, but if lies de real goods dcres nuttin to it." The which is an ungranimatical but very pat version of the whole matter in a nutshell.
