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TWO STARS. OF ENGLISH JOCKEYDOM An Analysis of the Characteristics of S. Donoghue and B. Carslake in Their Horsemanship. As we are about halfway through the racing season, a glance at the doing of the jockeys may b interesting. Donoghue is much in the limelight with a long lend and nearly approaching his century of winning mounts. His ardent admirers describe him as "champion," but if averages are taken into consideration his figures must improve .1 lot before they can compare with those of some of the riders in the past, notably Fred Archer, who was at tiie head of the poll for many years during his remarkable career, and frequently had over two hundred winners to his credit, witn an average of about two in five or one in three. Many regard him as the greatest jockey of all time, and tiiey arc justified in view of the extraordinary record lie left, liehnd lim, but as a fn-ished artist lie would not compare with such riders as George Fordham or Tom Cannon, and by his strenuous methods he probably ruined more horses, especially two-year-olds, than did any two other jockeys combined, for he was an absolute terror with his whip. Great as is my admiration for Donoghue among present-day riders, I should not compare him with any of the alove, nor, indeed, many others of his predecessors. His chief asset is, of course, his undoubted ability, but hardly less vital to his success is his light weight we have seen him go to scale this season at 101 pounds which, together with great strength and long experience, gives him an immense advantage over most of his contemporaries. Except where "claimed," he is thus able to pick and choose his mounts, and, added to this advantage, he is the fashion, owners naturally inclining toward a successful jockey. BONOGHUES QUALIFICATIONS. Notwithstanding all the adulation that has been lavished on him, - Donoghue would be the first to admit that ho is not perfect, and, like all others in the profession, can ride a bad race. But take him all louud he is unquestionably good, with the essential gift of exceptional skill at the start, as often as not being quickest off the mark and rarely It ft, unless as the result of some mischance, as was the case, for instance, at Goodwood last week. Then, through no fault of his own or of the mare or starter, he was left hopelessly behind on Diadem for the King George Stakes, and came in for a storm of hostile criticism utterly unjustified and a disgrace to all who took part in it. Donoghue has been singularly fortunate in the classic events, as he won the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby and September Stakes on Pommern practically a chance mount but the late Mr. Cox had first claim on his services when he won the same three events on Gay Crusader. Luckiest of all, perhaps, was his ride in the Oaks last year on My Dear, through tin? disqualification of Stony Ford, to the bitter disappointment of Mrs. Arthur .Tames, who beyond all question owned the better animal. All honor to tin? jockey for the industry and skill which here helped to place him in his enviable position, but I am sure Donoghue himself would like to hear less of the champion "business," and would disclaim nny superiority over some if his contemporaries. A COMPARISON. Take, for instance, Carslake, who is at fully a stone disadvantage with him in weight, which nc-i-ounts for the dilTerence in their number of mounts. In point of vantage Carslake at present can claim ;iii advantage, and lrr the art of rneeTiding is at least, his equal. He may not be quite as quick at the start, but important as that is, the Australian h "s his own ideas, and does not believe in the forcing tactics introduced by the American riders. The loss of a length or two in no way disconcerts him. no matter what the effect may be on his backers, whose name is legion. I am not suggesting that lie is slow in getting off, but that on occasions his polity is to let his horse get fairly on his legs t specially a two-year-old rather than hustle him ofT the mark. He is thus able to ride him smoothly through his race, and it is remarkable how often he has shown that method to be the better. Among the jockeys there is no liner judge of pace and none who rides through his race with more headwork and judgment, but he too, is not perfect and one of his difficulties is that he does not shine with the whip in his right hand, strange though this may appear. He is fortunate in being attached to such powerful stables as Chattis Hill and Stanley House, for both of which he has done good service, and his selection for the post of first jockey is of itself a fine certiticate of merit. Carslake at the present time lias average of about thirty per cent, of winning rides, and will be unlucky if he does not scon? tin- coveted "century" before the end of the season, while as an artist I am inclined to award him preference over all his contemporaries witli the possible exception of .T. Chilcls, whose opportunities this season have been limited, and would have been even fewer but for the rides he has hail for Manton, the mention of which recalls the perfect race he lode on ISayuda in the Oaks. "Vigilant" in London Sportsman.
