Nagler on Racing: Boland Tells Why He Thinks Shoemaker Got a Bum Deal, Daily Racing Form, 1957-05-14

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_j - — ,. , , 1 Nagler on Racing Boland Tells Why He Thinks Shoemaker Got a Bum Deal By BARNEY NAGLER JAMAICA. L. I.. N. Y„ May 13. — There must be a union among jockeys. Not the Jockeys Guild, which is a practical agglutination of riders in quest of economic security and social justice. The union referred to here is a matter of mind, a subjective herding together of the little men who pilot horses in pursuit of first place. Jockeys after all. are only people, and people, after all, are tribe-minded. Even street-cleaners have a pride of occupation. Jockeys have it in abundance. The thought ccmes in l-etrospect, after a talk with Bill Boland, the jockey, hereinafter referred to as Willie. This was at Jamaica, where Boland is working these days, going all right because he is a superior jockey whose assets have been reported in this space time and again. The talk was about Willie Shoemaker, the jockey who was set down for 15 days by the stewards at Churchill Downs because he confessed that he had misjudged the finish line in the Derby. Boland is Shoemakers friend and. as such, subject to scrutiny as a a prejudiced prejudiced witness. witness, In in this tins instance, instance, though, tnougn, he ne was was speaking speaKing or of _j - — a a prejudiced prejudiced witness. witness, In in this tins instance, instance, though, tnougn, he ne was was speaking speaKing or of the "Shoe" as a colleague. Ill tell you," Willie said, "the boy got a bum deal." You mean he should not have been set down?" I mean they should have done it the moment he told them he had mis- judged the distance," Willie said. "I think what was wrong w-as the way they waited until he got to California, before they gave him 15 days." "Ive heard nobody say they agreed with the stewards in this instance," a fellow said. "Nobody would say it because "Shoe" is such a wonderful guy. Tell you, hes a guy nobody ever speaks about except to say nice things," Willie insisted. "Isnt it true, however, that he changed his story about the Derby?" Mixed Up in Rush of Things Willie said that was right. "Right after the race. I understand," Willie said, " Shoe said that Gallant Man bobbled. Later, he said he had misjudged the finish. I think in the rush of things he was mixed up. After all, it was only a matter of minutes, thats all." "You understand that a lot of people were around saying things about Shoe I mean people not in racing. You understand, dont you?" Willie turned bitter. "Ill tell you one thing. Theres not a jockey in the world who would lose the Kentucky Derby by a nose if he could win it. I know. When I won it on Middleground in 1950. it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. It meant everything to me. Hell, it was worth 00,000 to me." "In the years ahead, you mean?" "Thats what I mean," Willie said.% "so no guy is not going to win it when he can. You can bet on that." A man came along and said. "Willie, theres a telephone call for you. An emergency." "Emergency?" Willie demanded. "Im kidding," the man said. "Its your wife." Willie went off to answer the phone call. Another man said, "Willie didnt say what he was thinking. He thinks they put Shoemaker afoot for 15 days because the pressure was great. They got put upon and let it go at that. They made Shoe the goat." Now Willie was back, awaiting the start of racing. A man asked him, "How many mounts do you have today?" "Only five." "Only five?" the other one asked incredulously. "Thats a good days work." "Ive had the whole card," Willie said. "How many did you win on one day, your best day?" "Four. I did that several times." "I remember when you did it right after i breaking your maiden," a fellow said to Willie. "That was the day." "The day." Willie said, "was when I won the Derby." He said rt and at least one hearing him knew he was thinking of Shoemaker.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1957051401/drf1957051401_7_4
Local Identifier: drf1957051401_7_4
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800