RIDING A GIFT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1491, 13 July 1912, Page 13

RIDING A GIFT.

SUCCESSFUL JOCKEY'S VIEWS, B. DEELEY. BRIEF SKETCH OP HIS CAREER. Riding is a. natural gift. That, at all events, is tho opinion of Benjamin Deeley, of Auckland, who is the premier horseman; of Now Zealand at tho present time. Jockeys, ho says, aro born, not made, but there aro many little factors which help to make the born jockey successful, and not tho least of these would appear (o ho luck. That element has played some part in Deeley's own career, which has in many respects been a remarkable one. A few items of interest were gleaned from tho leading horseman before ho left for Sydney yesterday to join R. J. Mason. He was born at Tiraaru, but at the early ago of 12 shifted to Palmerston North, where his people still reside. When his education was deemed to have advanced far enough, Deeley was sent to learn the saddlery, but ho longed for an outdoor life, and after about three w«cks at the trade, ho entered the stablo of G. Matterson, with tho hope of one day becoming a successful jockey. At once, ho showed an. aptitude for the business, and on thp iirst occasion that ho rode in a track gallop, his mount (Variety) easily beat a companion. After being with. Matterson for tho brief spaco of a week, Deeloy took servico with A. Shearsby, but when one day the- latter expressed the opinion that tno youngster would be too heavy to over make a jockey, he determined to shift again, and a friend obtained him a post at EUerslio, with tho late J. B. Williamson. At Palmerston North Deeley used to walk 7st. 101b., but on arrival at Ellerslie his weight came down to 7st. 31b.

Looking After Coronet. For' five years, tho aspiriDg horseman remained with his employer looking after Coronet and riding him in his work. All this time ho did practically no race riding, his employer never giving him a mount, en the ground that he was not experienced enough. Now and again he would receive an outside engagement, and in December, 1893, he won his first race on Dayatree, at Ellerslic. His chances however, wero few and far between. No doubt, tho present crack picked up a gooddeal about, tho riding art at "Williamson's stable, for there were lots of good track gallops, and on Coronet Deeley was never beaten. Ho. recalls now, that prior to Bluejacket's' Auckland Chip, Coronet did threo different gallops over two miles— a preparation unheard of in these times. With the breakdown of Coronet, Deeley commenced to feel dissatisfied with his billet at 10s. a week aud decided. to try and better himself. Just then Kriss Heaton was looking for a light boy and Deeley, after first piring notice to J. B. Williamson, offered his services, a special inducement being tho offer of the stable riding. He was given the position, but his old, employer was reluctant to lose him'and in order to get his discharge,' tho jockey had to comnromisa by promising to come back if he was not doing well at the end of six months. Thence onwards his career was very successful. He rode Golden Rose in the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie in 1903, and when ho was beaten Mr. J. Lynch wanted a change of horseman, alleging that Deeley was not experienced enough. Heaton told Mr. Lynch that'tho boy had been given a chance, but on the owner insisting Heaton declaied that ho could certainly have a new horseman, but only on condition that Golden Rose was taken out of the ; stable immediately and not brought back. Eventually it was decided that there should be no change. Needless to say tho jockey was delighted. He has never forgotten and'never will forget what Trainer Heaton did, for that' was really tho start of his success. Having been unlucky on the first day Deeley vodo Golden Rosq homo three lengths ahead of Ostiak.in the York Welter on tho second day. Tho ownor then changed his opinion of the previous day and eaid there was no better jockfey about 'the country. Subsequently on Golden Rose, Deeley won the Easter Handicap and several other races and has ever since been well up on. the list of winning jockeys. His worst season was when ho was riding for Mr. E. J. Watt, and had a turn of ill fortune. In 1907-1908 with 59 wins, he was head of tho list, and tho following season was runner-up. This year, with 88 wins, ho is nn easy first on the list., He is still a nice handy, weight and can ride jit about 7st. slb. The lightest weight he ever remembers riding was at Faeroa when ho onco weighed out at Cst. 121b., but he had his doubts about the scales being correct.

"Whenever I Use the Whip." Asked as to what he considers were tho principal factors in his consistent success, Deeley ventured the opinion that riding ability was a natural gift." There could be no doubt that frequent attendance on tho track kept a jockey in fine form, and that "wasting" .was another aid. One was always in better form in summer than when riding under tho welter scale iu winter time. Confidence and plenty of it was a great help, and in the opinion of the crack horseman, no boy should ever go out for a race under the impression that he is -riding for a losing fee only. It is a far letter idea to be always on the alert, and to cover as little ground as possible—and, in fact, never to run over a lot of ground unless it appears absolutely necessary to mako up ground that way to prevent some horse in front from gaining a big break. What do you consider is the principal fault of the rising generation of jockeys? "The too frequent use of the whip in a finish," ,was the ready reply. "I never found that a horse did any better in a finish under tho whip, though a touch or two may liven him up through a race. Whenever I use tho whip in a finish, you can bet I am beaten, and'tliat I am probably producing the flail to satisfy the public and the stewards. , Often I have hoped that some youngster in front of me would use the whip when he has refrained from doing so."

Advocate of the Short Stirrup. It' is interesting to- note tliat Deeley is a pronounced advocate,of tho short stirrup, though ho believes that all boys should first learn to xidn with a fairly long stirrup. As far as he is personally concerned, he finds it difficult (o rido "very short" in a big saddle, but in a lib. or lUb. saddle, where ho can grip with his calve', he always rides as short as possible. His argument is that, in doing so, one can crouch better, get bis hands lower, and secure a better hold of the horse. The jockey is then part and parcel of the horse, which will race much kinder for him. Like everything else, hou-ever, Deeley thinks the short stirrup can bo overdone, and he points out that up till the present Tod Sloan has remaineel in a class by himself as an exponent of the stylo. .

A cold neglected often goes to terrible lengths, and a hacking,cough may kill. Why not he rid of tho trouble now by taking "NAZOL"? Safe, speedy, sure.— Advt. After inspecting tho Girl Guides attached to "The Mentli Home" at Ottoshtnv, SuTrey, recently, tho Earl of Meath. who is seventy-one years of afio, marched ivilli them to Chobhnm Ridptes and baolc, a distanco of fourteen miles.