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"PLAY ADAMS" NEW CHANT Americas Champion Rider to Show Skill at Inglewood. Star Jockey and Family Live in Modern Trailer Has Power in Massive Shoulders. INGLEWOOD, Calif., April 19. When in doubt, play Adams." This piece of advice will be uttered by race enthusiasts in the paddock, grandstand and clubhouse during the initial thirty-three day summer meeting of the Hollywood Turf Club, which begins June 10, when Americas current jockey champion, the diminutive Johnny Adams, comes here to fulfill engagements. "Shorty" Adams is probably the most consistent rider in the country. His amazing riding at Bay Meadows April 7, when he drove in six consecutive winners, definitely stamps him as a "jockey in a million." A clean cut, likeable youth, Adams is one of the hardest working race pilots in the sport. He has only been in the saddle a few years but already his exploits have won him lasting fame on the turf. The 23-year-old "jockey is married and a father. He and "his family live in a modern trailer which he moves from track to track. He is serious, about his work and has begun to lay aside a "nest egg." A few years ago Adams was a farm boy. He saw plenty of horses then but always from behind a plough. He started his riding career in the "bush league" the so-called "bull pens" and county fair circuits. PERFECT STATURE. But Johnnie had something that has since proven to be a big help in his chosen profession. His. stature is perfect for a good race rider. Standing only five feet high and tilting the scales at between 100 and 105 pounds, Adams physical structure is such that all his weight and power is In his massive shoulders. He has big, powerful hands one of the decided attributes of a jockey. Physical makeup, however important, Is not the main requirements of a top-notch saddlesmith. A jockey also must possess competitive courage, a brain capable of working overtime if it need be, and the "will to win." The last named requisite is that indefineable something that all champions must have, and, needless to say, Adams has it in copious quantities. Born in Iola, Kan., in 1915, Johnny lived the life of the average middle western youngster until he decided to carve out a career for himself in racing. He served his apprenticeship on the "small time" tracks and showed a lot of promise right from the start. He had a good year in 1936 while engaged at Longacres, Riverside Park and other comparative minor league ovals. WON CHAMPIONSHIP. Last year Adams won the jockey championship of the entire nation, riding 260 winners. It was the second best years wins in twenty-five years, being surpassed only by jockey Westrope, then an apprentice, who won the crown in 1933 with 301. Adams was the first full-fledged jockey to win the title since Ivan Parke took the honors in 1923. In the intervening period, the championship had always gone to apprentice riders who had the advantage of a five-pound "bug" allowance. , In accomplishing this record, Adams took top riding honors at Alamo Downs, Arlington Downs, Oaklawn Park, Riverside Park, Longacres, Playfair Park, Bay Meadows, Tanforan and Santa Anita. When the young Kansan rode Miss Amie, Danke Schon, Rock X., Dr. Spoon, Mon-sweep and Undulate to victory at Bay Meadows a few weeks ago he entered the immortal list of race riders who have won six races in one day. Adams name will now go down In the record books along with that of dusky "Monk" Overton, who accomplished the feat " at Washington Park in 1891; James Lee, another colored pilot, who did it at Churchill Downs in 1907; apprentice C. Turner at Charleston, S. C, in 1912, H. Phillips at Reno in 1916, Earl Sande at Havre de Grace in 1919, Alf Robertson at Havana in 1928, Albert Adams at Marlboro in 1930, B. Haas at Thistle Down in 1933, and J. Sylvester, who rode seven winners out of eight at the small Ravenna Park, Ohio, meeting in 1930.
