Exodus from Saratoga Under Way: Majority of Stables Will be Shipped to Maryland and Kentucky-Plenty for New York Tracks, Daily Racing Form, 1919-08-31

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EXODUS FROM SARATOGA UNDER WAY Majority of Stables Will Be Shipped to Maryland and Kentucky Plenty for New York Tracks, BY EDWARD W. COLE. SARATOGA SPRINGS, X. Y., August 30. By ten oclock tonight the streets of Saratoga will have a deserted appearance. It was ever thus on the closing day of the racing season. Everyone who can get away will be on their way home and those who have automobiles will lay over until Sunday morning. What is of more importance to horsemen is the destination of the horses now that Saratoga has closed. Canvassing the layout it looks as if the stables will be prcttywell split up between Xew York, Maryland and Kentucky. Probably more horses have gone to Maryland than usual. In fact, from now on rather small fields will be the rule in the cast and, unless all signs fail, Xew York will be the sufferer. The majority of horsemen have billed their horses either to Maryland or Kentucky, where higher purses are given. Htill, the facts appeal to some owners notwithstanding that it will probably be harder for a horse to win at either place than it will at the Xew York tracks. Several owners of the cheaper variety of horses have declared for Xew York, -believing that the chances to win two races there are more bright than winning one in Kentucky or Maryland. Horsemen watch each others movements with a. catlike eyes at the close of a meeting. In fact, it has become almost an art to select a location for the future and the success of a stable frequently lies in the better judgment of an owner in that respect. But in any event there will be plenty of horses at all tracks to make good racing. - - - WHERE THE RIDERS WILL GO. Throughout the midsummer season the fields on the Xew York tracks have been too cumbersome to .handle in spots, especially in the cheaper races. The division of stables will eliminate much of this and should create greater consistency in the running of horses, the chances of accidents and crowding being considerably lessened. Xot only will the horses bo spread around, but the jockeys will be .pretty well distributed. The heavier and more experienced riders will probably go to Xew York, owing to the great number of stakes to be decided on the Long Island tracks. Loftus, Knapp and Ensor, riders of their type, will operate with the larger stables and those who came here from Ken tuck- will no doubt return there. Until Havre de Grace opens there will be plenty of riding material at Belmont Park. There is one thing in connection with the riders, it hardly matters where they go, for outside of one or two instances they are all in about the same division and have little to recommend them. Bad riding has had much to do with the inconsistency that has been noticeable in some of the races during the Saratoga meeting. These conditions will no doubt maintain throughout the remainder of the season at all tracks due to jockey defects. There was "a time many years ago when owners and trainers tried to educate boys to become expert riders. Father Bill Daly at one time had more exercise boys and apprentices than he had horses. He turned out more good riders than any one man. Such experts as McLaughlin, Garrison, Caldwell and nearly a score of others of more or less note were schooled by Father Bill, and while they lost many a race for him during their schooling it usually turned out a profitable business through contract sales. Conditions, however, in those days were different from what they are today. James Rowe, Walter Jennings and Jack Joyner, in speaking on this subject, tell many stories of the hardships and scoldings they underwent when they were stable boys. They had to work and keep good hours- They were brought up iu the stables and not hotelsr and that is the reason they became good horsemen. "The jockey of today lias been made too much of an idol," said Mr. Rowe. "He no sooner wins a race or two than lie wants, to become a mixer and go out on the streets every night or look for amusement. In my day the boys had one night a week for recreation and that was on a Saturday night. We had to be back at the stable again on Sunday morning and ready for hard work on Monday. Conditions are different today from what they were then.. Then things have changed considerably in this respect in the last generation, and, I am sorry to say, not for tiie better." Paul Jones, Capt. Ral Parrs good two-year-old, will be pointed for the Futurity. lie is going along nicely since his sickness.


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800