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DANNY MAHERS REMINISCENCES. Danny Mather, the crack American jockey, tells the story of his life in a pithy vein and incidentally lets some of the inside light out about some of his most famous mounts. The story is in Frys Magazine for June ami is in I lie breezy, catchy style, and among other things he says that as a rule English race courses are far superior to those in America. lie also has it that the Euglish thre;-1 ear olds- are from fourteen to twenty-one pounds better than the Americans. Maher. who is twenty-eight years old. was apprenticed to his uncle "Father Hill" Daly, wheal he was seven years old. He says: "My first ride in an actual race was in 1894 on Fagot, a horse belonging to my uncle. Most fieopio on the course were. I believe, under the impression that I had just got there, but a man in the box — and after all lie is in 999 cases out of a 1000 the best judge — placed me second, and in any case the race was a most exciting one, heads only separating the lir-t three. However. I was not long before I broke my duck. my first winning mount being on Phoebus, at Providence. R. I. "My first really satisfactory year as a jockey was in 1808. and at Brighton Beach 1 had an ex traordinarily good meeting, riding no fewer than sixty winners in thirty days. On one day. by the way. I was first past the stick in five races, and finished second in the last event on the card. "The American style of riding had been pretty generally adopted here when I got over and races were run from end to end just as they were in America, although I have often heard since thai this style of riding was quite a novelty and for years and years the waiting behind and coming With a sharp burst at the finish method of racing was all the rage. There is. however. I think, little doubt that results work out much truer by coming right through with a horse than in the old-fashioned style. "It is not altogether easy — in fact, it Is uncommonly difficult — to draw a direct line between Eng lisli and American form of basses, but I think all the same that, generally spt aking. the class of the English thoroughbred is better, while mares like Sceptre ami Pretty Polly, and extra good horse like Aid Patrick. Spearmint. St. Frusquin and Persimmon would be anything from fourteen to twenty-oae pounds in front of any American horse. "My first mount in the Derby was on Mr. Loril-larda Tantalus, the next on the late Duke of Devon shires Cheers, and in the following year. 1MB, i won the Blue Riband of the turf for the first time on Sir James Millers Rock Sand. "Of that ride I shall always cnlertain most pleas ant memories, for Rock Sand never caused me an uneasy moment, anil, indeed, before we had gone half a mile 1 felt that I had the race won. ami at no time had I to call oa the son of Sainfoin for a serious effort. In the St. Leger. too. Rock Sand gave me another arm chair ride and at the till all cantered past the post the easiest of winners, so tl at although racing experts declare that the three-rear-olds of IMS Were a moderate lot. 1 do not consider that the Derby winner can be fairly classed in this category, as he was a long way in front of all his rivals at the same age. But there is a lot of luck about racing and Rock Sand undoubtedly was unlucky to run up against two such horses as Aid Patrick and Sceptre, which finished in front of him in the Eclipse Slakes. "A curious trail in Rock Sands disposition was his strong objectioa to the use ot the whip, but the little horse was so game and always did his best that, really I never had serious cause to resort to the Hail, though in the Jockey Club Stakes, won by Sceitre. when that brilliant mare shot out I g.-ve blm one. bin his effort was of no avail and. after all. failure to tackle such a mare successfully was no disgrace. No. Bock Sand was a real game little horse and he could boast of one quality of inesli mable value in a thoroughbred — lie never shirked his work. "Since that initial success in Ihe greatest "prize lie turf has to offer it has been my good fortune to have been successful twice more — in 1905 on Lord Rosebervs Cicero, a son of Cyllene. and in the following year ou Spearmint, a son of Carbine and a • table companion of Pretty Poll. I have rarely, if n. r, Ihrown a leg across a belter or gamer hois. than Spearmint, whose sire. Carbine, loo. musl have b. . ii a rare good plucked nil. "Aassag the uauj -..mm! horses 1 have been i,.t tiin.ii.- enough to steer past the posl lrst. Bachelors Hill Ion comes veil Bear the top, and. to in v mind. S. B. Joels horse was bang in the Inst class, though in fairness to Major Baataee Louera smashing mare. Pretty Polly, it must be said that the latter was not quite herself when beateu by Bachelors Button in the Gold CUV." •
