TOD SLOAN 



" You interfered with my horse," referring to an 

 animal Tom had been riding and which had much dis- 

 appointed the stable. 



" I never even saw your horse Mr " I replied. 



His answer was : 



" I'll report you to the stewards for interference." 



The only thing I could retort was that he had no 

 right to stop me. I knew the rules of racing, and his 

 jockey had never laid any complaint against me. 

 Nothing more came of it. My opponent had always 

 been reckoned as the "great" Tommy Loates, and 

 judged by the number of his successes I suppose he 

 was great. It was when he began to lose more than 

 usual that the little troubles used to arise and it was 

 I who was blamed. 



It must not be thought that I am prejudiced in saying 

 what I have for I had no friends to speak of among 

 jockeys, and I don't remember ever having dinner or 

 luncheon — I mean " parties " of course — with any 

 other jockeys in my own or any other country. 



" Pittsburg Phil " had a good many things to say 

 about riders. Some of the brightest have been 

 handed down. Here are a few : 



A good jockey, a good horse, a good bet. A 

 poor jockey, a good horse, a moderate bet. A 

 good horse, a moderate jockey, a moderate bet. 



Special knowledge is not a talent ; a man 

 must acquire it. 



The majority of the riders and horses are 

 game and will fight for victory no matter where 

 they are placed. 



Some jockeys excel on heavy tracks ; a good 

 mud rider will frequently bring a bad horse home. 



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