A SUCCESSFUL SEASON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 55

A SUCCESSFUL SEASON.

The exact- umount /won by Mr J. -R. Eeene is £80,513, which. I think (says an American writer) is a world's record- ior an -owner in one season. This sum includes " bonuses ■ wnicii ~,ttva vice-jnresio«nt of t&e jodsey efa:lr A received- as a breeder of several wfiraers, "but it ; " was all accrued in the ' regular - season -in New York. Occasionally you - will 1 read that a jockey in tne-"States rode ao many winners in the jear, -and his, xedbrd is favourably compared with, riders abroad. Of oouree, it. must be u&dexEtood that our .leading* jockeys ride- all 'the year round^in. 'the ■winter either in California or- New -Orleans, and then- here- from -April to Ko-romber; This strenuous' life and the low weights irery evidently have their effect on our pigskin koights, -whose careers are brief 9nd "meteoric . on thiß side. , As I havestated, Mr Keene's winnings were all in - New York, at the Long Island meetings and - Saratoga, and the:£gurqs therefore are the * more - remarkable; Mir - Keene has lieen quoted as-sayinjrthat Commando was- the Best- two-year-old he ever owned, and Ballot "the best -"three year, -and -yet he owned Foxhaß, Disguise H, and Sysonby, whose. death nearly "broke his heart. -In .New York, contracts, fees, enf?»geraents, etc., are public property, and the details of private , arrangements are, of course, in the- .yellowY press given the greatest publicity. . Accordingly, we' are told that Mr KeenVs *erms-with hjs trainer, James Bowe, are: Annual salary," £2000 and 10-per xient. on the gross -winnings ; 'hw terms with his first jockey, Walter Miller fapon whem he bad only second call),* were 15 "per sent, on his 'winning' motmts, -and •she ordinary fees — £5 for winner «nd'JB!L for aldser. *0n the 5 per cent, basis MillerTeoeive^ a cheque for £24-19,- ( which. bfodght His salary, -or jearrimae.'on New York-*for i3ie seasbn^tip 'to. £8500.- - ''Prom JannarV 1 ■op to- November t -IS ,th&_ crack had mounts and ' piloted 224- winners. He has " just left for- California,'- where hia'priricipal ' retainer Vitfc Mr Tom 'Williams ia £240 -a, laonth. {'conditional' upon" being £b at 7sfc . 61b.' Miller-% -a JittletTEasfc Side Hebrew, - whose 'connection with the turf came abont'aecidentally; but ."he is, -when inforin, head and shonldits ot^t our oth«r jockeys. Vho a re* .delightfully "consistent in "their inconsistencies. Notter will be. Mr Keene's^first jockey next season. - dominations for ther Great Easter ana Great Autumn Hkadicaps are dv© on the ' Slat insL