TOD SLOAN'S MASCOTTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11538, 24 November 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

TOD SLOAN'S MASCOTTE.

Mr. Frank Gardner, the Westralian mining magnate, who recently piloted the Prince of Wales on a motor-car, has engaged the exclusive services of Tod Sloan. I wonder whether Mr. Gardner is superstitious? If so, I should advise him to recommend Tod Sloan never to lose his scalpel. Those who follow the sport of kings will remember that for a considerable time Tod had shocking bad luck. Unfortunately, he also lost his temper and made indiscreet remarks about not receiving fair play from the racing judges of this country—gentlemen of the highest standing and integrity, specially selected for their experience, honesty, and capacity in turf matters. The fact is that Tod Sloan had lost his mascotte. His wonderful run of luck was immediately arrested. Disaster followed disaster. Tod became what the Americans term '" rattled." He felt on his shoulders the icv touch of the dread " hoodoo."

This talisman was ft pirysiciau's scalpel which he had obtained ur.der peculiar circumstances. His doctor had performed a wonderfully successful operation upon Tod Sloan when he was laid low with appendicitis, and his life despaired of. He had upon his recovery carried the scalpel, and it proved a veritable mascotte. When he lost the scalpel he lost his luck, just as Samson Inst his strength when he become separated from his luxurious locks. When Tod found his luck turning against him he promptly cabled to " Snapper" Garrison, his wellknown jockey friend in New York, to induce his physician to send a smaller scalpel, with which he had performed a secondary operation on Sloan. " Snapper" Garrison complied with his brother jockey's request by despatching the gruesome talisman by the first steamer. Let us hope that Tod will never lose it and that he and his patron may again enjoy his former phenomenal luck.— M.A.P.