JOCKEYS MADE, NOT BORN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1938, Page 13

JOCKEYS MADE, NOT BORN

"Jockeys are made, not born, said the president of the Hawke s Bay Jockey Club, Mr. G. D. Beatson, when referring to the question of apprentice riders at the annual meeting of the club last evening. . Mr. Beatson said the general impression was that apprentices today were not getting a chance. The Racing Conference had given this question much consideration and his opinion was that apprentices were getting plenty of opportunities. His own experience was that if a boy did not have it in him no amount of tuition would make him a first-class rider. The suggestion that riding schools be formed had some merits, but the cost was a serious factor. A levy would have to be made on clubs, and he thought they already had to meet enough levies. . The whole thing resolved itself into a question of a boy's natural ability. The argument that leading jockeys were now securing the majority of winning mounts to the detriment of apprentices was not a fair one. Leading horsmen, he said, were entitled to thi success they achieved. They were mostly married men. did a lot of travelling, and had practically to maintain two homes. Good apprentices in due course would attain the same success.