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Weighing In » By Evan Shipman Jockey Westrope Has Field Day at Jamaica Rider" Has Proved an AH-Around Horseman Trainer Appreciates Loyal Work for Stable JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., May 5.— People, like horses, are likely to run to their past performances, but, again as with horses, there is nothing absolute or compulsive . about this continuity of behavior; it is a tendency and hot a law, while enough exceptions exist to link the contradictions of human nature with what the French like to call "the glorious uncertainty of the turf." Five years ago, anyone boasting a behind-the-scenes familiarity with thoroughbred racing, the self-contained, tight little world of the backstretch, . would have told you that he knew all about Jack Westrope — would have told you too that he could predict, in given circumstances, just about what Westropes course of conduct would be. Even then, Westrope was no longer any youngster; his character appeared firmly set in a mold; this capable jockeys horsemanship was everywhere conceded, but that was strictly the last compliment his name would have , inspired; the rest of the story was monotonous in its ugliness, about as subtle as a caricature. If you could personify thS attacks of the sports enemies, the composite portrait would have added up to a speaking likeness of Jack Westrope. He was "labelled," and at that time he seemed to be the only one unaware that racing was sick and tired of that pattern; completely hpred with it, and, whats more, determined to get rid of it. On the Job From Dawn Til Dusk All that was five years ago. In the interval, Westrope has "confounded the form." Leaving his old stamping grounds in California, he came east to work for Jim Ryan— not only to ride for Ryans powerful stable in the afternoons, but to work horses each and every day, starting when dawn saw the first sets led to the strip. He made a complete about face from his former life and. beginning with Ryan, who was naturally somewhat skeptical about this reformation at first, he has now convinced even the most cynical that there is going to be no relapse. Today and for some time past now, Ryan cannot speak too highly of his talented rider, praising his attitude as well as his unquestioned skill in the saddle. Many of our jockeys -— even some of our most successful jockeys — are strictly raceriders, rather than horsemen. Westrope is first and foremost a horseman, hence his great value to a trainer. In addition, he is perfectly articulate. He not only ■can size up his mounts, either »in a race or in training, but he can also transmit his knowledge, a rarer faculty than one might thinks. " Quick witted, Westrope always was, but it is strange indeed to hear what used to be described as cutting sarcasm now transformed to a loyal concern for the morale of his stable. So many jockeys, says Ryan, are happy as larks when everything is going well, when they are riding winners, but let their barn once experience a slumpand they not only pull long faces but it really seems as if they had forgotten how to ride. Those boys have , to have winners to bolster their self confidence. They cant stand defeat. It panics them. Not Jack though. Hes as interested— more interested — in his work when we are losing as when we are capturing the stakes. Hes heart and soul for the success of the stable, and a losing streak presents us both with ac problem thats a challenge. A Pretty Fair Off Days Work Yesterday at . Jamaica, Westrope had a regular "field day," an event that we had been waiting for as a pretext for the above remarks. He accepted four mounts during the "off day" program, and he landed the first three of them as consecutive winners, all at long prices and all calling for a high degree of horsemanship if they were to connect. Westrope started the ball rolling with Tattiebogle, a maiden from Morris Dixon seniors barn. This front-runner was rated on the head end, living on a long lead. Next came another mile and a sixteenth trip for platers, and this time Westrope also made his race from the front or near-it, reserving enough to smother his opposition with one decisive move at the head of the stretch. Different tactics served in the third and final success, this a five-furlong dash for juveniles. With a colt slow to hit his best stride, Westrope was still a trailer with only a quarter mile to go; nor was there any clear path for him to follow. Weaving in and out, employing a vigorous whip where before he had been content with a hand ride, he just got the sluggish Eternal Flame up to score by a neck. Unimportant as these modest events were, they still serve to illustrate this jockeys versatility, his instinctive adaptability to any and all kinds of horses. Thinking back over Westropes long career, we can hardly recall a period when he was not riding. His style is individual, not resembling that of any other prominent modern jockey, at least to our eyes. The comparison, however, that does come to mind is with the late Mat McGee, an American jockey who was highly successful in France, concluding his career around 1930. Back in 1912, McGee rode Herman Duryeas Durbar to victory in the Epsom Derby, and he was for a long time first rider for the Baron Eduard de Rothschilds important stable. He was a good jockey, and above all a strong one, but McGee was a much Ai*4t**itAf4 A*t f*T/»A I WEIGHING IN By EVAN SHIPMAN Continued from Page Four cruder version of the type than Westrope, lacking the latters finesse and intelligence. Of all the many good horses we have watched Westrope handle, the best were undoubtedly Royal Vale, the brilliant imported horse that Ryan trained for Mrs. J. R. H. Thouron, and Intent, a fine but unsound member of Buddy Hirschs stable on the coast. As for Westropes top ride, well settle for the Suburban Handicap in which Greentrees Tom Fool saved a nose over Royal Vale, both Ted Atkinson and Westrope showing a genius that afternoon to match the supreme quality of their mounts.
