THE TRAINER OF THE WINNER.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9735, 25 May 1897, Page 2

THE TRAINER OF THE WINNER.

A Grand Natiokat., Stobt.

Q. Q. in the Illustrated Spotting and Dramatic News. John Stile?, a trainer of 'chasers, probably enjoyed himself while his good time lasted : j it did not last long. He had certainly made the money he spent, but he spent it too quickly. One day he was in_a good way of business, winning Grand Nationals, and respected by all the punters; the next, he was cadging amongst his friends, respected by none. He had no inheritance to dissipate, so he dissipated his earnings, which waa foolish, because no man, however clever a trainer he may be, can achieve an Aintree triumph every day. The parents of Stiles were very poor, if not exceptionally honest. Yet he managed to exist somehow, chiefly in the streets, picking up unconaidered trifles. At the age of twelve he was a sturdy though extremely small boy. Then an idea dawned upon the mind of hia father. " The child," he said to his wife in a burst of triumph, " shall be a jockey and earn enough to keep us well, Liza, for ever." Liza was naturally enchanted by that prospect. She had never been, on the free list, poor soul, for enough of anything to cheer her up. So it happened that John was apprenticed to a local trainer of steeplechase horses, and began his career in the racing stables. He was a quiet, keen-witted lad, old and small for his years, and a good worker. Everybody liked him. The trainer thought that he would be able to make a jockey of him ; but that was not to be. In colloquialphrase, John could not ride "for nuts." He had, as the trainer pathetically observed. "no idea." Hβ learnt how to stick on horees even when they bucked, how to ride an ordinary exercise gallop, how to hold a "puller." That was all he could learn. He was never able to acquire the real art of jockeyahip, and after a time the' trainer gave him up in despair. But there was no thought of despair in our hero's own mind. If he could not be a jockey, there were other careers open to talent. " I will be a trainer," he said when nobody was listening, " a trainer of' leppers, , and jockeys shall touch their hats to mc." Some small boys have curious ambitions, and Johnny was a curious small boy. After the hope of his ever riding in public with'success was abandoned, he worked out the period of his apprenticeship in the stables, " doing " his two horses and riding them out daily in the orthodox manner. In that capacity he gave his employer complete satisfaction; betpre he was "out of his time" he was appointed second head lad. When free, he obtained a good situation in one of the largest provincial stables as head lad, and hie emoluments from one source and another were considerable. Then came the great chance of bis life. One of the principal **• owners "'■ —a gentleman of wealth and position—connected with his stable, having heard of John's cleverness and good conduct, sent lor him, and made him an offer which promised to improve bis position materially. "It is my intention," said this gentleman, "to have my horses trained privately in future, and your master has recommended you as the beet man I can get as trainer for mc. He says that he is very sorry to part with you, but does not wish to stand in your way. Do you think that the situation I have to offer will sait you ? " " I don't want a better, sir, and thank you very much," replied John gratefully. "I need scarcely say that I will do my best in every way with the horses, and if they don't .win steeplechases it won't be my fault. 1 thoroughly understand ' schooling,' making them clever and getting them fit." •*I am sure that you will do your beet, Stiles, or I should not be talking to you here. And," added the owner genially, " I'm also sure that your beet will be very good. Of j course when you win for mc you will win for yoorsolf, too. lam one of those employers who believe that when a man is doing his beet for them they should do something for him beyond what is stated in the bond. ' Such employers truly are scarce, and their names are not often found in the list of bankrupts. . Terms were then arranged for Johnnies new position. His duty was to get the horses thoroughly " schooled" and fit to run; the "placing" and the financial management were done by the owner. He understood the business; no man could give him a point at the game, and when he was in earnest he was, very bad to beat. He speculated heavily, but only when one of his 'chasers had about 101b in hand, and, barring aocident, was pretty sure to win. If all owners conducted their business on those -terms, bookmakers yvijjht not be able to live oa so much of ths fivS." of the land. • i ■ • '. ... . **• The hones taken over by Stiles were fair perfotniers of the handicap class. There were no eminent smashers " amongst them. Success might be predicted for them in moderate company. Their new trainer devoted himself to their preparation with energy and zeal, studying their welfare in the stable aa much as their work on the downs. He soon began to win races, and'his employer