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Sgt "*rr *? BETWEEN RACES * «c« or/s . HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., June 28. — Jockeys agent Harry Howard, who has made the engagements for Steve Brooks since 1934, is recuperating from virus pneumonia at Palm Springs, with Brooks footing the bill for Howards extended stay and medical treatment at the fame California California desert desert resort. resort. "Howard "Howard is is California California desert desert resort. resort. "Howard "Howard is is a wonderful agent," explains Brooks, "and much of the success that Ive had as a rider can be attributed to his wisdom, common sense, judgment, and hard work. A good agent is a priceless asset for any rider, and I believe Howard has proven himself one of the best." Howards many friends from Coast to Coast will be happy to learn the "sawed-off man" is on his road to recovery, but he may be on the sidelines for a considerable length of time, inasmuch as the pneumonia complicated an earlier mild heart condition. That Brooks would go to such lengths to see that his agent would get such care in an illness surprises no one on the race track, for the agents, while they work in quiet and usually removed from public attention, have as much or more to do with the success of most riders than perhaps the riders themselves. We know of only one rider who ever rose to real prominence without one, that being Johnny Adams, who "hoed his own row" when he started out on the major tracks without benefit of an apprentice allowance. Brooks, of course, feels that he is merely returning the favor of Howard, who has spent almost the last 10 years selling nothing but Brooks, even though all hands admit that he has a good package to sell. AAA "It isnt so much how good a rider you are, or anything like that which. makes success," adds jockey Robert Summers. "A good agent and the breaks is all one needs. Brooks Cites Worth of Good Jockey Agent Treats Harry Howard to Spring Vacation Summers Says Breaks Important Factor Silbert Talked Shoemaker Into Success The point is that a good agent often can make the breaks for a rider, and if a fellow has any ability he will do well under those conditions." Summers should know. He has been riding with the leaders here all summer in some of the toughest saddle competition in America. Last summer he was plying his trade on the Vancouver and Prairie Canadian wheels, where he was doing all right, it is true, but his work was not considered sensational. "Im no better or no worse than I was in Canada," explains Summers. "But I just happened to get a break from trainer Reggie Cornell, got some mounts on horses that could run, and now some say that Im a top rider. Well, Im just the same, but a horse under a man can make all the difference in the world." AAA Harry Silbert, agent for jockey Willie Shoemaker, who escaped serious injury in a fall here yesterday, made new of "man bites dog" variety when he same to the rescue of his protege in the recent squabble over Shoemakers contract. The lad had been under contract to Mrs. Thelma Sneed, who, we understand, at one time refused 0,000 for the papers, asking 0,000, which sum was enough to chill the deal at once. Among the bidders were John D. Hertz and Brookmeade Stable. Anyway, a few weeks ago, with the contract due to expire in September, a difference of opinion arose over the signing of a new one, Mrs. Sneed wanting one, and Shoemaker preferring to ride free lance. Such ill feeling arose that Mrs. Sneed removed Shoemaker from horses in her own stable, but it was impossible for her to ground the boy entirely, because a first call had been sold on Shoemakers services for the meeting, which the stewards decreed had been made with Mrs. Sneeds knowledge. Shoemaker asked to buy his own contract back. Inasmuch as Shoemaker is under supervision of a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, it came to him for adjudication. He granted Shoemaker ,500 from his trust fund to purchase his own papers. Mrs. Sneed wanted 0,000, but the judge would not allow this figure. Silbert went into his own pocket for the difference, ,500. AAA Silbert, and Silbert alone, made it possible for Shoemaker to become a rider if only for the fact that Willie almost came a cropper at the very start of his career because of his failure to talk. The boy would go into the paddock and listen politely enough to instructions, but would never indicate, even by a change of facial expression, that he understood or would attempt to carry them out. After each such race, with trainers scratching their skulls in wonder, Silbert would come up with a flow of words pointing out that Shoemaker had in fact followed instructions, and had turned in a good effort. As "Shoes" reputation for taciturnity quickly spread, Silbert gained, rating as the gabbiest "barber" on the backstretch. Horsemen listened long enough to give Shoemaker another chance, and it didnt take them long to realize that while he was wordless, he could ride, and as long as he delivered, they werent too worried about his failure to answer them. The writer remembers being at Bay Meadows one morning when word spread around the back-stretch that Shoemaker actually had said good morning Continued on Page Thirty-Nine | . . ! - I I | . . I . BETWEEN RACES I By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty-Eight to a trainer. The happenstance caused I more commotion than had the purses been i raised. This was Shoemakers launching, . under careful coaching by Silbert, into the ? field of speech, and since then, he has polished - his education greatly. And, while he J is not exactly garrulous, Willie has gradu-1 ated to the point he will carry on his end 1 of a conversation and in words of more than one syllable. In any event, jockeys s who come under the orbit and influence of f the class of agents who might be termed i the aristocrats of their profession, may 7 consider themselves lucky. Countless boys 3 have been able to ride, and well, but either r never had the opportunity, or lacked the proper advice, council, or guiding hand. A good agent thinks of everything. AAA Horses and People: Clement Hirsch has s become convinced that the turf adage that t "luck runs in cycles"" has a foundation in * truth. A year ago, Hirsch was claiming I horses, and most everything he haltered * became a stakes winner. At the moment t he has 13 head, and the entire lot is on the sidelines through injury, ailment, or r sickness . . . California will have its strongest - representation in years at the Breeders t Sale in Lexington. A number of Golden 1 State citizens will be making their debut in the Kentucky market . . Rex Ellsworth 1 is breaking in a promising apprentice down 1 at Caliente, a Tijuana youngster named i Louis M. Leon...B. N. Hutchinson, of ! Longacres, is going a racing here at Hollywood. The man has one of Californias s better known farms in the San Fernando 0 Valley . . . Longacres will race twilight this s summer, as per established custom.
