Black Jockeys Ride at the Emeryville Track Part One: Jess “Long Shot” Conley

Black Jockeys Ride at the Emeryville Track Part One: Jess “Long Shot” Conley

By Donald Hausler

Introduction: Oakland Trotting Park

The Emeryville Horse Racetrack was the creation of Edward Wiard. Born on March 10, 1815 in New Haven, Connecticut, Wiard as a young man worked as an engineer on steamboats. In 1850 he answered the call of gold and immigrated to California. After prospecting for gold in Mariposa County, he purchased a 150 acre tract of land in 1858 in an unincorporated area north of Oakland that later became part of Emeryville. In the 1870s Wiard built the Oakland Trotting Park and Shell Mound Park. The trotting park, which opened in 1871, was a one-mile oval shaped course located west of San Pablo Avenue and north of Park Avenue. Shell Mound Park, an amusement park, opened in 1876 and was located west of the track next to the Bay.

For 25 years the Oakland Trotting Park featured harness racing, a form of horse racing in which a horse pulls a light two-wheeled vehicle called a sulky. The driver sits on the sulky and guides the trotting horse. Of course, there was betting involved and the opportunity for fans to make a lot of money or lose a lot of money. Harness racing was very popular at the time. There were trotting parks in several Bay Area cities, including Hayward, Alameda, and San Francisco.

Edward Wiard died in 1886. The same year the Oakland Trotting Park and Shell Mound Park were purchased by Judge James Mee of San Francisco. In 1895 Thomas Williams leased the Oakland Trotting Park. The next year he resurfaced the track and built a new grandstand. The track was renamed the New California Jockey Club. Trotting races were discontinued. The new track featured thoroughbred horse racing with jockeys in the saddle. The renovated track reopened on October 24, 1896.

Williams wanted to protect his investment. He did not want the community of Emeryville to be annexed by Oakland where there was considerable opposition to racetrack gambling. He and the other racetrack directors orchestrated the incorporation of Emeryville. A petition proposing the creation of a town was submitted to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. The board voted in favor of allowing residents living within the boundaries of Emeryville to vote for incorporation. In addition to the issue of incorporation, the ballot offered voters two slates of candidates. If incorporation carried, the new town would have an elected government. The election was held on December 2, 1896. Residents voted 150 to 27 in favor of incorporation. W.H. Christie, the candidate with the most votes, became Emeryville’s first mayor, a position he held for over three decades.

Jess “Long Shot” Conley

The rebuilt racetrack employed a large number of African Americans to train and care for the horses. Many of them were from Kentucky, a state with a long history of raising and racing horses. Over the years many famous African American jockeys raced at the Emeryville Track, including Willie Simms, Alonzo Clayton, Felix Carr, and Jess Conley.

Jess Conley was one of the most colorful and controversial Black jockeys to compete at the Emeryville Track. His racing career in this venue lasted from 1897 until 1902. During this period Conley‘s name frequently appeared in local newspapers when he won or placed in a horse race. Also his name appeared in the press when he was involved in physical and verbal altercations. This article is an attempt to cover his eventful life, including his exploits as a jockey on the track and his misbehavior off the track.

Born about 1870, possibly in Chicago, Jess Conley started his career as a jockey in 1896 at the Harlem Race Track 5 near Chicago. He failed as a jockey in his first attempt. Jess was hired by Crit Davis to ride his stable of horses. Conley had trouble getting off to a good start. This was before the invention of the starting gate. A man stood at the line with a flag. When the horses lined up he would drop the flag and the horses would start running. Conley did not have the necessary experience to be competitive. Although he showed a “feeble promise of some day being a good finisher,” Mr. Davis did not think Conley had any future as a jockey and decided to let him go.

In 1897 at the age of 27 Jess was hired by W. F. Schulte to ride his stable of horses at the Latonia Race Track in Kentucky. At Latonia Conley piloted the horse Alleviate to a string of victories. He soon achieved recognition as an exceptional jockey in this venue.

