Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday BOY'S CINEMA 9 By a trick a jockey is lured away from a kindly owner, but at the price of his own honour he plays the game. Disgraced, he swore he would never ride aga\k. but a stirring story of the race-course- " Whoop-te-do!" FIVE to four, Yellow Hornet I Five to four, Yellow Hornet !" There came a sudden rush of bets on the favourite. "Evens, Yellow Hornet! ihree to one, Baby Girl!" A bell clanged—the race had started. A mile and a quarter, and eight of the best two-year-olds going all out for the Victoria Gold Vase. At the bend Baby Girl was leading by tnree clear lengths; next cjinie Rubv and a bunch of others, with Yellow Hornet t.vo lengths behind the last of tl'.cni. Several of the bookmakers got busy with their glasses, and one voiced a toinmoM opinion. 'Buddy ain't gonna ride no winner to-day. Yellow Hornet's out of the race Gosh, wish I'd taken more! It's Babv Girls race for a cinch!" There are always several of the bettin^ fraternity or late backers who get last" minute informiation or like an outside gamble. ' t, 'i'^"-^'^"'^''' '"'® ^° ^^y a price about Kuby or Yellow Hornet?" asked one such gambler. ■ "Rubj-'s creeping up—she started at threes Nope, I couldn't offer vou more than twos. ' The bookie winked at his c erk. They knew that Ruby was a bad stayer. 'Maybe I might make it five ter two. How s Yellow Hornet doing v lie peered through his glasses. "Misrht .have picked up half a length, but no more. I 11 g.ve four to one, Yellow «.Ofs>.et. I m a sport, I am." At once the backer produced some dollar bills. "I like an outside chance. Put this twenty-five bucks on Yellow Hornet at fours." The bookmaker called out the bet to his clerk, and then passed over a card. "Put me twenty dollars on Yellow Hornet at fours," piped another voice. The bookmaker found that a small crowd had gathered round his stand, and at once got cold feet. "I'll take that bet—now the book's closed, he shouted. He clapped his glasses to his eyes. "Hades!" Well might the bookmaker kick him- self for trying to make easv monev. icllow Hornet was not out of the race. In the few moments that had passed the horse had crept up to the bunch,' and, even as the bookie watched, seemed to glide through them. A blur of horses coming towards the straight, and Baby Girl still leading; gold with claret sleeves showed Ruby to bo King close behind, second; and what "was that splash of primrose with blue cap? The bookmaker gnashed his teeth, for now lellow Hornet lay third. On the back of Yellow Hornet wa= a gnm-faced young jockey, who Ind hi^ mouth clo.?e to the ears of his tno-ycar- old colt, and as the boy rode he chanted a rhythmic refrain: ■ Whoop - te - do! Whoop te do < Whoop-te-do I" The sound of a drum and fife band .stirs the heart of a soldier and makes him dream of old battles or of new to come. li.e refrain stirred the equine mmd to thoughts of victory and des- perate endeavour. The horse knew hat his rider had called him to do his best, and the chant seemed to give his limbs added strength. Bud Doyle was one of the foremost jockey.s of the day, and he never believed in .setting a gruelling pace—rather to nurse the horse until there came a suit- able opening. Sometimes Bud woiild maintain the lead from start to finish, but there was generally some strong reason. Horses are queer creatures, and some prefer to set the pace, and be- come fractious if kept back. Bud had talked it over with his trainer, Sleepy Jones, and thev had de- cided just how this race could be won. and there were no mistakes or hitches— everything went according to plan Yellow Hornet glided into third place at tlie right moment, and, to the chant of "Whoop-te-do!" overhauled and passed Ruby a furlong from the win- ning-oost. Baby Girl was three lengths ahead. That th-ee lengths was a trifle moro tlinn Bud Doyle had expected, and he P"^,a" extra charge into his chant of Whoop-te-do !" The crowd fairly yelled themselves hoarse as they saw the favourite slowly creeping up towards the leader Could the most popular jockey of the hour m-ing oft another spectacular victory' A bare length, and the w<nning-post bu't a liundred yards away. T.ne rider of Baby Sopl ymber 5th, 1931.