When Jockeys Earn Princely Salaries

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 246, 7 January 1928, Page 8

When Jockeys Earn Princely Salaries

APPRENTICE GREEN’S XMAS BOX

There is an old saying that it pays to advertise. For jockeys this proverb can be amended to say that it pays.to travel. Again, they say that some riders earn a princely salary. True, they do —for a short period. But they have to work hard for it, so that when one hears; of the big winnings of jockeys it should be remembered that there is another side to the story. His Majesty King George, of course, gets big money, but likewise he earns it more than anybody in the realm, and his expenditure account would make some American millionaires’ financial statements look puny. Which brings us to Tommy Green, apprentice jockey. WHY NOT AN AIRPLANE? Now, Green should not have been a horseman, and a professional at that, at all. It is understood that he was destinefi for the

priesthood, and with that future in prospect he was a student at St. Patrick’s College. If the Church missed a promising leader, then the Turf gained a first-class rider when the apple of his mother’s eye begged to be allowed to follow his preference for horses as against the cloth.

It must have been real love of horseflesh that induced a boy to forsake his career in the Church for the Turf. There is perhaps a similarity between Church and Turf in the way of pronunciation; but there the likeness ends. ALWAYS ON THE MOVE During the holiday season there was racing all over the Island, and Green covered three meetings in that time. Several days before the Auckland fixture opened he was at Takanini and Ellerslie riding work for the stable that has retained him. He rode at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and in less than two hours after the last race lie was ensconced comfortably—as the railway understand comfort—on the South express. H© was not long at Palmerston North before he was in the saddle at the Manawatu meeting. That night he was on his way back to Auckland, and was riding here on the Wednesday. That night he was off once more to Palmerston North and rode there on Thursday. IN THE WAIRARAPA On Saturday morning he negotiated the hills en route for Tauherenikau, and just by way of “showing them” he steered three winners. The following night he was on the train again northward bound, and on Monday and Tuesday Ellerslie patrons saw him once

more in action. Tuesday was his perfect day, for he wound up by riding the winners of the last four races at the meeting. It was through his energy that Green rode 11 winners during the eight days. He had many other mounts for minor placings as well as also starteds. PRINCELY EARNINGS Green was riding on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday of last week, and again on Monday and Tuesday. During that time he rode 11 winners and 10 thirds, which was a wonderful record. It was a coincidence that he was not on a second. In riding fees this apprentice jockey received (in round figures) £240 from the Auckland Racing Club. £37 from the Manawatu R.C. and £34 from the Wairarapa R.C., making the total amount of fees for his seven days’ riding £3ll. Among his winning rides was Rapier in the Auckland Cup, and perhaps—we say perhaps advisedly—he received a nice gift for that effort. If he did, then he earned it. The £3ll was riding fees only, and doubtless to be added to that would be a nice little figure in the way of perks from pleased owners and trainers. GOOD CHRISTMAS PRESENT Taking everything into consideration, it can bfe estimated that T. Green would receive probably not less than £SOO, perhaps more, for his winning and other rides. In other words, for being in the saddle for about one hour and 20 minutes he was paid in the vicinity of over £5 a minute. Get-rich-quick-Wallingford is not in it with the jockey who does a “trot.” Although Green did so well, there was another horseman who captured more in three days _______________

than he did in seven. This was S. Henderson, who earned in riding fees alone £319 at the Great Northern meeting last June. A RISKY GAME Riding over fences is regarded as a much more risky game than on the flat, and the horsemen in this department are

twice as well paid for winning mounts. Therefore when Henderson won the Great Northern Steeplechase seven months ago it was worth £135 to him, as against the £B4 for the mount on the Auckland Cup winner. That is the reward for the successful jockey. But to get to th© top of the tree he has to prove himself, and that can only be done by perseverance and good living. The jockey’s life is not a bed of roses by any means, and therefore when they do well let no one begrudge them their success.