JOCKEYS’ SALARIES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 547, 13 June 1901, Page 15

JOCKEYS’ SALARIES.

The question of the salary of a jockey, a s compared with his wage earning capacity, is receiving attention in many quarters. This is the age of immense salaries. A president of an immense consolidation in this country receives 800,000 dollars (£160,000) a year, and salaries of 100,000 dollars (£20,000) are comparatively plentiful. If their money earning capacity is worth the renumeration, possibly a jockey may be worth 15,000 dollars (£3070).—“ The -pirit of the Times,” (New York). The English “ Field ” is'evidently perplexed over the situation, and among other things asks : “ How many applications would there be for an appointment worth £l6OO per season, even if it entailed a

great deal of brain work, anxiety and long hours ? Men whose education has needed the expenditure of several thousands of pounds would be among the applicants by the score; but if the coveted post needed no education to speak of candidates would be almost countless. This handsome sum is to be paid by Mr Broderick Cloete to a California jockey named W. Buchanan, for his services in the saddle during the forthcoming season. At the California race meeting this very lucky individual built up a reputation, and last year he betook himself to the Eastern States, where he had no fewer than 599 rides, on 119 occasions he was on the back of the winner, he rode 90 seconds, and 71 thirds. When not earning his retaining fee over here he will probably be riding for another stable, eo, altogether, the jockey from over the sea will find his pockets well lined at the season’s end. Of course, a jockey, like everybody else, has a perfect right to estimate the value of his services at any sum he thinks proper, and any owner of racehorses has an equal right to secure the services of that jockey, but the undiscriminating remuneration paid to jockeys never has and never will do the turf any good. Buchanan’s retaining fee, it may be mentioned, is not so large as the sum paid to a jockey for a single race though the former does not include presents. Before now jockeys have had the stakes when they have ridden the winner of the Derby.” This is very interesting and to the point, but the great wonder is why should Buchanan be deemed worth £l,OOO a year in Eng’and. At the representative tracks in the

east last year he could not ride a winner, and did not impress anyone with his showing. All his winners were on third and fourth rate tracks, and a competent horseman a week ago said of his Californian performances : “ Buchanan is more consistent in California on favourites than any other jockey, i.e., in keeping out of the money. As regards the heavy salaries paid to jockeys, it surely is supply and demand. Leading owners are scarcely business children, and although it may be said that many other American jockeys could have won the Futurity of 1900, Sloan was imported from England to ride and win, and he did win, after a remarkably well ridden race. The victory was worth every penny that it cost.