Conley Injured

On October 23, 1897 Conley was seriously injured in a race at the Latonia Track. Jockey Joe Hill, astride Madrilene, found himself in his last race, a “race with death.” Coming around the far turn, Hill‘s steed was jostled by another horse. Madrilene was knocked down and Hill‘s head hit the ground hard. Conley’s mount, El Toro, tripped over the fallen Madrilene, and horse and rider went down. El Toro fell on top of the prostrate Hill, crushing his body. Hill suffered a broken arm, broken collar bone, and serious internal injuries. Conley lay unconscious on the track. This incident showed how a jockey’s career could end in a tragic moment.

Conley had no broken bones and he soon recovered. Back on the track, Conley continued to enjoy success. One week after his accident, the St. Louis Sporting News reported: “Not a day passes but he rides from three to four winners and as a consequence every owner at the track is clamoring for his services. The boy seems modest, and has fortunately, so far, not developed that awful malady known as the ‘big head.‘ “

In mid-November, 1897 Conley returned to Chicago, where he continued to dominate at the Lakeside Track. After spending a few days racing in this venue, Conley took the train west to Oakland. The Emeryville Track opened for the racing season on November 15, 1897.

Conley at the Emeryville Track

November 23 was the first day Conley rode at the Emeryville Track (AKA New California Jockey Club), riding Zamar. The next day the S.F. Call (Nov. 24, 1897), mentioned his name. “Conley, who, rode Honig’s sprinter (Zamar) yesterday, was one of the ‘Finds’ of the past season around the Chicago tracks. He landed a number of longshots. His name would convey the impression that he came from the Emerald Isle (Ireland), but he did not. He is a colored lad.”

Two days later, on November 25, before an immense crowd, Conley, astride Harry Thobur, odds of 50 to 1, a horse no one thought had a chance of winning, hustled the steed “along in exhilarating manner,” and came in second place. From this moment on the press referred to him as “Long Shot” Conley, for his uncanny ability to ride a dark horse to victory.

Conley was again praised by the S.F. Call on November 27. “ ‘Long Shot’ Conley has made a pronounced hit with race goers. His style is … vigorous and lasting, unwilling to acknowledge defeat. Conley does not like the overland (riding on the outside) in races, and it is said will take a desperate chance to wend his way to the front. His finish Thursday astride Harry Thobur nearly drove the outside players insane.” The same article also mentions Tod Sloan, a white jockey that, according to the Call, “has become famous.” More about Sloan later.

The Emeryville Track and the Ingleside Track in San Francisco had alternate schedules so they didn’t conflict with each other. The Emeryville Track would stay open for two weeks and then close. Then the Ingleside Track would open for the next two weeks and close, and so on. Jess Conley raced at both tracks.

Trouble with White Jockeys

Conley had only raced in the Bay Area for two weeks when he ran into trouble with the white jockeys. Conley’s success at the Emeryville Track and Ingleside created resentment on the part of the white jockeys, who considered Jess an interloper. They decided to slow him down by bumping up against his horse or boxing him in. In 1897, The S.F. Call reported this story with the headline “Conley in Need of Protection. The Colored Rider Bumped and Cut Off on Every Possible Occasion.”

The article reads:

” … a combination has been formed among the white boys to down Conley whenever opportunity offers and for effectiveness its efforts have been highly gratifying. Well authenticated rumors have been in circulation for a week or more that Conley‘s popularity had aroused a jealous feeling among his comrades of a lighter caste and that they had taken measures to cause his winning percentage to assume a consumptive hue. A glance at the form book the past few days shows that by some hook or crook Conley‘s mounts have been singularly unfortunate in getting away from the post poorly or being knocked about during the progress of the race.” … “Conley came to California a stranger, but by his earnest efforts to win whether on the back of an outsider or astride a favorite at once installed him a favorite with the public. He is a colored boy, but in racing the color line has never been drawn, and he is entitled to the same treatment as his white colleagues.”

Conley complained to the track officials about the conspiracy to interfere with the progress of his horse. The officials promised to investigate. Later one of the white jockeys, “Skeets” Martin was fined $50 for colliding with Conley‘s horse.

