TOD SLOAN 



wasn't very happy through various causes in America 

 at the time. He arrived, but didn't seem to shake 

 down in his new surroundings very quickly. He got 

 mounts, however, and when I was reported by Mr 

 Arthur Coventry for alleged disobedience at Sandown 

 Park, and the local stewards sent the case to the 

 Stewards of the Jockey Club, Martin got another chance, 

 for v/ith two small boys I was put on foot for three 

 weeks. He rode a nice few winners ; my suspension 

 was his blessing. Martin was about a year older than 

 me, and had plenty of experience. He is a fine curler, 

 and keeping himself fit in the winter in that way has 

 enabled him to keep going up to the present day. He 

 was light too. By the way that was the real cause of 

 some of Johnny Reiff 's successes too, for they were able 

 to use dead weight and to put in the proper place. I 

 know that it is going against old accepted ideas to say 

 that dead weight is better than live, but it is beyond 

 question that it is, for it remains stationary and doesn't 

 wobble about like poor jockeys who resemble jelly- 

 fish and seem to be trying to do a danse de ventre all the 

 time on a horse's back. 



One of the best American jockeys who ever came 

 to Europe was Lucien Lyne, who never had a proper 

 chance in England or he would have got right there. 

 Lucien went to Belgium and has been very successful, 

 for he is a first-class rider, but I suppose the public 

 has to see results to appreciate a man. 



One of the most powerful finishers I have seen was 

 Willie Pratt, now trainer at Chantilly. More than one 

 Grand Prix has been won by his strength in the last 

 furlong. I have heard him likened in style to Fred 

 Archer, but can only take this as the opinion of others. 

 I know that with several friends of mine I packed up 

 a big parcel after I had quit riding when Pratt had 



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