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New Jersey Report By FRED GALIANI Jockey Johnston Hard Luck Kid On Crutches for Nineteen Months Career in Saddle Full of Mishaps MishapsGARDEN GARDEN STATE PARK Camden N J May 6 A predominant factor in any phase of racing is luck Whether its breed ¬ ing buying at the yearling sales a jockey getting live mounts or a trainer keeping a horse from being in ¬ jured lady luck figures prominently But it works both ways Some fellows just naturally seem to have a run of foul fortune Attending the races daily is jockey Danny Johnston who most certainly can stake a claim to the title of the hard luck kid Getting around with the aid of a cane Johnston still has his right foot iri a cast going on the 19th month now the result of a spill at Atlantic City on August 14 1952 He tosses the date off without a moments hesitation for it was on that afternoon he went down in a swirl of flying hoofs suffering a compound fracture that kept him in the hospital for over a year alone Broken bones and hos ¬ pitals seem to have been the pattern of his career careerA A A A ADanny Danny now 33 and a native of Newark N J started his riding career in 1935 and it wasnt long after that the first of his mishaps occurred In a race the next year at Long Branch he broke Jiis left foot and kneecap When they mended he popped back in the saddle and went along for another year At Stamford Park in 1937 he went down again frac ¬ turing his elbow in three places which put him on the sidelines for nine months That period of convalescence over he pursued his livelihood again going along as he put it pretty good only breaking a couple of ribs thats all After his many fractures a couple of broken ribs seemed like a mere scratch scratchA A A A AIn In 1939 at Rockingham the jinx caught up with him and this time he fractured his right ankle He got through all right until 1942 when with the war in progress Danny called it quits in the saddle and for the next four years served in the Merchant Marine and also gathered some pay checks as a truck driver In 1946 he launched a comeback but like the furies pursuing Orestes endlessly it was not to be On his first mount that spring the horse collapsed passing the finish line and tossed John ¬ ston over the rail resulting in a fractured skull and a broken left shoulder Still that wasnt the end The following year in an ¬ other spill he was injured in the pelvis which necessitated another operation For the next five years he was fairly fortunate until the day at Atlantic City when the roof fell in on him which has put him out of commission to this day And to add to his bodily mishaps last week Danny was riding in his auto and was hit by another car But at least this time he says he will collect damages So when he hobbles through the clubhouse these days its no wonder sometimes turfmen will look at him himContinued Continued on Page ThirtySeven NEW JERSEY REPORT REPORTBy By FRED GAI1ANI Continued from Page Five Fiveand and say to one another and you think you got troubles troublesA A A A Atlantic Citys officers were out in force for the Wednesday program Spotted at various points in the club house were president John B Kelly executive vicepresident Leon Levy vice G Gpresident president Frank Fiore general manager Z ZPhil Phil Baker track superintendent Harold G GJohnson Johnson and J Griffith Boardman of the board of directors Boardman at O Oone one time was insurance commissioner for the State of Pennsylvania under Governor George Earle Jr For those who missed the turf show in Miami Beach 2 2this this year they can pick up the Garden O OState 2The State portion in Gimbcls Philadelphia 2 The display flanked by various pictures of the race track features a simulated television set showing color films of the life of a thoroughbred from breeding farm to race track and the running of last years Garden State The display is situated on the seventh floor where the c cpedestrian pedestrian traffic is clocked at 6000 an hour Its a worthwhile public relations deal which may help to make new pa ¬ trons for the sport sportA A A A APresident President Gene Mori who is an accurate forecaster of attendances and is quite will ¬ ing to wager on it predicts better than 38000 for Saturday on the premise of course of good weather Red Crawford agent for Henry Moreno last year is mak ¬ ing the engagements of Billie Fisk at this meeting Trainer Lenny Hunt reports that Margus dam of MiMarigold Passembud and Passemson all winners foaled a chest ¬ nut colt by Kings Prince on April 30 at Mrs Marie Moores High Hope Farm Va Patrol Judge Nate Gladstone moved into his new house at nearby Haddonf ield this week Saturdays running of the Camden Handicap will be telecast over WFILTV as will weekend features for the rest of the meeting meetingA A A A AOver Over the years racing has recruited many figures from the baseball world Former star pitcher Joe Bush and andcatcher catcher Charlie Hargraves are employees of Riggs Mahonys mutuel staff and Rube Marquard had been so for years Latest addition from the ball parks is Frank Donnelly one tune owner of the old Jersey City Giants club He was associated with Giants from 1918 to 1932 Donnelly was recently appointed chief inspector of the New Jersey Racing Com ¬ mission and has charge of the staff which handles the licensing saliva and urine tests His racing interest goes a lot further back than his baseball affairs and he admits being a reader of this paper and a racing fan for more years than he can remember Henry Carroll assistant to Ty Shea checked in this morning with the conclusion of the Bowie meeting and went right to work answering telephones
