THE FRENCH '^ NEWMARKET " 



by Mr W. K. Vanderbilt. " Mac " was a real good 

 jockey, but never somehow assimilated Paris. He 

 could never get into his stride and " distractions " — 

 because he was never real happy there — impaired his 

 constitution and, poor chap, he has told me many 

 times that he used to be distracted with headaches. 

 He has passed away from training stables, racecourse 

 and colours. Archie Maclntyre got a good start and 

 one day at Maison Laffitte at the outset of his career 

 managed to get four winning mounts. I tried to help 

 them all along, the Herald being an American paper. 



The veteran rider among the Anglo-French jockeys 

 was T. Lane, who lived at Chantilly : he had a wonder- 

 ful record, including three successes in the Grand Prix. 

 On the day of a big race he would walk round the 

 outskirts of the paddock, keeping aloof from everyone. 

 Sweeper first pointed this out to me on a Grand Prix 

 day. " See old Tommy over there ? " he whispered. 

 " Go over and speak to him. / wouldn't myself, but 

 it'll take him out of himself. Now go on." Whether 

 Sweeper was testing my courage or really wanted me to 

 give a little cheer to Lane, I don't know, but the great 

 jockey, who Avas a man bordering on middle age, gave 

 a start when I touched his arm and said : " Talk to me 

 about England," as if to say, " for God's sake don't 

 discuss racing." I soon had him laughing, and much 

 interested about many things — ^not a suggestion of 

 horses in the long chat. Sweeper said afterwards : 

 *' You'll see that he will be at his best to-day," and he 

 was. The two I have just mentioned were fast friends. 

 When Lane died it was emptiness all round to poor 

 old Madge and the other senior jockeys ; they were a 

 crew minus a skipper. 



Willie Pratt, now a successful trainer, was riding in 

 great form fourteen or fifteen years ago. It was a 



154 



