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i i I j j , I , i j r , . [ ■ i r ; • ! . , , ! : . " - - ■ i 1 I . ■ 1 1 TACTICS OF OLD-TIME JOCKEYS. The t.ltimatum of ti.e .lackey Club that "the ease ..r Jockey Carrol] H. shilling will not Ik- opened." finally disposing of a case which resultid from revoking the liceaoe of jockey Shilling on the re- , p..rt of the steward* of tin- Harford Agricoltural Kreeden Association, who bad saapended shilling for rough riding ami striking jockey Diggin-• luring the running ..f a ran at Havre de Grace on September 25, 1P12, recalled to a veteran horse- man. while dtecaoslag Shillings rough riding pro- rlivities, the tactics of suae old-time jockeys. "The old-time rider-." said the veteran, "took good can of all these who attempted libirties with them in a race and 1 shall never forget the surprise Tommy Barns, then in the In-ydt y of his prowess as a Jockey, got at the Fair irounds course at New Orleaas oae afternoon. "Bans was riding for Joha W. Schorr, the Memphis brewer, at that time, and was winning more races than any two other Jockeys at the course until Winnie 0 osmsc COM along. In the race to Which 1 refer Baraa was up on the favorite and when OConnor movi d up at the head of the stretch and chalk nged for the lead Boras promptly ro ii-him to tie oatside and endeavored to get a leg lock on him. "This trick gives a marked advantage in a fighting finish, and OCoanor called to Bans when the Canadian tried for the lock that he must not ecrry him out any farther. Iiurns paid no attention, but continued his foul tactics until at the brick barn about a farlong from home OConnors mount was within a f.-w feet of the outside fence. Kising in his stirrups be rained half a dean blows upon Barns head and shoulders with the short riding Whip he carried and thea sat down and rode a hair raising finish that landed him in front by a neck at the wire. "The stewards of the meeting promptly called both riders into the stand and demanded an explanation. OConnor pleaded that his life was in danger and that he only used his whip as a last resort, because he believed that lie would be thrown over He- fence onto the shell road ten feet beneath, the track being much higher than the road about it. "The stewards reprimanded both boys. Kurns for rough riding and OConnor for taking the law into hhi wn hands. That was the only time that Hums went U] against OConnor, and you an bet if boys Of In- type of OConnor were riding today Dugan would have had a trimming long ago." McLaughlin Was a Bluffer. "Fitzpatriek could take care of himself too in the old days." broke in a listener, "and so coald Andy McCarthy and Johnny Siiellman. McLaughlin wasnt i •■ugh rider, but he was a bluffer and in a race frightened most of the boys with whom he came in contact. "Ill never forget one time at F.enning tint Mr Lrughlin got up against the wrong boy to frighten. ill- was riding old man Morris Favor in one of the spring stakes and 1 he big bay horse waa a tremendous favorite and carrying a heavy commission for Mike Dvvyer. one of McLaughlins employers. Favor •fl - the top weight am! naturally Jimmy waited with him. Rounding the upper turn there were three horses ahead of him. "Look out then, boy:" called McLaughlin, evidently expecting the jockey on the horse next the nil to pall out and let him through. "Now it happened that the horse was Eolian. owned by the late A. .1. Cassatt. the Pennsylvania railway magnate, and the jockey was Willie Martin, now a trainer and for many years one of Americas best riders. Martin, then a lieginner at the game, paid no attention to McLaughlins call, but re-doobied his efforts on Koliaa. then a comparatively iia known three -year-old. "By the time that McLaughlin made up his mind to go to the outside in the run home Martin, who had shouted back something uncomplimentary when ordered to pull out and let the thea premier Jockey of America through, had the race won and Favor lest by a neck in spile of all his rider could do. "McCarthy, who was always truculent, having trouble with the turf authorities or with his fellow riders almot constantly, lost his life on the track at Morris Park. He was riding a crazy gray man-culled little Veil and she ran away with him and crashed into one of the many fences which crossed the Eclipse course when the circular course was in Use. "McCarthys quarrels with starter Caldwell were spectacular and almost constant. They appeared to understand each other, and when the starting point was distant enough from the grandstand s,. that their con .ei sat ion could not be heard by the spectators th.- language was siaai linns vitriolic and always acrbnoBioBS. Sa-.h goings on between starter ami jockey disappeared long ago, but whea Caldwell was at his heal in his profession, lie had numerous battles at the post. "McCarthy and Hergen, I guess, were his particular pets in that line, and the latter could be quite as exasperating as McCarthy whea la- was iii the humor, and that SBtMtd to be all the time. He reminded lie- of the boy who boasted that he pad the most evi n-tempered man iu the world for a father — always angry. Bergens Witticisms and Sarcasms. "Suine of Bergens witticisms and sarcasms are famous, oil Larry Bart owned a three-year-old named Duke of I.einst -r that nobody thought of more than very ordinary selling plater class. The public that followed the horses those days was astonished one day to Had the Duke entered iu a luce against seven] of the in st liar ms in tnialag, among them the l. -doubtable Tenny. one of the best three-year-olds we have ever had in this countrv. Hart, who was a character himself, called