1940-07-25 — Page 15

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 25, 1940

Life Of A Jockey Is BOWLS TEAMS

Not A Bed Of Roses

Following teams have been selected to play in the Lawn Bowls League on Saturday:

P.R.C..

First Division (v. Recreio "B",

OFTEN BLAMED WHEN |.......................................... Shepherd (skip). MATTERS GO WRONG

THE MOST condemned and harried person on the race track is the jockey, writes an Américan cor- respondent from San Francisco.

On him the public vents its spleen for every los- ing ticket. He's blamed for horses halt and lame; trainers weak and inefficient, sly owners, strategy that stinks and every accident that befalls a hot tip from flag fall to flag fall.

As the pilot in the engine] When a rider escapes with $3 ouse, with hand on the throttle, aut of a $10 riding fee, some- he jockey objectively becomes vody should step in and correct| he symbol of victory or defeat. 'n archaic system that can only Not infrequently he IS respon- sad to temptation and disaster. ible,

Perhaps that's why

some

He's a wise little owl who us-ockeys throw curves. ally comes up out of the school They can't even get a square hard knocks, and he's in a break on the race track from usiness where thousands of those whose interests they serve. ollars change hands on the call-

ré of ride he gives a four legged| ritter notorious for its dumbness.

A jockey is not highly paid for is skill unless he's a standout, his resistance to temptation is ot always steel like in quality.

is Load Is Heavy One

He realises how vital his posi- jon, how important a cog he is

the machinery. Yet his re- urns in respect to the respon- bility he carries and the damage e can cause are infinitesimal.

In his pay envelope, there is a 15 difference between a winning de and a losing ride. Yet, $100,- 00 in wages may be hanging in he balance, its fate depending on hether he finishes first or fourth. The differential is staggering. The jockey is no public idol. Barring a Sande ora Sloan, e's seldom accepted in Emily ost circles, He's-regarded-with- ispicion. Nobody clamours for is autograph. He is unknown the kids, the country's greatest ero worshippers."

He is not even trusted by track icials who herd him around id guard him like a prisoner ith small-pox. His telephone jay be tapped, and his next door eighbour bribed to report on is behaviour. The scales look him the eye and command him to ancel meals and sweat off pounds. But that's only the beginning.

He's Bilked And Exploited

Sanctimonious State issions

and profiteering

can-

race

Fack owners allow him to be ilked without blinking an eye

lifting a voice in protest.

of

He is charged exorbitant laun- y rates by the custodian le jockey room. He has to pay valet for packing his tack and elping to saddle somebody else's brse. He buys his own expen-) ye equipment and must pay r its repair even though a wild| brse may be responsible for. amage incurred during a race: He is forced to maintain an gent who cuts in on his fee

Most tracks charge him double, r his food.

If he is injured, he has to pay s own hospital bills. California is a "mystery fund" which is Ipposed to be used for that pur- se, but a jockey has to swear poverty to become eligible for

There isn't a California. - track at insures its jockeys, and many rider's savings has been wiped ut by medical and hospital Ils.'

On top of all that, he knows his eriod of activè service is brief

best..

In the end, weight gets him—if e stowards don't.

eserves Square Shake

So the life of a jockey is not.

I peaches and cream.

But it would be a whole lot etter if he was given a decent nl at least by those closest to

m..

It is a disgrace... that

tracks

ould allow him to be exploited charged double for his laundry, r instance.

And owners of tracks should forced to pay the valet fee,

New Hon. Secretary H.K.L.T.A.

Mr: C. J. Tacchi is the new Hon, cretary Hong Kong Lawn. Ten- Association, having taken over ese duties to-day from Mrz, T;}:

Pearce..

TABLE TENNIS

INTERPORT ON

It is almost certain that the Interport table tennis contest between Hong Kong and Macao will be held in the middle of August in the Portu- gese Colony, accord- ing to messages re- ceived: last night from Macao Tennis Association.

Page 15 European “Y” Trounce

Eastern

European Y.M.C.A. trounced Eastern in a friendly water-polo match at the Y.M.C.A. yesterday;

home):-G. Perkins, W. J. Cameron, scoring six times without reply, A. E. Carey and E, G. Post (Skip): T. Scorers for "Y" were Ruilton (1), R. Hunter, W. B. Harris, W. S. Dali C. Goldman (1), G. Fowler (1) and J. C. S. Fender (Skip); W. Me and Châter (3). Lead, H. Brown, J. Orem and J. This evening Eastern will be at home to the Small Ships and will Second Division (v. K.T.G.C.A., be represented by:-Woo Cho-kin; nway)-J. Riddell, C. Willcox, E-Kwok Fung-sun_and_Shek Kam- Harrop, R. D. Fitches, A. Soutar and Pul; Tommy Kew; Chu Chuk-yau, J. MacDonald (Skip); G. Willerton, H. Shiu Hung-ylu and Lee Fook-ke. Tillman, J. ̈R," MèWalter and W. EJ Hollands (Skip).

Channing and J. Aitken (Skip);"J" W.

C.S.C.C.

K.B.G.C.

First Division (v. K.B.G.C.. away) ;- First Division (v. Civil Service C.C., E. W. C. Simmonds, J, Hollidge, A. W. home):-T. Armstrong, H. White, L. Grimmitt and F. J. Jones (Skip): M. Guy and A. J. Hall (Skip): G. W. E. Purvis, W, J. Burling, M. N. Raku Deacon. J. C. GIII, J. G. Meyer and sen nad H. E. Strange (Skip)! J. Gel G. 1, Sherrif (Skip): W. L. Walker, atly. J. F. McGowan, L. A. Collyer T. E. Robson, A. Hyde-Lay and A. M.

Holland (Skip).

and J. W. Deakin (Skip).

Second Division (v. Recrelo, away):— P. Q. Crawley, H. Lord, H. F. Harper E, F. Pope, V. C. Dixon, F. A. Chees

Second Division (v. Taikoo, away)- and C. Strange (Skip); C, J. Walker man and R. Duncan (Skip): L. Sykes, J. R. Carr. A. Steven and S. Eccleshall E. V. Searle, D. W. Waterton and H. (Skip); A. F. Shepherd. A. B. Allan. Lockhart (Skip): A. Morton, E, A.

H.K.E.R.C.

E. Kirmon and W. R. Hillyer (Skip). Atkins, A. Bower and H. E. Drew

(Skip).

Third Division (v. Electric, away):-

Third Division (v. K.B.C.C., home):

A. G. Gardner, R. A. Owens, J. F.JE. Scard. H. Patrick, C. Wallis and K. Lunny and A. F. Paul (Skip): A. P. C. Hamilton (Skip): H. C. Spong, C. E.

G. W. Elphick, W. H.

Tarbuck, C. E. Gahagan, S. Deacon Langley, L. A, Jordan and P. A. Peck-

and J. K. Sloan (Skip); W. Stoker, R. ham (Skip);

C. Butler, G. T. Padgett and G. G. S.'Organ, G. S. Hammond and 3. S. Din- Thomson (Skip).

nen (Skip).

PLAYERS

CLIPPER

CIGARETTES

PLAYER'S

CLIPPER CIGARETTES

PLAYERS

CLIPPER

SEVEN SEAS FAVOURITE

CIGARETTES

"

PLAIN AND CORK-TIPPED

EPASSE

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