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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 8, 1904)
Career of a Nebraska Jockey r THORPE JUST AFTER WINNING THE FRENCH SEASON. DERBY AT PARIS LAST X O HAVE ridden on the trncks for twenty-two years, In six different countries, and In till of his career to have never fallen foul of the steward, or be in any way ac cused of dirhuncst or dirty work, is a reputation few Jockeys can lay claim to, and one of thoso few is Charles Thorpe, Nebraska product. Apart from the usual custom of tho men of his profession, who rido Into popularity by a series of sensa tional wins, and ufter a season or two explro la a whirlwind of extravagance, tho nd of his career sees him with (i substan tial bank account and a line farm at Geneva, Neb., where he intends to pass tho rest of his days. Hy hard und con scientious work ho has risen, step by step, every year making lilm more popular with the owners. From his first race, which be won in Omaha twenty-two years ago, to his final brilliant running last season In Purls, hnrd work ami tlio strictest hon esty haro been his methods und theso methods are the secret of his success. Thorpe first came Into prominence by Winning seventeen consecutive races on Hello K., tho property of a Mr. Tucker, about twenty yours uko, tho races being run In Iowa and Ncbruska. Shortly ufter be captured a bin race at St. Ixiuis In a sensational manner on a horse culled Ycl lowtnll, mid whs In turn himself captured by tho eastern sportsmen. Though his name Is well known on the American turf, bis greatest successes have been In Europe; tho French Derby, . tho Liverpool Cup, a place in the English Derby, and Important races In Helglum, Italy and Germany, have been captured by him. He has ridden before many of the crowned heads of Europe, and more than once come uhead of their private horses. Together with Sloan, Thorpe in troduced tho American stylo of riding In Knglund. From an artistic point of view the stylo Is not pretty; short stirrups being osed and tho body of the rider .being well over the horse's neck. Thorpe's first np pearunco in England was at Worklngham Handicap, u race which figures prominently In tho racing calendars. As ho rode to tho post a roar of laughter and derision greeted him from the English crowd, tho betting dropped down to 40 to 1, and even at that low llgure few besides his em ployer, E. Corrlgan, an American sports man, desired to pluee any money on him. The result of that race came as a shock to the English racing public nnd the shouts that greeted him at tho end of the race were not of derision. "I will always remember that race," said Thorpe, smiling. "We had to travel round fbe course twice. The grand stand was packed with people, and as we pas3td itj the first time, all In a bunch, with tho favorite leading, a roar went up from the crowd. When we passed the stand tha sec ond time I was neck and neck with the favorite, and there was hardly a sound. I went past the Judges' stand a bare Inch ahead, beiujr one of the closest races I have ever won. I was riding against some of tho best horses and best Jockeys in Eng land, and besides my mount was never a favorite by any means. The new style of riding caught on and since that time it hus been copied all over Europe." Lust year Thorje rodo for Viscount d'Arcourt, a French r.obleman, and suc ceeded in winning the French derby for him at the Longchamps course, besides many other minor races. While racing In Paris last season his mount slipped and came down with him, placing him in the dangerous position as can be seen in the illustration. After lying four weeks in bed a Frenchman approuched him ond gave him the snapshot taken of the acc!d-rt. A good story Is told of Thorpe and Tod Sloan while they were riding in San F.an cisco. It was at the time when Sloan was at the height of his glory; he won every race that ho rode in and the followers of the game hud come to look upon him as Invincible, an opinion that Sloan Is said to have had himself. One of the big races which he was booked to rlda seerr.ed to him a pretty sure thing, and as Anna Held and her company of girls were In the city at the time, he Invited them to see tho race and Incidentally seo him win. For their convenience he hired a smart four-in-hand turn-out, und in fact provided for every thing In that .royal way which has made him as famous as his riding. When tho race, was over Sloan found himself beaten and saw the bevy of girls spoiling their gloves in honor of Thorpe, who hud won. Through all his travels Thorpe has been accompanied by Mrs. Thorpe and a white bulldog as a mascot. "The dog brings me luck," ho taid laughingly. "I win the race and Mrs. Thorpe sees to the financial end of the proposition, and the last reason is why I am able- to retire to a nice farm." One of the greatest difficulties he has ex perienced in his racing career has been his trouble In training down to the requisite standards. Weighing 102 pounds normally, it has been only by the hardest kind of work that he managed to satisfy the stewards. Apart from his profession, Thorpe Is a thorough sportsman. A keen hunter, he enjoys nothing more than to wait in tha reeds of a windy morning for the flying duck or participate in a trap shoot. In the last respect he la almost as well known as for his riding. A few weeks ago he lost to , --'V- , - : - ; .;;: .7 ; ' - ,. " " ' -.