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SANDE A FREE LANCE Obtains His Release from Contract with the Rancocas Stable. ♦ Does Not Intend to Go Abroad — Has Recovered from Accident of Last August. • NEW YORK, N. T., April 15.— Earl Sande, long regarded as Americas greatest jockey, has severed his connections with the Rancocas Stable of Harry F. Sinclair and is planning to ride as a free lance during the corning racing season. Humors to this effect have been circulated rather widely during the last few weeks, but until yesterday were denied by both Sande and trainer S. C. Hildreth i of the Rancocas Stable. Sande confirmed the reports Wednesday I but took occasion to deny that he is con- | i sidering riding abroad. | "I have obtained my release from my con- ! I tract with the Rancocas Stable," Sande said. j "Mr. Sinclair and I parted on the best of j : terms and by mutual consent. I have felt right along that I could make more money riding as a free lance than under contract to a large stable and I now expect to have an opportunity to try this theory out. "Reports that I have been considering offers j to ride abroad are unfounded. I intend to ride in this country as long as I can do I so and I do not expect to have any trouble making weight this season. I now weigh between ] 109 and 110 pounds, less than I have | weighed before the beginning of a racing | season in several years." NO OFFERS AS YET. Sande declared that he has received no offers of contracts from other stables as 1 yet but, naturally, he expects several propositions as soon as the fact that he is now a free lance becomes generally known. j The rider has completely recovered from the broken leg he suffered at Saratoga last August and his recent illness. He has been keeping in condition by exercising horses and taking road work at Belmont Park for several weeks. Sandes contract with the Rancocas Stable had two years more to run according to common report. It is understood that a clause in the document provided for cancellation in the event the rider should be kept on the ground by suspension or any other cause for a period exceeding thirty days. Sande denied that this clause had been called into play in bringing about his release. He explained that the contract was terminated by mutual consent. Trainer Hildreth is well fortified with riding talent. He has Laverne and Iester Mark Fator under contract. The elder Fator is generally recognized as one of the most skillful riders in the country but his younger brother is not so widely acclaimed. The marked shortage of good jockeys and the fact that a large number of newcomers to the turf are entering racing on a large scale this year make it almost certain that Sande will be deluged with offers during the next few weeks. Physically, Sande does not appear to have suffered any permanent injury. In any case his return to the saddle, which is scheduled for the opening day at Jamaica, April 29, is being awaited with great interest by his host of followers. »
