American Jockeys Are Disliked: Officials in Austria-Hungary Are Charged with Discrimination Against Them, Daily Racing Form, 1907-08-21

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AMERICAN JOCKEYS ARE DISLIKED. Officials in Austria-Hungary Are Charged with Discrimination Against Them. "The heads of the jockey clubs in Austria-Hungary have of late been showing a decided dislike to certain American riders," writes an American who has been spending much time in racing circles at Vienna. "The most interesting ease is that of jockey Harry Birkcnriith, one of the best horsemen that ever rode in this country, and who has been very successful both here and in Germany. Birken-ruth is a quiet lad and of good habits and is a great favorite with the racing public, but he is suspended for three or four days at a time for no apparent reason. "As an instance, on Saturday, August 3, he was given four days on the ground for cutting over to the rail when a good four lengths in front, while inland fillers have done this same thing time and time again when they were not far enough in the lead to avoid interfering with the other starters. From the manner in which they are getting after Biikenruth it is evident that he is not wanted here. Birkenruth, who sees that he is not wanted, has asked his employer to release him, but Herr Maut-ner von Maikhof, who thinks a lot of his rider, would not consider it. "Another case is that of Skcets Martin, who came over here from Kngland to ride for Baron Rothschild under a two years contract of 0,000 per year, beside a profitable second claim. Martins horsemanship is so well known that it is scarcely necessary to speak about it. He must be a good rider to be well up on the list in America, and then ride with great success for six years in Kngland, winning all the big classics of the English turf, prominent among them being the Derby on Aril Patrick, the 0,000 Eclipse Stakes on Vedas and a number of big stakes on Hock Sand. Martin is very anxious to be paid off and get away, as he fears that his good reputation will be ruined if he stays here. Martins stable has been entirely out of form this year, but ho has ridden over a dozen winners for outside stables, which goes to show that lie is riding in good form. "On Saturday, August I!, Martin rode for his first claim a horse called Matterhorn, in a spriut race, but Matterhorn was badly beaten off. fills same horse starts the next day, Martin is taken down, and an inland jockey is given the mount and .Matterhorn wins handily, after being backed down from Os to .is. This maneuver may have had the purpose of showing that the inlander can win on a horse on which Martin could make no showing whatever. Ifow about looking into the form reversal of the two races V "Jockey Gannon came over here two years ago to ride for this same trainer, but he was given the same kind of a deal and left the country after a months stay. There are certain English trainers here who have shown openly a dislike for the American professionals and it is said that this feeling dates from the time of jockey Jim Morgans arrival in tills country, when he swept all before him with the American seat. At that time the English jockeys had a monopoly on the continent and it seems that they can never forgive the Yankees for forcing them from their position of supremacy."


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1907082101/drf1907082101_1_5
Local Identifier: drf1907082101_1_5
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800