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SHREWD TRICK OF TOD SLOANS Though costing only 180 guineas as a yearlin Santoi won for George Edwardes the Ascot Cup and many other important races besides about 60000 in stakes and some substantial wagers At least one of these was won under peculiar circumstances such as do not prevail in America since betting here ceases with the starting of a race In the Free Handicap at the Newmarket Honghton meeting Santoi then a threeyearold was allotted 104 pounds and it was thought that he had a great chance es ¬ pecially if Sloan could be secured to ride him This was arranged the American jockey asking however that the colt might be sent to Newmarket in order that he could become acquainted with his peculiari ¬ ties To Newmarket Santoi went accordingly the teal explanation one is driven to suspect being that Sloan was greatly interested at this time in Codo man winner of the Prix du Conseil Municipal and other good races in France and then in England greatly fancied for the Cambridgeshire CambridgeshireSloan Sloan indeed preceded to try the two making Codoman give ten pounds and Santoi won so easily that a few days afterward they were galloped again at even weights Santoi again had it all his own way whereupon the energetic jockey was anxious to see whether he could possibly give the Frenchman weight and this time conceding seven pounds Sau toi won a third gallop These trials were of course noticed by some of the horse watchers always on the alert at Newmarket but in strict confidence an explanation of them was kindly provided Those who fondly bcli ved themselves to be behind the scenes were allowed to gather that Codomau had lieen giving fortytwo pounds and that Santoi had l een permitted to win for the sake of deceiving the lookerson It was supposed to have beea ascertained by these gallops that Codoman could pull a milk cart and beat Santoi SantoiWhen When Mr Edwardes got to Newmarket Sloan told him at any rate something approaching to the truth The owner learned at least that Santoi was a really good colt and when the numbers went up for the Free Handicap it immediately became evident that he was strongly fancied by those who were eager to support their faith in the ring The rumor which had run around to Santois detriment had inspired Mr Edwardes with the hope that be would get a good price for James R Keenes American horse Disguise the useful Marconi already a winner at the meeting and Sonatura were all in the field but his surprise was equal to his disgust when he found his horse practically unbackable Ho got 100 to 40 once and then could get no more on at any price When he told Sloan of the state of affairs the jockey who was just mounting meditated a mo ¬ ment and then said Dont be in a hurry about it Ill get you a price Youll be able to back him In the running runningWith With that the owner had to be content Santoi began none too well when the flag fell In the first quarter of a milo he was trailing and as the others galloped on he dropped farther back Sonatura was doing the racing with Disguise close up and Santoi apparently out of it Presently a voice came from the middle of the ring Ill lay 10 to 1 Santoi Charlie Hibbert one of the big bookmakers put iil his glasses to have a look the result of his ob ¬ servation being an offer of 7iO to 1 ten times against the colt which Mr Edwardes promptly secured Hibbert then had another look Santoi was still ap ¬ parently out of the race and Ten hundreds to one Santoi was his offer Another bookmaker followed suit Mr Edwardes taking both bets and very soon he was gratified to see his colt gradually creeping up passing the others one by one and winning with extreme ease easeWhile While A E T Watson who tells this and other incidents of Mr Edwardes racing career in the Novem1 or Badminton Magazine makes no comment mi Sloans assurance in busying himself about the comparative methods of Sautoi and Codoman it can ¬ not Ix1 doubted that this line of action operated towards the eventual refusal of his riding license In England they want a jockey to mind his own business und not meddle with that of bis employers When Sloan forgot his place he lost his job
