TOD SLOAN 



time in advance. Some of the American papers would 

 come out with big stories about the history of the race, 

 and all that sort of stuff. I used to devour them 

 when in a racing stable in early days with just as much 

 keenness as I would read about Sullivan, Jackson and 

 all the big fellows in the prize-ring. Therefore, when 

 I met my friends that night it was with some pride 

 that I stated I was to ride the grey Frenchman in the 

 Derby. 



I went to bed with the same sort of feeling, not a 

 bit excited yet feeling that I had something to do the 

 next day. Perhaps one more personal note might 

 be made here. If I had been engaged weeks before 

 to ride the favourite I might have felt exactly the 

 same. For those who don't know, it may be said 

 that one mount is very like another to a jockey. Of 

 course I have known some men get very nervous when 

 a big thing is at stake, but after all a ride is a ride and 

 the excitement can be just as great in a selling race 

 as in what is called a classic race in England. At all 

 events that is the way I look at it. I am reminded 

 by my Editor that the late Anglo-French jockey 

 Tommy Lane who rode against me on Perth III. 

 when I won the Ascot Gold Cup on Merman was of 

 the worrying kind, and I have known others among 

 Englishmen who felt pretty well the same. I suppose, 

 however, that we Americans somehow or other are 

 colder - blooded propositions. At all events I have 

 never known Lester or Johnny Reiff or Danny Maher 

 not being able to sleep or take their food through 

 having a big thing to think of the next day — unless 

 they had to waste, of course. 



But to get to the story of the Derby. I had never 

 seen Holocaust, as I have explained, and I caught the 

 first glimpse of him when arriving in the paddock with 



136 



