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FOR JOCKEY EDUCATION Plenty Raw Material in America but Riding Talent Is Scarqe Empire Citys Races for Novices NovicesMay May Help Schools for Stable StableHands Hands Probable NEW YORK N Y July 10 The sale of the contract on apprentice jockey Lawrence Fator l y Stuart Polk to Samuel C Hililreth for 15000 is proof that riding talent on American race tracks is scarce and emphasizes the importance of giving races frequently in which novices will have a chance to acquire the art of jockeyship jockeyshipIt It was with this end in view that the Empire City Racing Association placed two events on its pro ¬ gram open only to boys iha nave never won a race and the Kentucky State Racing Commission has now advised that such races shall be given at all meetings under its jurisdiction The Empire plan carries a donation of 25 to the fortunate apprentice This sum will buy a pair of boots and riding breeches and render the youngster Independ ¬ ent instead of having to borrow his equipment from one of the older riders as is now the case caseIt It was through the medium of these races for apprentices that Danny Maker George Odom Win THiFirCbiffibr Grover Fuller and other riders of the premier class were developed in former days The winter tracks wher a promising novice can ride six races a day have been a great factor in jockey development also as they bring swift promotion to those in the expert class They make good riders besides furnishing a chance for the poorer class of liorees to pay their way and incidentally assist in stabilizing the breeding industry industryIt It was the winter meeting in Havana 19171918 that brought Harry Lnnsford into prominence He was unknown in December 1917 but the following spring E B McLean the Washington sportsman paid Kay Spence 10000 for his contract Last winter in Cuba Fator Tommy Murray and Wida were the shining lights among the apprentices Mur ay was sold by Kay Spence to W B Thraves of Oklahoma for 15000 and he is at present re ¬ garded as the equal of any jockey of his weight la America AmericaEDUCATION EDUCATION IS HOST NEEDED There is an abundance of good riding material among the youth of the country Progress is large ¬ ly a matter of opportunity Conditions have changed since the day when Father Bill Daly trained his school with a bale stick The erstwhile Sage of Hartford believed in hard knocks and there never was a graduate of his that couldnt use feet and hands on or off a horses back It was a survival of the fittest but from the aggregation came such splendid horsemen as Jimmy McLaughlin Billy Fitzpatrick Snapper Garrison Winnie OConnor Johnny Lamle and other jockeys the like of which with possibly one exception the turf does not possess today todayIt It would surprise many to learn thnt the per ¬ centage of illiteracy among jockeys and stable boys is low Edward J Matthew field inspector for the New York State Military Training Commission who lias niude an extensive investigation said yester ¬ day dayIn In following up my work on the race tracks I found three high school graduates in the ranks of the jockeys while the stable boys and apprentices would average about the seventh grade It was a surprise to me I understand that in former days of the turf Uiere were schools operated in the vicinity of the various courses and that it was compulsory for these stable lads to attend I am told that the racing authorities paid the teachers That was a good work and I have taken up the matter of reinstating these schools The board of education will gladly furnish the teaching staff A letter to the Jockey Club has brought the assur ¬ ance of its desire to cooperate and it is hoped that the schools will he opened during the coming winter
