TOD SLOAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 36

TOD SLOAN.

The crack American jockey was well again when the last mail left, tho States, and signalised his reappearance in the saddle by piloting George Keene to victory in the principal event at Brighton Beach. His followers ffie£B Jakga gfifflfiffhat b;ou<rririge, b - ut th P Be

of them who were on hand put away their form books and took a flyer on the jockey rather lhan the horse. The result was a long line of jubilant winners behind almost every book in the ring wlen the numbers went up. This was Sloan's only mount of the day, and he spent the rest of the time resting in a private box. Speaking about bis racovery Sloan said : " I have picked up about 51b, but could do with a few more. When I was taken sick I was riding at about 911b. I scaled about 951b to-day, v and hope, with careful living and dieting, to get up to 991b or lOOIbi which is about, my proper normal weight." When asked about his plans for next season Sloan said he had not made any yet, although he had some tempting offers under consideration. He had an offer of 3000gs to ride in England next year, and should he decide to accept he will cross over in February. Ho briefly sized up the situation as follows: — "You see, I am riding for money, and whoever puts up the most will have tho best chance of securing my services. If there is more money to be had on this side I remain here, if not, I will accept the highest English offer, and if I go, I go to stay." Up to the time of his illness Sloan had this season won 121 races out of 259 mounts. Mr M'Naughton, in his letter to tho Sydney Referee, says it is beginning to look as if Tod is sated with such successes as the ordinary events of the turf afford him, and is looking around for something with a spice of -novelty in it. The latest is that he is to figure in a horse versus bioyole race, in which the only Jimmy Michael will pilot the silent steed. According to all accounts, the two riders are willing, and arrangements are being made to have the contest pulled off before the summer days are gone. In commenting on the possibilities of such a competition, someone has traced up tho best performances of horses and bikes, and has discovered that Salvator's lmin 35£ sec for a mile over a straight course, at Monmouth Park in 1890, was jtist onetenth of a second slower lhaa the mile wheeled by Stocks, the Englishman, with a flying start in 1897. If Michael can even go within two seconds of Stocks's lime, he will hold Tod and his mount safe probably, for it is doubtful if Hamburg or Ornament even cai do ac good as lmin 37 2-ssec on a straight track or any other track.