was naturally delighted. He could not be kind enough to his trainer. " Owners " are all the same in that respect. While their horses are winning they believe their trainer to be the best in the world ; ■when their horses begin to lose {even when backed) they question whether he knows enough to train fat pigs for the breakfast table. Occasionally John's patron paid him a visit to look at his 'chasers and see thorn do their work on the exercise ground. One morning, while there enjoying the healthful breeze and pleasant chat, he remarked that all the horses looked really well and blooming, and that their appearance reflected great credit on their trainer. Of coarse "Johnnie," as admiring friends now called him, was gratified by this commendation and made suitable response. "Yes, sir," be said, ""all the horses are thoroughly well and fit to go when they are wanted. You won't be backing half-trained animals with more stomach than speed. And Fm glad to say that since you were here last I've found something out. The six-year-old mare, Sycorax, is very useful over a distance of ground. She has no great pace, bat is a rare < sticker,' and a lovely jumper." "My former trainer told. mc that she could not really stay," said the owner ; "he advised mc to pat ncr in a selling race and get rid of her. And he was supposed to know what he was talking about until quite late at night. If you think the mare really stays, it will not be difficult to get her well in a long-distance steeplechase handicap." " I am confident that's her real game," replied the trainer, " but Fll make certain. 11l slip some good long work into her, and in about a fortnight's time -will try her to see if she stays as well as I believe she does. I will let you know, sir, the result of the gallop,-Mid the rest of the business yon will, of course, manage." ** I shall be only toe delighted to do so, Stiles, , ' replied the owner, with an expansive smile. " It's not often I have the chance to entertain an angel unawares. We may have a ' Liverpool' candidate here without knowiagiu. ,.

After this conversation, Sycorax—a weedy, varminty sort of mare that rcallv looked like staying—was sent on longer journeys. She was a beautifully even mover, getting over the ground with the low sweeping action that does wot tire; and her trainer was extremely pleased *with her. When he tried her, asking her a very severe question — nearly live miles over the country in order that no mistake might be made—she did eren more than she was required to do in fine style, jainping like a slag, and Johnny'was jubilant. "There's money here," was his frivate comment, " waiting to be picked no. fc is desirable for mc to be active amongst the pickers/ The letter forwarded at once by Stiles to Jus employer, descriptive of the trial of SywiHj was a carefully worded floramentn explidu ez&o-ck£;i2. to t.lis ~£3L& <i>«*i<=3cl«xjL J*« i-«a«2 it, concocted a^x impnions plot for The cUscomStwre of tiie Ihwkmakers. His ambition ■was to -win the " National,'" and at last he ha« 3 fouad a. mare that seemed likely to achieve that triumph for him. It is not expedient to describe here exactly bow was raa in jmfelio a. feir tlnim fop the miFnoee luiown amonoic experts :»s *- getting weight o£E." 2STo re^elalion on this subject will surprise those wiio liare had to get a. on the tarf ; and there is no need to shock others to whom that crnel fate has not been assigned. Suiiice is to say that there was ' nothing m the racecourse performances of Sycorax to induce liandicappers to tal:e an exalted view of her merits. She got in the great race with lOet, and when the weights were published her owner retired to moralise in his bath-room alone, so that the public mhj'Mt not observe his ecstasy of expression : while the trainer, less cultivated in the art of dissimulation, could' not conceal his emotion even from those beneath him. It certainly was a very good thing. Happily no difficulty was experienced in j working the commission. The public di<3 not interfere with its execution, as on " the book " Sycorax could not -win if given a long start a:iu in rued loose for the occasiou. Thus all tli-; stable mouey was invested at satisfactory prices. The owpev allowed Johnnie to have as much as be "liked. The latter stood to win an immense stake, and would not have taken nineteen shillings and ninepence for every sovereign he made sure of winning. At Aintree the mare was entrusted to a strong jockey, who had been riding her pretty nearly every morning at exercise, and who knew her thoroughly. Johnnie told him to jump off the mark and come along, knowing that Sycorax would stay every inch of the course, and also anxious to get the full advantage of her light weight. Her jockey carried out his orders admirably. Before three parts of the distance was covered half the runners were sprawling in the rear ; only the favourite was able,to make a bit of a race with Sycorax after jumping the last fence, and she galloped him out of it at the end, winning with not much to spare by a couple of lengths. This was a glorious achievement for John Stiles, who had won more money than he at