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PHELAN SIGNS KEN KNOTT Boston Sportsman Takes Over Contract of Courageous Sider. New York Jockey Has Had More Than His His Share of Accidents Announces Future Plans. PAWTUCKET, R, L, April 9. Charles W. Phelan, Boston sportsman, announced today he had signed Kempton "Ken" Knott, as contract rider for the large stable operated by his wife, Mrs. C. W. Phelan, and himself. One of the ablest riders on the New England circuit, Knott, now twenty-three years old and a native of White Plains, New York, checked in with bis tack at Narragansett this morning and promptly went to work with trainer Mike Powers. Knott, who rides comfortably at 107 pounds, broke into the horse business at tho famous Erdenhcim Farm and was subsequently apprenticed to the Gcnneseo Stable, under whose colors he rode his first winner, Tody West, at Rockingham Park, October 1, 1934. In his brief three years of race riding, Knott has had more than a fair share of accidents. The boy was going like a four alarm fire at New Orleans when they tipped him over the rail and nearly finished the career scarcely begun. Five months later Knott emerged from hospital and made his way to Hot Springs, where, after serving notice by smashing Whizzaway home in front in the Inaugural Handicap, he proved his courage by taking back for nobody and riding a high percentage of winners before the meeting closed. From that date "Ken" has been a success not of the spectacular ultra-fashionable kind maybe rather as a solid horsemans rider, the type who gets the best out of a horse under any and all conditions and who rarely makes a mistake. Two racing people with a high opinion of Knotts ability are W. H. Gallagher and trainer Jack Donovan, who have retained the services of the New Yorker to ride Rudie in the Kentucky Derby. Knott is very happy in his new connection and anticipates this will be his biggest season. He will ride in New England from May till November, with occasional trips outside for stake engagements, and the veteran rider, Spencer Bowman, will handle his book.
