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V n. a a v -j f r I t t t 1 , ! , WALTER "MILLER AUSTRALIA BOUND To Train for Wealthy Man in Antipodes Experiences of Jockey Mead. "The other day I met Walter Miller, -who in 190C and 1907 was the leadlnp rider in tills country, bound for Australia, " said Tommy Mead, once prominent jockey, now an actor. " Uee, it.s a long and lonesome journey I have before me, said Miller. I am almost tempted to turn back. Miller will train for one of the wealthiest men in the Antipodes," continued Tom. "I know just how he feels, for I had the same experience a number of years ago when I left New York for Germany with Krankie Townsend, an apprentice rider. My mother was opposed to me going abroad and did not even come down to the wharf to see me off. When I reached the steamer a crowd of Townsends friends were there with flowers and they were making a big fuss over him. Not. a soul was at the dock to greet me and I felt like thirty cents. Even to this day my mother has never visited a race track. She once asked me how they tied the riders on so they would not fall off." "Tell us something about your luck in Germany," Mead was asked. "Well, thats a long story, but it will not take up much time to relate some of the humorous incidents. I did not even know how to order my meals when I went into a cafe in Prance. I recall one morning in Paris I went to a hotel and ordered coffee, toast and eggs. The waiter got me all right on everything but the eggs. 1 had to walk out in the middle of the floor and cackle like a lien before he knew what I meant. He then took me down in the cellar and showed me the chickens and promptly picked out some nice fresli eggs for breakfast. "I was in Germany when George Walker was over there training for the crowii prince. Walker wanted a goat to put in the stall with a nervous horse. Mickie Shannon was delegated to get the goat, and it took three weeks for him to explain his mission to the Germans. He finally got out on the hillside and picked up a tomato can and acted for all the world, like a good old billy goat. Then the Geimans understood what he wanted. NO DEMAND FOR JOCKEY CLOTHES. "In France Tod Sloan had left a lot of clothes with the cleaner and failed to return. The cleaner was frantic. When I entered the place to leave niT dress suit the fellow begged me to be sure and come back, as he said that he didnt have anv children small enough to wear them. "Another time I played a joke on a German merchant. I told him I would sing liim a couple of songs in payment of the goods I had purchased. He said never mind, as he was a singer himself and that the singing society met at his place every Monday night. "In France a French jockey in a four-mile race was away behind with my mount trailing the field. He started to whip his horse. I -told him it was no use. -Sure it is, he responded. I have to meet my wife at eight oclock tonight. " A Frenchman whose horse I was riding gave these instructions: Here at the start you must not touch him. On the turn slap him once, on the back-stretch give Jiim two licks and coming home suddenly slap him three times on the back. "An indignant owner Cnce gave his rider a call-down after he had fallen from his mount. Monsieur, lie said, your judgment was poor. If you had sense enough to sit still my horse would have brought you in without that inglorious mishap. " Since going on the stage Mead has met many of the old-time riders and takes pleasure in reciting their present whereabouts and what they are doing. He recently met Willie Dugan, big as a prize Tighter, down at Sheepshcad Ray. Billy Martin and SnapiKT Garrison are training horses. Hilder-brand is a cafe owner in San Francisco, Jimmy Winkfield is in Russia. Nash Turner aud Jay Ranch are in New York, and Snnford Lyne is riding in Spain.