On December 29, 1897 Jockey Conley won three races at the Ingleside Track on Lady‘s Day, a special day when women were admitted free. It was very unusual for a jockey to win that many races in one day. The next day the headlines of the Call read: “Jockey Conley Way Above Par. Piloted Three Winners and Proved the Hit of ‘Ladies Day.’ The Colored Wizard Landed the Crocker Stake on Count of Flanders.” “Long-shot Conley fairly captivated the fair sex assembled at Ingleside yesterday. To do honor to ladies‘ day, he started in the day by winning with Olive, a 10 to 1 chance …” In a little over a month since arriving in Oakland, Conley had built a reputation as a sensational jockey.

Conley Suspended

Conley‘s success at Emeryville and Ingleside was not appreciated by everyone. He had only been in the Bay area for two months when he came under attack by both critics and officials. When Conley did not win or place, as some thought he should, he was accused of deliberately holding back his mount, suggesting he may be taking bribes, according to the S.F. Call, January 29, 1898.

”Conley is no longer worshiped as the idol of purity. On his arrival here his admirers were wont to say that a barrel of Klondike nuggets would not tempt the colored wonder. Now, on several sides complaints are heard of poor rides, which are blamed to inactivity on the part of “Longshot.” The game (horse racing) is rotten to the core, but it is to be hoped that Conley has not met the tempter and fallen. He can ride at a very useful weight and has a brilliant future before him.”

When the Call states that “the game is rotten to the core,” the newspaper is revealing that the sport generated a lot of corruption. Various methods were used by unscrupulous owners, jockeys, trainers or someone else to prod the horse into running faster. The most common method to achieve this end involved drugging the horse. Of course, narcotics could also be used to slow down the horse so it would lose. Another trick was for the jockey to administer an electrical shock to the horse in order to increase its speed.

Track officials also accused Conley of swerving his mount on the track so as to endanger other jockeys. In January, 1898 he was suspended for a week for this violation. The S.F. Call reporter did not think the suspension was justified.

”For making an earnest effort to win astride Fortunate, Conley was ordered set down for a week. Conley’s mount may have swerved out in the stretch the sixteenth part of an inch toward the Corrigan entry, George Lee, but it was scarcely perceptible. Other riders can yank their mount all over the track and it is entirely overlooked. If the colored lad turns his neck while on the road to the wire he is rewarded with a fine. There is sense and justice in everything, and there is no just reason why it should not be dealt out to Conley in the same proportion as it is to the balance of the riders.”

Tod Sloan

We need to stop here and provide information about the career of Tod Sloan, the great white jockey, who raced against Conley in February, 1898.

Tod Sloan was born in Bunker Hill, Indiana on August 10, 1874. His mother died when he was five years old. As a boy, Tod didn’t like school very much. He preferred to go fishing with his faithful dog, Tony. His father didn’t mind if he missed school. Let the boy have fun. Tod left home when he was 13 years old, having already learned how to swear and smoke cigars. He wandered around the countryside, looking for odd jobs, working on an oil well, in a carriage factory, for a balloonist, and in a saloon sweeping floors. Finally he found work at a stable in St. Louis and learned how to care for and exercise horses.

By 1889 he had won his first race as a jockey at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. Sloan was less than 5 feet tall and weighed only 90 lbs. at the beginning of his career. Despite his diminutive size, he appeared to have a mystical power over his steed. He had studied horses for a long time and understood their idiosyncrasies. Any horse seemed to run faster when he was in the saddle.

He arrived in the Bay Area in 1893, and by 1894 he had established a reputation at the as a formidable jockey at the Bay District Track in San Francisco. One day at the Bay District Track, Sloan made a revolutionary discovery. He noticed that when he shortened the stirrups on his saddle and leaned forward over the horse‘s neck, this position gave him a decisive advantage over other jockeys who sat straight up in the saddle in the traditional manner. This new method of riding had several advantages. There was less wind resistance, the jockey had better control over the horse, and it improved the horse’s stride. Conley soon perfected this new style of riding, which became known as the “monkey mount,” the “crouch seat,” or the “forward seat.”. Using the forward seat method, he began to win more races. In 1896 he moved to the East Coast where he achieved greater fame.