Bergen over lata a remote corner of the paddock at Bheepa-heail Day to give him instructions. " Now. Marty. he said, lay wid Tenny till ye ait the head of the stret.h and thin come i-n with him and ycll have it all to yerself. " All right, sir. responded the jockey, with as near a smile on hi- face as he ever permitted to show there. "When the head of the stretch was reached the Duke was fifty yards behind Tenny and he was almost twice as far away at the wire. Dames was up on Tenay that day, and when Hart approached Bergen after the race, the jockey said: " Oh. Mr. Hart. D.irnes wouldnt throw me a towline and I couldnt follow orders. "One day while Mr. PettJagUI was starting the horses at Oakley, the handsome course near Cincinnati, built a. el maaaged by th- Labolds, Bergea waa riding a fractious two year-old filly. The starter, whose patience had stood a long strain, finally shouted: " Bergea, brtag that filly up in line here. "Hoi.est. Mr. Pet, replied Bergea as he snatched at the fillys head in an endeavor to turn her around, this is no bicycle. "Bergea rod.- for Corrigan. you remember, for a year or so. Their contract was nalnae There wen no written articles of agreeim-nt between them. When somebody suggested that there should be ft written contract, Corrigan stnt lor Bergen and in lis Characteristic way remarked: " Now, see ben, Bergea, when your riding doesnt suit me Ill tell you so. and when youre not satisfied With me you can tell me so. Thatll be contract enough. "That suits me. boss was Bergens reply. "It was only a few days after his engagement that Corrigaa started a horse that he was pretty sweet on. and he told the jockey before the race that lie had a lot money at stake. The horse was beaten badly aad C irrigan rubbed his big aquiline nose in perplexity. Before he" could ask Bergen what the trouble was. the rider drawled: " Say. boss, you made a mistake. That was the buggy hone you bet on. "Corrigaa was dlsaiased for the moment. Such natures as Corrigans and Bergens had no more Chance to mi:, thaa oil and water, and they soon parted. Spellman Rough and Tough Enough. "That Bpellmaa was rough and tough enough." said anotl i- luiiabir of the group. "He knew as much about the fine points of horsemanship as any- I o ly riding thirty years, ago. and when he was betting his own money and riding his own horse Strathspey around the many cornt red track at old Jerome Park, woe betide tiie jockey who got in his way. "In a fist fight he was easily the champion of tin- jockey-., and he was always ready with either hands or feet. His company got him into trouble. and he lost his life as the result of a midnight brawl in Sixth avi nu ■ urban the white lights ware thick, st at the junction of that thoroughfare and Thirty-Second street. "He was perhaps the heaviest bettor among the jockeys of hi:, day and the wagers he main at times would stagger the turf authorities of the present day. Fi-- thousand dollar- wasnt an uu - usuii wager for BpeUman whea be tboaght he was right and if Jimmy Kelly were alive he could tell you of some large winnings scored by the Batty Jockey, who speat as much for his clothis as any man in New York. " Talklag of clothea, remarked one of the crowd. "the old in:,- j ekeys srem better dressers than the topnoti-hers of today. McLaughlin. Garrisoa, the I 1 tytooa, Simnis and others were turned out like fai hion plate-. "it took OConnor a lo.ipie of yean to dress even fairly well, and 1 rciacmbr meting him once TV swing the field at Graveoend after he had won four races. Hi was at Um time under con l rait to the Peatherstone Bromley confederacy and was earatag gaa.Ouu . year at least. II- had on an old gray s.vcat- r. pair of treason that a swipe would have discarded and he had mi" shoe ami a slipper ou hia lect. 1 slopped him and asked hiui why he was not liioii- nnrtirnl.-ir about all in-rsonnl nppear-liini-. " I coulilnt ride : nv lii-tti-r if I had batter loilics. raa Id If was all be suiii la laptar, and I w.is forced to admit the trmli of his remark. "Bat tin- next year he Mosoosaed oat aad whaa be wont to Now Orleaaa in i lit- aiitmnn. lias wardrobe would satisfy tin- Basal exactiag taate. Be had sin. pajamas and checked suits. Of the farmer h snid thai it took bin. SOSae tinn- to ;ri t used to lata, .is thejr were so slippery he foil out of 1m-i| nun-.i or of liases whea he first wara tbaaa. Be had one check suit so load thai jraa eaald hear it aronad the caraer. "Slai-k, who was then little bettor than an ap-1 rrattre, was a great ri aao of OConnor. Be looked with kmglBg eyes oa Winnies checks, aad this load suit in particular was tin- tinivt thing in the araa of clothing that Black had ever seen. "One day black rode and won on Tappau, a 100 ta 1 -hot. owned by his l.rother. and a hilarious planter from one of the river parishes who had won a lt Of money thrust a hundred dollar bill into tin- l.uis hand as he was returaiag to the joeki-v r.-oiii alter weighiag in. Black had no Biore bm toe the rate traek that day and two sreaiaga later I Mel him on anal street near the Bostoa Clui. At fust sigh he looked like OConnor, red cravat, patent leather shoes and the loud cheek suit; iu fact 1 shouted; Hello. Wiimie. " S-s-s-h. whispered Blaefc behind his hand. OConnors at home iu had and Ive not his clothes. "ihe youngster had speal the greater pari of his 00 ill clothes. Is it any wonder that few of them save any money ! One year they are earrytag a backel and sleepiag in a stall with a imrse and the iet they are oetted and lauded hy those who are always ready to applaud anybody, man or boy, who does somcthlag better than the other fellow." — New oi-k.Suu. |