one time ever hoped to possess. His friends took a greater interest in him than before ; some asked significantly: "Could he carry corn ? " Suddenly acquired wealth is a test of a man's ability to "carry corn." Many men find the diet too stimulating : it upsets both their head and their stomach. Their digestion goes first, then their reason. Their money quickly follows. Ami John Stiles was not precisely the kind of man out of whom heroes are made, since he could not rise superior to the weaknesses of his. human nature when he had money in his pocket, and was prone to spend it in the satisfaction of primitive desires. Heroes never do that; they induce others to pay. HI. For some time after the victory of Sycorax in the Grand National her trainer continued to do well with his horses, and won a large number of races. Hβ was betting every time ; thus he was, as his compeers phrase it, " running into money " rapidly. No young man had fairer prospects, few such good chances. Then, ah, ins ! he met Amelia Smithson, and if it was* not a case of love at first sight it was a very sudden growth of passion. Perhaps not on both sides;'that would be too much to expect. But if the gentleman has money the lady will stimulate ; her emotions to harmonise with his fervour. When hie banking account reached ,$ certain sum, whioh surprised even John by its magnitude—for in his young days, as will be remembered, it was mud" he played "with; not money—he conceived the manly idea of getting married. The lady (beautiful Amelia) was not far to seek. She was employed as barmaid at a local hotel, and was greatly admired by the sportive youths of the neighbourhood. In the morning she was simply pretty; in the evening, when properly illuminated, she was dazzling ; When Mr Stiles entered for the matri- : monial stakes it was odds on him as soon as !it became known that he was trying, and 'prepared to back himself. A trainer, good--looking, prosperous, who had just won the cross-oountry blue riband, his racehorses in form ! surely he must be irresistible to a lady of ardent temperament, and Miss Smithson found him so. "You've won again, John, dear," she murmured, with a soul-stirring glance. " What a grand thing it ie to be in form ! I—l love you very much. I—l think we i shall be very happy." " Of course we shall, darling," said John ecstatically, kissing her more then ever he J had done before, having now the free run of the house so to speak. "And," he added, "I've never backed such a good winner as I have now—not even Sycorar at Aintree — and was never so eager to draw the money." And he took a little payment on account, as* it were, from the treasury ot her cherry lips. " You don't think mc too young and giddy for the place, John, dear V asked Amelia shyly. .•■•■'■■ "Just young enough," replied the trainer in a business-like manner. "Indeed, if you were much older you would not suit the place. And you can bo as giddy as you like, pet, only let mc be there." • Thus were matters arranged to the satisfaction of both the high contracting parties. They separated for the evening, although they could have gone on talking all nigafc. In a short time the marriage took place, and was dnly reported" In ike sporting papers: The bride felt that she had become a sort of pnblio character; henceforth she walked with studied grace, as if conscious that people must know she was coming, and were anxious to admire. After the wedding v Johnnie " continued his training work with all the old energy and talent, and was for a time supremely happy. There was no doubt that Amelia knew how to play her cards cleverly so long as she took an interest in the game.''As. is the case with many ladies of her type, she loved sincerely until she changed her point cf view, and her giddiness was not displeasing when confined to the, proper channel. The nature of Amelia was to coo with one here and there, not with one alone. She cooed accordingly, and also, developed habits of extravagance calculated to ruin a ducal house, much less a training stable. Under the changed conditions of his life John gradually began to worry a little and drink a great deal. He lost his judgment, his nerve, his habits of providence and industry. He ceased to win races; his horses were transferred to another trainer ; his banking account was overdrawn. He became insolvent indeed, but he had still his wife for comfort, and loved her truly for a time. Faithful in her way, Amelia remained with htm until the wrecks of his fortune were exhausted; and after she left him. John took a situation again as head lad. There was nothing else for him to take except the road to the workhoaee ; and he preferred a less crowded thoroughfare. He ie now, we may rejoice to know, a very good head lad, hsenog recovered his moral tone; while his ambition is to'continue in that position, fearful that, should he rise again, he may meet another Amelia, or even the original one. And what, after all, are the strongest men—even those who have won a Grand National—in the hands of abeantifnl maiden when the darkness gathers, when heart speaks to heart, and voices are sweet and low 2