TOD SLOAN 



but, with the average I earned in several years that 

 of about thirty-three per cent, of winners in some 

 seasons, and thirty-eight per cent, in Cahfornia, I feel 

 that if I had lasted out physically the past fifteen 

 years might have brought up the number of winning 

 mounts to nearly the figures obtained by the immortal 

 horseman who had a jockey's career less long than 

 mine would have been. 



I made many attempts during the year which 

 followed to find out what chance I had of getting my 

 licence again, but despite having good friends I had no 

 encouragement at all ; in fact the prospect became 

 more and more dismal. I went over to America in 

 the spring of 1904 and should have returned beyond 

 question in the fall of the year had there been any 

 bright outlook. I had many powerful friends in New 

 York who tried to do everything possible for me, but 

 it all proved hopeless. In the East they would not 

 give me a licence on the score that they might offend 

 the English Jockey Club, with which reasoning I have 

 no kind of quarrel. Ed. Corrigan, who was opening 

 a new race-track at New Orleans, wired to me to go 

 out to see him at Los Angeles. He offered to give 

 me ten thousand dollars for the season if I would ride 

 on his course. Naturally I was to be the star turn or 

 advertisement for the new track. Over three thousand 

 pounds for a season was not to be sneezed at. I 

 consulted my friends to see what they thought about 

 it all. I had been keeping myself pretty fit riding at 

 exercise, and I may say that I never had any difficulty 

 in getting round into condition after a slack time. 

 I had natural confidence and I never put on flesh, 

 so it was easier for me than for others. There were 

 many friends to leave in New York, and a certain 

 amount of hesitancy was inevitable. Neither did I 



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