Sloan rides in England

In 1897 Sloan crossed the Atlantic and competed on the racetracks of England, where he won numerous honors. The Brits were astonished at his riding style. Conley used the saddle with the short stirrups, and leaned over the horse‘s neck into the monkey mount. At this time the British jockeys rode sitting straight up in the saddle, considered the proper way to ride. Sloan’s forward style of riding is one important reason why he won so many races in England. He was one of the first American jockeys to ride in this manner. Sloan was criticized and ridiculed by the English press because of his riding style, and because he sometimes bet on his own horse to win, considered unsportsmanlike conduct. A third reason why Sloan was controversial was due to his lavish, flamboyant living habits.

The S.F. Call reported November, 1897: “No American celebrity who has appeared in London in recent years has cut a larger figure in the public eye than Ted Sloan, the jockey, who continues to pile up a phenomenal record of victories, often winning on dark horses. It is Sloan‘s manner of living and training even more than his race-track achievements which inspires comment among the British sporting gentry, not to mention the public at large. The little jockey lives at the Great Cecil Hotel… He has chartered a suite of four handsome apartments, the most expensive in this very expensive hotel, and here, surrounded by his extensive outfit of trunks and the retinue of those fair-weather friends … he maintains a style greater than is assumed by a half dozen continental princes who are sheltered under the same roof.”

On November 28, 1897 Sloan won four races at the Manchester course in one day, considered a spectacular achievement. In the fifth race he came in second. Horsemen from all over England sent him telegrams every day begging him to ride for them.

Sloan returned to the United States early in 1898. Late in January he made his way to Chicago. The S.F. Call on January 31 announced that Tod would soon leave for the Bay Area. ”The mighty James Todd (sic) Sloan will arrive this week and the racing game will receive fresh impetus. Todd will bring with him all of his old-time skill and a few new ‘twists’ picked up over in England. He will be welcomed with outstretched arms, for most of the talent now riding at the tracks is decidedly rusty and uncertain.” On February 4, Sloan boarded a train bound for Oakland. He arrived about February 7.

Conley vs. Sloan

On February 10, 1898 Tod Sloan and Jess Conley raced against each other at the Emeryville Track. In the first race Tod rode Wawona, the favorite at 2 to 1 odds, in a mile and a furlong run. Conley‘s horse, Our Climate, had 30 to 1 odds of winning. Tod‘s horse got off to a late start at the post. Conley shot ahead and crossed the finish line a winner. The Call account reads:

“Tod was unfortunate in getting his mount away from the post last of the bunch, and, being compelled to travel the overland (outside) route most of the way, was led past the judges over two lengths by the 30 to 1 shot, Our Climate, with Conley in the saddle.” According to the Call, “the colored lad was vociferously cheered as he returned to the stand.”

Conley and Sloan competed again in the last race. Tod‘s horse, May W., was again the favorite, the horse with the best chance of winning. Conley rode a big bay, Libertine The other horses in the race were Tea Rose, Montgomery and Peixotto. Tod led on the back stretch, but Conley “came with a rush,” and passed Sloan near the finish line and won by almost a length. After the race a big smile appeared on Conley’s face that “lengthened until it resembled the main entrance to a circus tent.”

Sloan & Conley Interviewed

Two days later a female reporter from the S.F. Call, Miriam Michelson, interviewed Sloan and Conley at the Emeryville Track. When approached by Ms. Michelson, Todd, always dapper, was elegantly dressed while smoking a big cigar. Sloan remarked: “I’ve been riding nine years … No, it ain’t long. I know men of 50 that ride. An‘ I intend to ride all my life. There‘s pleasure in riding, but there’s danger, too. I’ve been in accidents five or six times. Some take their excitement one way, some another. I know men, it would be like taking away sunlight from, if they couldn’t bet on races.” … I’m going to be here ‘bout six weeks … l’m going shooting. Then I’m going back East to work.”

The reporter described Sloan in these words: “The figure of a slight, short boy, the foot of a danseuse, the face of a man of at least, 45 … ”

Ms. Michelson then interviewed Jess Conley and asked about his win over Todd Sloan. He replied:

“Yes-yes ma‘am. Sloan he had the favorite. Yes, ma‘am bofe (both) times, he rode the best horse. May W. Now she was a cinch, they thought … When we lined up that secon‘ time, ma‘am, Sloan he was ahead o‘ me an‘ I come last. It was jes‘ a six-furlong sprint, but when we’d got three quarters done, I went pas‘ him and won.”

