Famous American Jockey Of Last Century Is Dead

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 76, 31 March 1945, Page 4 (Supplement)

Famous American Jockey Of Last Century Is Dead

It has taken nearly a year for the death of one of the most consistent and popular of flat-racing jockeys to reach the outside world from isolated Switzerland.

J. H. "Skeets" Martin, champion in the United States in 1899, contemporary of Tod Sloan, Lester Reiff, Johnny Reiff and Danny Maher, and one of the first American jockeys to cross to England, died on March 9 last year in abject poverty in a home for old people at Realta, at the age of 69, states the Sporting Life. But it was not only because of the war that Martin's death passed unnoticed. He had become a forgotten man. His funeral was attended by only three mourners, representing the St. Moritz Race Club.

Annually, long before the last war and since, Martin was a popular figure at St. Moritz during the winter season. He rode many a winner on the snow-covered lake there, and was also an expert performer on the Cresta Run and Curling Rink.

After retiring from the Turf Martin settled at St. Moritz in 1932. The memory of his exploits faded, and he soon spent all his money. British curling, racing and toboganning friends founded a "Skeets Fund," paying an annual subscription for his upkeep. Left Destitute When subscriptions to the fund ceased soon after the war, Martin was left destitute. St. Moritz Parish then paid him a small pension, and, as his physical and mental state grew worse, put him in the Realta home, where he spent the last three years of his life. Both on and off the Turf Martin showed himself to be a fine sportsman and a gentleman. On first reaching England he rode for Mr. W. C. Whitney and the American trainer Huggins, and later for Mr. P. P. Gilpin and Captain Dewhurst. He also rode for Royalty and gained his most important triumph in the Derby of 1902 on Ard Patrick in the colours of Mr. J. Gubbins. Four years later he was third on Trontbeck in the race won by Spearmint. , Martin's other classic success was gained on Rock Sand in the Two Thousand Guineas of 1903. This was a chance mount, as Maher would have ridden the colt had' he not been claimed for Flotsam.

"Skeets" finished second on Pistol (Two Thousand, 1902), Somme Kiss (Two Thousand, 1918), Radiancy (One Thousand, 1911), and Hammerkop in the Oaks of 1903.

While riding Mr. L. Winan's Sir Martin in the Derby of 1909 his mount, which started favourite, fell.