PUBLIC FAVORITES.

NZ Truth, Issue 168, 5 September 1908, Page 2

PUBLIC FAVORITES.

"Paremata Pete" writes thus : Reading m a recent edition of your versatile weekly an account of the warm welcome Charlie Jenkins received at Riccarton on the occasion of his first public appearance ai ter ao enforced absence of nine months, recalls to my mind a similar demonstration witnessed by me some years ago at Ascot racecourse, the headquarters of the West Australian Turf Club, when Bob Trewartha, the then leading jockster 0! the Golden West, rode a winner the first time out after being ordered to stand down by the stewards of a goldnelds racing club for a season. Bob always was a great public favorite. . His re-appearance m the saddle was heralded by hearty and genuine public applause, hut the scene when Bobby landed spmei/hing or other (I forget what it was now), by a neck, simply defies description, and ncsulcss to remark, the punting public had got on to the good thing. These .demonstrations are by no means uncommon, yet they serve to show the popularity of jocksters - who have the habit of being on the moke first past the post. Of course, one doesn't know the effect of such popularity on riders. It might give them swollen heads, and again, it might not. "Jenks," however, deserves the welcome he received. He is a public favorite awl he ought not to do anything warranted to lose caste with racegoers. This popular young horseman is easily the first m the Dominion, can use a whip but prefers to do so only when necessary, and then only m t ; :e last few strides, but he generally prefers to let the horse do its best without flogging it. He possesses one of the chief secrets of his profession and that is the ability to understand the peculiarities of. the various horses he rides. He likes to persuade a horse instead of coercing it, but one of his faults is sere - ity, that is when he has to use the whip m a punishing finish, and I need hardly mention the terrible thrashing he gave Gauze at Otaki last year when he thought that mare was not doinj her best, to fully emphasise my meaning.