Ms. Michelson asked, “Did you say anything as you passed?” He responded, “O we didn’t say nuffin to each other. He don‘ know me, ma‘am”, said Conley modestly. “I- I know him-even a black cat may look at a jockey prince-“I see him las’ year on th’ track. I knowed I’d beat him when we started. Th‘ boys, the other jockeys … they heard so much ‘bout him, they don’ think they can beat him … ” “Wha, ahve been riding … says Conley, “evah since ah was a little fellow no higha ‘n that,” … Ah used t’ ride at Sahtoga (Saratoga, New York track) but ah got kin’ o’ bothered an’ didn’ want t‘ ride any mo, till ’bout two yeahs ago, when I began to ride longshot hosses, ma’am. Don’ know what’s a long-shot … Long-shot hosses ha’ long odds agen ’em. Tha’s why ah’m 13 Long Shot Conley.” She asked, “Do you think if you were mounted upon as good a horse as he you could always beat Todd Sloan?” Sloan’s rival smiled and then grew very serious. “Well-Well, he wouldn’t beat me,” he said boyishly, “Ah know that.” Here is the reporter’s description of Conley: ”The Negro Jockey is a graceful little fellow in his white suit, hooped about with magenta, and his green silk hat.”

After his defeat of Sloan, Conley’s fame spread across the country. On February 21, 1898 the Kansas City Journal ran an article in recognition of Conley‘s remarkable success as a jockey in California.

“Then the Sloan fetish arrived on the (Pacific) slope … Sloan came, rode, and was conquered by Conley … Conley’s work at Latonia last fall was so superior to the other boys‘ riding there that it is surprising he had to again prove his ability at the Frisco tracks before securing the recognition which was justly due him. He has had to contend with cliqism and favoritism at Ingleside and Oakland alike, but his ability to sit in the saddle, his utter fearlessness, his quick perception of the shortest route to the winning post, and his undoubted honesty have combined to gain him the confidence of the horse owners, and today he ranks third in the list of winning jockeys of the California tracks. Conley will ride for W. F. Schulte this season.”

After losing to Conley, Tod Sloan regained his winning form. On March 21, 1898 he won five races in succession at the Ingleside track. By June, Sloan was winning races at the Brighton Beach track in New York. In August, Sloan returned to England where he once again dominated the turf scene. On September 30, 1898, Sloan entered six races, winning five and in one race coming in second place.

Kentucky Derby

Conley also had a busy year. In May, 1898 “Long Shot” Conley entered the Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs, a mile and a quarter race for three-year olds. Conley’s mount, Han d’Or, owned by G. A. Singerly, came in fourth place, two lengths behind the winner. Willie Simms, another Black jockey, rode the winning horse, Plaudit, crossing the finish line in 2:09.

In September, 1898 Conley lived up to his nickname, riding two horses with long odds to victory on the same day at the Newport Racetrack in Kentucky. The first race, with Conley aboard Albert Vale, with odds of 7 to 1, won the six and a half furlongs race in 1:25 1/4. Conley also won the fifth race, astride Bannie, a distance of five furlongs in 1:05 1/4.

“Long Shot” Conley also entered the 1899 Kentucky Derby. The race was held on May 4 with a field of five horses. Conley’s horse, Mazo, was owned by John E. Madden. The mile and quarter race was won by F. Taral aboard Manuel. Conley came in third place, 1 and 1/2 lengths behind the winner. Conley received a purse of $300 for his third place position.

Back to Emeryville

Conley returned to the Bay Area in 1899 and continued to race at the Emeryville Track. On November 31, 1899, before a throng of 9,000, Conley won the Paxton Handicap. The S.F. Call reported: “ ‘Longshot’ Conley’s followers at last had their patience and fortitude rewarded, for the colored chap piloted the dainty Rosormonde to victory in the Paxton handicap over one mile and a furlongs.”

In January, 1900 Conley was suspended for 30 days for bumping into another horse. While aboard Sig Levy, Conley collided again and again with Rathgar for a distance of over 200 yards. The officials accused him of “foul riding.”

