view raw text
DETERMINED TO BE JOCKEYS .Horatio Alger Beginning of Robert Hutton and James Wilson. Dr. C. X. Finch Finds Himself, Against His Will, IVith Contracts of Two Tros-pectivo Saddle Stars. LOUISVILLE, Ky.. April 3. Because of his failure to dissuade two former Cincinnati newsboys from trying for careers as jockeys, Charles N. Finch, veterinarian and horseman of Jeffersonville, Ind., finds himself in possession of two outstanding apprentice prospects. The aspiring youngsters who refused to be disillusioned by the eminent turfman, are Robert Hutton and James W. Wilson. Frequently listed among the riders with engagements at Oaklawn Park Hot Springs during the meeting just closed, the two Buckeye youths achieved their initial victories during that meeting, the first at which either had appeared in colors. Hutton, the most advanced of the two, piloted his first winner in Pat C, early in the meeting, while more recently Wilson got home in front for the first time and in both instances the margin of victory was a nose, thus indicating that some horsemanship was required to hang up the initial victories. Some eighteen months ago while the Finch thoroughbreds were quartered at the Coney Island now River Downs track near Cincinnati, Bobby Hutton decided that he would become a jockey, and decided at the time that he would go to work for "Doc" Finch, regardless of what that horseman had to say about it BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL. Attending grade school at the time, the only opportunities Hutton had to visit the track were very early in the morning and after classes in the late afternoon. Reporting about sunup, he walked "hots" before reporting to school, then again after school hours the youngster was back at the barn acquainting himself with other details. But there was a big disappointment coming to Master Hutton as the Coney Island meeting reached an end. "Doc" Finch informed the boy that he could not be taken along as the stable moved on to winter quarters. "You should remain in school and forget all about being a jockey for the time being," argued Finch. And then, with tears streaming down his ruddy cheeks and cutting disappointment running through him as the Finch stable pulled out of the Cincinnati track, Hutton turned toward home and school. "I returned to my farm and forgot about the incident," Finch stated in detailing how Hutton finally won him over. "Sometime later Bobby had a few days vacation from school, so he hitchhiked all the way from Cincinnati to my farm near Jeffersonville. He claimed he just wanted to see the boys with the stable, with whom he had become acquainted at the Cincinnati track. Of course he wanted to stay on then but I finally convinced him to return home. "He wasnt satisfied and a short time later he again hitchhiked to the farm and this time he was more determined than before to stay with us. He finally won me over and I obtained the consent of his father," Finch continued. SPEAKS FOR HIS PAL. "It wasnt long until Hutton began speaking of his pal, Red Wilson and thought it would be a good idea to take him along too. I sent for Red and had the two boys galloping horses before long giving them their first opportunity to ride at Oaklawn less than a year since they joined the stable and they have come through in surprisingly fine fashion. I am sure both boys will make good," said Finch in conclusion. Several offers have been preferred Finch for the contract that he holds on Hutton but the Jeffersonville turfman turned a deaf ear to all. Wilson, too, is regarded as a sure "comer" by many of the horsemen who watched him at Hot Springs. Hutton, whose home is in the East end section of Cincinnati, and who formerly sold newspapers at Eastern and Delta Avenues, will visit his father in the Queen City next week. His father is a huckster, while Wilson is the son of a cabinet maker. The young riders each are sixteen years old.
