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APPRENTICE LOGAN BATCHELLER — .j From Newsboy to Nations Top Reinsman Is Batcheller Story Had No Idea Becoming Rider4 Until Few Years Ago; Hailed As Natural by Paul Kelley By TEDDY COX SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111.. May 11. — One look at bandy-legged . Logan Batcheller and youd swear his short legs were molded around the barrel of a thoroughbred horse at weaning time. That couldnt be farther from the truth, for Americas leading reinsman in point of winners had no idea of ever becoming a jockey until some three and one-half years ago, and only once or twice had he seen horses in competition at the small Missouri fairs. As a matter of fact, the twenty-year-old lad entered what amounted to an entirely new world when he descended from a bus and introduced himself to Paul L. Kelley at Gulfstream Park in Florida. The boy made the long haul from his home at Humansville, Mo., and had been recommended by Ben Walters, a former Kelley groom who is now operating a small farm near the little town. "I was delivering newspapers around Humansville," the squatty, short-coupled youngster states, "and there didnt seem to be much future in that. Got to know Ben Walters and he kept telling me I was too small to be any good for anything but a jockey and I heard it so much that I began to believe it myself. "So he wrote a letter to Mr. Kelley and when the latter sent me bus fare, I packed and went to Florida. I was scared stiff at first. Had never seen anything quite so beautiful as Florida and the race tracks there. "But Mr. Kelley put me at ease immediately. He told me I could hang around for a couple of months and that if he saw any promise in me he would sign me to a contract. He also said that I was at liberty to leave any time before he made his decision." Kelley was quickly impressed by little Batcheller and decided almost on the spot that "he is a coming jockey." So the veteran trainer, who has developed several other star reinsmen during his career, began to school the boy in long, slow steps. Mucking out stalls was the first assignment. Then he was given the responsibility of caring for the stable pony, which he later galloped under Kelleys eye. Batcheller had ridden draft horses on the farm, but thoroughbreds, he admits, are altogether different. When Batchel-lers aptitude surpassed the schedule Kelley had mentally planned, the tempo was stepped up and within a few months he had the kid breezing the toughest horses in the barn. "Ive never seen a youngster quite like him," Kelley told the writer. "Ordinarily, it would be necessary to point out a boys mistakes many times before he would register, but once was enough with Logan. Then he was ready for something new." Leading Rider at Florida Tracks Before long the Missouri boy was allowed to ride in competition, his first mount being on the old router, Dry Belt, a member of Kelleys useful stable. "Rode about 25 horses without winning and then, last summer at Arlington Park, Dry Belt won a race for me," Batcheller relates. "Been pretty lucky since." "Pretty lucky" is an understatement, for, during the long winter season in Florida, Batcheller was the leading rider at all three meetings, Tropical Park, Hialeah and Gulfstream. Never *had an apprentice so dominated the saddlemites in the Sunshine State. Kelley wasnt at all anxious for Batcheller to ride over the local half-mile course and late in the Florida season leased his contract to the Gustave Ring stable for a Maryland campaign. While he was absent from Gulfstream Park, another sensational apprentice. Eldon Nelson, assumed command, but the Humansville boy returned to the Kelley shed, finished out the season and emerged with the Hallandale courses riding title. Batcheller, who stands four foot, seven inches and easily makes 105 pounds without extra exercise or diet, will lose his apprentice allowance in June. Loss of the "bug" often spells obscurity for many young sensations. Father Couldnt Stand Strain "But this kid will carry on," says Kelley. "You can take my word for it. Hes a natural in every respect. He lives with me and has no bad habits and is interested only in one thing — riding horses. "Another important thing is that he has saved his money. Hes planning to buy a farm for his mother and father at Humansville and thats the only goal he has at present. Of course, riding winners is his main objective, and you must agree he has proven himself a star in that respect." Last winter Logans father journeyed from Humansville to Florida to watch him ride, but couldnt take it in stride. "He was always afraid Id get hurt and when he left he was almost a nervous wreck," Logan says. Batcheller has been in several spills, one that was serious. He broke his collarbone during last years Hawthorne meeting, but the injury mended in time for him to resume riding in Florida. Oddly enough, he has ridden in only two stakes. He won one, the Columbiana, astride Roman Candle, at Hialeah Park. "He has plenty of time," Kelley says. "Hell get lots of chances in the big races here this year."