The suspension was reduced to only two weeks. Conley was soon back in the saddle, and on Jan. 29 in the fifth race at the Emeryville track “Long Shot” crossed the finish line a winner on Colonel Root, a 30 to 1 long shot.

Conley Becomes Hostile

When Conley started racing in 1897, he was described by the press as “modest,” without having a “big head” or a sense of entitlement. When he was interviewed by the Call reporter in February, 1898, he seemed confident but not arrogant or combative. By 1901 his attitude had changed. After numerous victories on forgotten tracks, after being suspended for infractions, harassed on the track by white jockeys, under unrelenting pressure to win, Conley by 1901 had become hostile, angry, quarrelsome, and violent.

From January to June, 1901 Conley’s name appeared in local newspapers several times, twice for committing acts of violence. Like many other jockeys, Conley frequented saloons and pool halls between races where he drank liquor, played poker, and pool. Most likely when he played pool, he bet on the game. Immersed in the gambling subculture, his whole life revolved around gambling. He would bet on the horse he was riding at the track. In a poker game or pool game played for money, in the saloon environment, it was easy for a misunderstanding or an argument to occur that could escalate into a fight. He usually carried a knife and a handgun for protection. Long Shot had a short temper that sometimes got him in trouble. It was a dangerous way to live.

Fight at the Kearny Street Saloon

On the night of January 21, 1901, Conley was drinking in a saloon on Kearny Street in San Francisco. While playing pool with Henry Shannon, there was an argument over who should pay for the drinks. Conley pulled out a knife and slashed Shannon’s face. Shannon had to go to a hospital to have the cut stitched.

Conley was arrested and charged with “assault with a deadly weapon.” The jockey claimed he had slashed the man in self-defense. Conley posted $100 bail and was released from jail. In February, 1901 Conley appeared before the Superior Court. We don’t know how the case was resolved, but it does not appear the he served time in jail.

A “Dull and Stupid” Race

There were incidents that occurred in 1901 that may have had a negative impact on his frame of mind. Sometime in March, 1901 Conley was in a race at the Emeryville Track riding Red Pirate. The horse ran a “wretched” race and track officials accused the jockey of deliberately holding back the horse so it would lose. Conley was suspended for an indefinite period of time for this infraction.

On April 4, 1901 at the Tanforan Racetrack, Conley won his first race after his reinstatement. A week later in another race atop Mission, Conley complained to officials that he was crowded by another jockey named Murphy. Conley also accused Murphy of calling him “a handful of spicy names.” This time officials supported Conley’s charge and fined Murphy $50.

Back on the track Conley, riding Gotobed, won the mile and sixteenth race. A few days later in another race, Conley astride Donator, the favorite, lost the race. The Call reporter accused the jockey of riding a “dull and stupid” race and concluded with this racial slur: “If the colored boy can do no better he should go back to the minstrel business.” When Conley won a race he was considered a “crack” jockey, but when he lost a race, he was, in this instance, charged as being incompetent.

Death on the Track

On May 3, 1901 a boy named Tim Mahoney was killed at the Emeryville Track, while exercising a horse. Mahoney was riding Fine Shot at a full gallop. Another horse ridden by Jimmy Bender was going in the opposite direction. The two horses collided. The impact threw Mahoney off his horse, but his foot was caught in the stirrup. The horse dragged him over 200 yards. “His skull was 15 crushed and his body badly mangled.” He was only 16 years of age. This incident showed the danger that lurked around the track.

A Poker Game Turns Violent

On May 12, 1901, Long Shot was playing poker in a saloon near the Emeryville track when he became involved in a row at Bayer’s saloon in which guns were drawn. Fortunately, no shots were fired. The Oakland Tribune account, titled “Little Jockeys Draw Pistols”, suggests that Conley was prone to violence.