-. J l r t ;'..- "- V - ; . - v: - y ' ' . . ........ ; - . .- I . . - ; K -IMC V ' f V-iT"'' THORPE, iriS MASCOT, TRAINER AND TWO AMERICAN STEEPLECHASERS.- From a Photo Made at Newmarket. Gus Harte by only one bird, but succeeded. In company with McDonald, in beating Harte and Townsend a short time after ward at a CO-target. shoot. When asked if ho intended to raise racers on his farm at Geneva, Neb., he rep'.lod in the negative. Ills racing days are over, lio has heard for the last time the shout of the crowds proclaiming him victor, snd has finished with the dust and tha dash of the track, and finished with it altegether. In no manner does he Intend to associate himself with the turf now, and thinks there is more profit in hogs than horses, During the last few weeks both Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe have been In Omaha cn ac count of the latter's Ill-health, but they intend leaving for .their farm home as soon as she recovers. New Head of Family Harry Payne Whitney has been care fully trained to meet the responsibilities thrust upon him by his father's will. The whole Whitney estate la placed In his hands for management and conse quently young Whitney from this time on Is destined to take an active part In the financial community. Young Whitney Is In his thirty-second year. Ever since his graduation from Yale, In 194, his father has schooled him In finance and the management of largo affairs. It was originally the elder Whitney's Intention to make a lawyer of the young man, and after leaving Yale young Whit ney was sent to tho Columbia Law school. He did not finish the course, his marriage to Miss Gertrude Vanderbllt, the eldest daughter of the late Cornelius Vanderbllt, on August 6, 1896, cutting short his study of the law. Harry Payne Whitney Is best known by. L7 ' ' ;. '"''V - v - . j. ' ; O"' . r m . ' v.,, Sir . i - "v v ' -try "-Vv f : " v-.-s 7'U'(: 'C: . n ' ;VN;v-' ;: ' . ' ' r,-i tnORPWB HORBB FALLINO WITH HIM ON PARIS RACE OOUKSii ON K1NQ EDWARD'S PAY, LAST 6KAj30N-A uT nKMAMKAllLK SNAP SUOT HIOTOG1U1U the general public as a polo player, yachts man, race horse owner, automoblllst and general sportsman, but he has other quali ties. Ho Is not unnccustomed to the manage ment of largo Investments. When he mar ried Miss Vanderbllt eight years ago his father settled a sum upon him sufficient to support him In fine style and placed tho money absolutely In his care. The elder Whitney also gave him out right the mansion at tho southwest corner of Fifty-seventh street and Fifth avenue, which has been the family home during the lifetime of the first Mrs. Whitney. When tho late Cornelius Vanderbllt died Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney came Into m fortune of $8,6CO,O00, being her share ot her father's estate. For several years young Whitney has had the management of this large property and for the last three years he hus been gradually assum ing the management of different portions of his father's wealth. He has three children, the eldest being Flora Payne, named for his mother. She will be 7 years old In July next. .William Vanderbllt Whitney Is 5 years old, and there Is a girl baby not yet a year .old. When Robert A. Van Wyck was elected Mayor he appointed young Whitney a commissioner of municipal statistics. It was an honorary position, with few duties and no salary. Young Whitney tired of It In little more than a year and resigned. The new head of the Whitney family Is a good looking young man of medium, height, rather slender in build, but hardy and strong. Ills clean-shaven face Is rather boyish. He Is democratic In manner. He Is as fond of fine horses as was his father, and his knowledge of horses Is considerable. He Is one of the best ama teur riders In the country, and as a polo player has few superiors. The elder Whitney virtually retired from the active business world two years ago and put his large wealth to a great extent ,lnto Investment properties of a conservar tlve character. New York World. 'Use of Paper Universal , The Japanese use paper at every mo 'ment. The string with which a deft-handed 'darling of the gods" dees up the articles you buy Is made of paper. The handker chief (thrown away after use) Is paper, the partitions dividing the houses are pa mper and tho pane through which an Indis creet eye looks at you la paper. The pane Is certainly wanting In transparency, but there Is a simple remedy. One finger la passed through the paper that Is all. Af terward a email piece Is stuck on the opening with a grain of rice. The men's Jiats, the cloak of the porter who carries bis burden, singing a cadence througa ,tho rain, the garment of the boatman who (Conducts you on board, tho tobacco pouch, cigar case all are paper. Those elegant flowers ornamenting the beautiful hair of the Japanese ladies and those robe collars Which are taken for crape papci . I