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REMINISCENSE OF "SKEETS" MARTIN How Sloans Mistake Resulted in Martin Winning the Brooklyn Handicap on Howard Mann. New York, December 22. When in this country, while Martin was considered a good rider, he was never listed with jockeys of the Sloan, Maher, Taral, Garrison or Griffin calibre, though one of the best judges of riders in those days, the late Pittsburgh Pliil, always claimed he was a better jockey than the majority of horsemen- believed. He rode many horses for the late plunger and upon one occasion the Brooklyn Handicap of 1897, he steered Howard Mann to victory through a sea of mud, beating among others, his stablemate Belmar, on which Sloan had the mount. Howard Mann was an added starter in the race, owing to his mud running qualities. Pittsburgh Phil said after the race, that while Sloan had the choice of mounts between Bel-mar and Howard Mann, he was glad to see him take Belmar, as lie knew Martin would put up a better ride on Howard Mann. "Martin is a mud riding jockey," said Phil, "and will go against the slush just as gamely as Howard Mann. Consequently, it was real team work that won the race." It was after this remark that close figurers of races considered more minutely the riders over muddy tracks. Phil had been doing it for some years, but he was in advance of the times. Martin frequently proved afterwards that he was game when the slush was flying. Riders of today have displayed the same trait, while some are just as timid and unless they get off well in front, will not make any strong effort to face the music. There are some good riders today who rarely win a race over a muddy track unless they have pounds the best horse. Martin has frequently fought his way to victory on sluggish horses through his gameness in facing the flying mud and so blinded has be been, that he has had to be led to the scales to weigh in. Few jockeys today have such an envied reputation.