“Bayer’s saloon is a retreat patronized by this gentry of young sports, and yesterday afternoon a poker game was in full blast, with Jockeys Conley and Alexander among the players, while Jockeys Bassinger and Fauntleroy were spectators at the great American game. Bassinger was standing immediately back of Conley and the latter accused Bassinger of giving signs to the other players as to the cards he held. Conley jumped to his feet and struck Bassinger. The latter returned the blow and both belligerents drew their pistols and attempted to use them, and but for the interference of bystanders the results might have been of a serious character. Conley and Bassinger are both colored kids, and the former is looked upon as being a sort of browbeating individual, ever ready to resent his imaginary wrongs upon companions and is considered a bully .”

“Conley is the jockey who was suspended indefinitely for pulling the horse Wild Pirate in a race at the Oakland track, and was only recently reinstated. He is continually getting into trouble at Emeryville.”

Long Shot Conley, 1902

In 1902 Conley continued to astound the turf world by riding the horse with the long odds and winning the race. On February 3, 1902, Conley rode High Chancellor to victory at the Emeryville Track on a horse with odds of 60 to 1.

Here is the Los Angeles Herald account of the race:

“The horses ran over a muddy track at Oakland today. The feature of the afternoon was the victory of High Chancellor , a 60-to-1 sh ot, in the 2 -year-old-event. The youngster from the stable of Chinn & Forsythe was one of a field of five and was considered a factor. Adriondack led until the last few jumps, when “Long-shot” Conley brought Chancellor up, and in a driving finish landed him a winner by a nose.”

Betting on his own Horse

In March, 1902 Conley was in the newspaper again. He was scheduled to ride the horse, Black Dick. Jess told his valet, Guy Jackson, who was responsible for the care of his saddle and tack, to place a bet of $20 on his horse. Most likely Conley wanted Jackson to place the bet because it was illegal or improper for a jockey to bet on his own horse. Jackson assumed that Conley was certain the horse would win. The valet decided to bet an additional $50 of Conley’s money on the horse. Black Dick lost the race and Conley lost the bet. Knowing he was now in trouble, the valet disappeared. Conley went to the police and had them charge Jackson with embezzlement. Jackson was later apprehended and sent to the county jail.

Insulting a woman

A month after this incident, Conley got in trouble again. On April 30, 1902 when Conley was leaving the track, he made a comment to a white woman, Miss Francis Asquith, which she considered an insult. She immediately slapped him in the face. Miss Asquith was accompanied by a policeman, Officer Brennan. She told the officer what had happened. He arrested Conley and took him to jail. Conley contacted a Black attorney, Torn Pearson, who showed up the next day in court to defend the jockey. Judge Smith charged Conley with battery and released him on $50 bail. He was ordered to appear in court the next day. Conley failed to appear in court and forfeited his bail. By this time he had boarded a train headed east for parts unknown. After this departure he never raced again in the Bay Area.

Reasons for Anger

We don’t know the precise source of Conley’s anger, but he had plenty to be angry about. After the turn of the century an unfortunate development occurred which made it difficult for Black jockeys to secure mounts. In a conspiracy on the part of white jockeys and horse owners, Black jockeys were not hired to ride in many parts of the country. White jockeys supported this policy because it eliminated competition from Black jockeys. We don’t know how this racist policy effected Conley, but it must have had a negative impact on many of his fellow riders.

Another problem that confronted both white and Black jockeys was the closing of race tracks all over the country. The number of horse racetracks in the U.S. declined from 314 to as few as 25 in 1908. Many of them were forced to close because of anti-betting laws passed by cities and state legislatures. Ingleside Track closed in 1905 because of a San Francisco city ordinance banning racetrack betting. California passed an anti-betting law that closed all the racetracks in the state in 1911. The Emeryville Track was forced to close in February, 1911. All of the racetracks shut down in New York in 1911 and 1912. With fewer racetracks in operation, the occupation of jockey became more precarious.

New Orleans

In January 1903 Conley made an appearance at the New Orleans track in the midst of a scandal. Track officials suspected there had been collusion between the bookies, trainers, and jockeys in an effort to rig the races. This inside information evidently gave the bookmakers an advantage. There was an investigation to make sure the races were conducted in an honest manner.

Conley raced again in October, 1903 at the Piedmont Park Racetrack in Atlanta, Georgia. On October 10, Conley, riding for H. C. Shulz of Detroit, piloted three winners across the finish line.

