The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-09-02
Sports shrewdly Tricked By Victim

The topic of conversation to- day in
sporting circles is the race Of yesterday,
over the Guinotte track. Lit is story too
good TO keep, but out of pure sympathy
tor the lacerated feelings OF a dozen gentle
men who thought they knew thing or two
about horses, but who were badly picked
up by greenv yesterday, we won't give
the names OF he sufferers
The race last y ednesday afternoon was
attended hy quite a number from this city
and elsewhere. Among those present was
an old, seedy-looking farmer from near
Richmond. Ray county. Along the fence
he bad three lank, raw boned horses tied.
After the advertised races We're concluded,
the aged agiiculturist was bantered to put
up some money on one OF his plugs, and
SO help to get up scrub race. lie re-
piled that he believed that animal pointing
to AN old mare who stood with her head
down and half asleep, could run pretty
tolerably well II she was trained. But,
said he, she s been at work all spring and
summer, and ain fl TO run now.
While several sports were trying to ca
jole the old fellow into wager, another
party slipped around to the rear Of the
stable where stood Punch, very feet
goer, Tor Il race OF three hundred yards.
Punch Is, in fact, one Of the fastest racers
for short distance, that is to be found in
the State The blanket was stripped from
the nag, an old rope halter, torn bride
and haif-worn saddle placed on him, and
lie was quietly led short distance and
tied to fence.
After considerable talk, the veteran son
OF the soil burst cut with the proposition
TO bet So that his mare could beat any
other ordinary horse on the ground. He
was then taken TO where Punch was tied
saw that the animal looked to be anything
but horse kept for racing, and expressed
himself satisfied to run his mare against
that dir horse
Then dozen offers to put greenbacks
against his old nag were offered. The
farmer who appeared to lose all his wits,
took up the bets one after another till he
had staked $50 against an equal amount
put up hy several parties, in sums OF from
$40 to $50.
1t was agreed to postpone the race till
yesterday afternoon. The sports Of this
town rode back 10 the city in high eee
They lad sure thing on that confdIng
old rustic, they thought, and INDUCED
among themselves III ali sorts OF Witticlsms
over his simplicity.
v hen the time for the race occurred the
foolish farmer was promptly on band =
Again he was tempted to stake more money
and he rccklessly plunged down into the
depths of his pocket after Qreenbacks until
he had wagered 81 500 Sums Of $500
and less amounts had been stated by the
knowing ones of this town, who chuck
led over the soft thing they had secured
until the entire Pile OF the 'greenbacks
had been covered.
Tie word to go was given amid the
Wild shouts and loud laughter Of the back
ers Of Punch. Go it, old sorrel !'-'Hur
~ up that mare !! and other jeering ex
pressions passed from month to mouth.
The old sorrel did just more than hurry
up. She shot ahead OF the racer Punch,
kept the head easily and came in the wins
uer by forty feet.
Well WASH that a sick crowd of sport
ing men, as the Old 'greenhvrn received
the fifteen hundred dollars be had won
Shouldu't wonder. And when they rode
away from the track yesterday afternoon
did they 'cackle' to any perceptibe degree?
Scarcely. The nice trap they had fixed
for the old man didn't catch him, but he
worked out his own little game most beau>
tifuiIy.-hdRS City Bulletin. JulV 80.