In June, 1904 at the Washington Park Racetrack in Chicago, Conley was involved in a serious accident. In the fourth race aboard Sky Pilot, the horse broke his right leg and collapsed on the track. Conley went down with the horse. He suffered a “severely injured” back as a result of the fall. He lay unconscious and had to be carried off the track. He soon recovered and by August, 1904 he was back in the saddle riding at a track in St. Louis. Conley’s name appears in a July, 1907 newspaper aboard Paul at the Latonia Track in Kentucky.

Conley’s name disappears from the newspapers for several years. However, in 1911 at the age of about 41, he tried to make a comeback by entering the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 13. In a field of seven horses, Conley, astride Colston, took third place, while the winner, Meridian, set a record for the course, having run the distance in 2:05:00. Conley’s horse lost by 15 lengths.

Final years

After his performance in the 1911 Kentucky Derby, Conley’s name again disappears from the newspapers for several years. Finally, a New York Herald, October 23, 1920, p. 11 article appeared which provides information about the twilight of his career.

The article reads:

“Conley is probably the oldest jockey in the world. He admits to forty-six, and his friends say he has passed the fifty mark. He is ‘Long Shot’ Jess Conley, who a generation ago was considered one of the best in the country. In 1904 he rode five winners in one day, and time and again guided home three and four winners a day. His last winning mount was in 1912. Since then he has had an occasional mount. He has earned his living exercising in the morning rather than riding in races.”

The writer has been unable to determine when and where he died. Unfortunately, Jess “Long Shot” Conley has yet to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Tod Sloan

What happened to Tod Sloan? Sloan returned to England in 1899 and continued to win horse races, but he also exhibited violent behavior. In June, 1899 Sloan was dining at a restaurant at the Ascot Race Course. A waiter accidentally spilled a drink on his clothing. Sloan jumped out of his chair and smashed the waiter in the face with a champagne bottle. Blood flowed freely and the man had to be taken to a hospital. This incident, considered a “cowardly and repulsive act,” turned public opinion against him.

In 1900 Sloan again raced in England. By this time he had become an international celebrity, who dined in expensive restaurants in the company beautiful society women. Sloan also associated with racetrack gamblers, which cast him in a negative light. Sloan got in trouble when he entered a race and bet on his horse to win, a violation of the rules. The track officials investigated this infraction and in December, 1900 decided not to renew his license as a jockey. The U.S. track officials honored the ban. Sloan was unable to compete as a jockey in England or the U.S. His career as a jockey was over when he was only 26 years old.

Composer George M. Cohan wrote a Broadway musical loosely based on Sloan‘s career as a jockey in England. The musical, Little Johnny Jones, had two hit songs, “Give My Regards to Broadway” and “Yankee Doodle Boy.’ Little Johnny Jones opened in 1904 on Broadway, New York City, at the Liberty.

Business Ventures

After Sloan lost his license to ride, he became involved in several business ventures that lost a lot of money. In 1907 he and a partner opened a billiard parlor in New York City. The business failed. The same year he married Julie Sanderson, an actress. They were divorced in 1913 because of his gambling addiction. He later in 1914 moved to Paris and bought a bar. He soon lost interest and sold it to one of the bartenders, Harry MacElhone, who renamed it Harry‘s Bar,. Under new management, Harry‘s Bar became a famous watering hole for Americans and expatriates.

About this time Sloan also wrote his autobiography, titled “Tod Sloan by Himself,” which was published in 1915. The book is still in print.

Unable to control his spending habits, by 1920 he had squandered the fortune he had earned as a jockey. In 1920 he married another actress, Elizabeth Malone. They were divorced in 1927 because of “habitual intemperance.”

Steed of Death

Sloan drank himself to death. When he was dying, an article appeared in the Los Angeles Times about his anticipated demise. It reads in part, “He rode from obscurity and poverty to acclaim and wealth and then he rode back to poverty and obscurity again. Now he waits for his last mount-the pale steed of death.” He died in Los Angeles of cirrhosis of the liver on December 21, 1933 at the age of 59 years. He was buried in Glendale in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. In 1955 he was elected to the United States Racing Hall of Fame.

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This story is reprinted from the Summer, 2018 Journal of the Emeryville Historical Society.