National Republican., 1874-05-13
AMONG THE HORSEMEN
POOL SELLIR& FOR THE OPENING
RACE TO-DAY.

LIVELY SCENES AT THE NATIONAL HOTEL
LAST NIGHT-sOME DISSATISFACTION EX-
PRESSED BY THE BETFERS-oNE HORSE
SAID TO BE ENTERED FOR ALL THE
RACBs-KITrY FISK THE FAVoRITE,
TIE commodfous bar-room Of the National
hotelsresented last night scene Of mere than
ordinary animation. 1t was illuminated to Its
fullest extent, the tile floor resoundipg to the
tramp OF many feet and the corridor echoing the
sound of many voices
The occasion for all this vas the announcement
that at O'Clock pools would be sold for the race
to-day-the first of the series under the auspices
OF the Washington TrottinS Association, at
BrightwOod Park. The race is to be for purse
OF $500, open to all the horses owned in the Dis
tTiet prior to March l. 1s74 that have never beaten
three minutes. For this there have been five en-
tries as follows: a 7. Britton enters b. m. Kitty
Fisk; T. Q. johnson. b. m. Golden Belle; b. X.
Perry, b. b. Dan; Robert A Strong, g. m. Char
l0tte Hall Allen Dorsey, b. b. Fenian Boy.
At the north end of the apartment Gen. Horn,
the weIlknoWn horseman, had improvised q
stand for the purpose of selling the pools and at
the south end John Langley was busy Quepching
the thirst of those who had got dry in bidding.
Some, by the way, laid in good supply before
the bidding began. Horn was aided and abetted
by two elerks-one to issue the cards, and the
other to take the astamp;" hut John, with char
acteristic independence, went It alone"
The cT0Wd NUMBERED ABOUT one hundred and
were all horsemen, or would-be horsemen, and
presented a diversified appearance. Some were
hard-hsted, bFAWny hAckmen; some were young
gents who pull tho ribbons over thorough-breds
ip red-wheeled wagons and essay to initiate the
slang Of the jockeys and the oath Of the profane.
Then there were professional jockeys and profes-
sional horse traders Beside them were large
class Of men who own and like good horses, and
would lose good dinner any day to see a race,
70 aftcr the hight q the hrst pool sale, when a
Well-knoEn gentleman made Dan" the favorlte
by buying him as first choice in the pools. The
next day, however, they changed their minds
when it became whispered around in betting cir
cleE that another gentleman equal as an thority
had offered TO bel three thousand dollars that the
they had few dollars TO invest, and they put in
an appearance determined to talk knowingly, but
bet sparingly.
The meeting wss duly called to order by Gen.
Horn, who, after the announcement Of its object
proceeded at once 10 basiness and asked How
much am bid for the irst choice in an unlimited
pOolP" The inquiry was pertinent one, and was
answered in a moment by several gentlemen who
had secured reserved seats, and who seemed to be
1t was a practical illustration Of the saying,
"You pays your money and you takes your
choIee.n They haggied for q little while, bid up
to S25, and then chUse kitty" and stuck to her
through the evening the odds given being almost
quarter in which it did this proved another sur
prise-party the outsiders, but they were dumb
founded when, after Dan" had been selected for
the second choice. tie very man who had offered
to bet the mare could beat "forty," quietly
bought the held for a small gum, ami continued
90 to do.
horn in such matters, naturally sought information
from some OF the bystRnders. They said It was
and as he had to say something, he said 1t looked
go to him. That liked him in the good graces Of
the interrogated, and be continued the converse
tiOn further, iD about this style:
Reporter. What has caused this change in favor
of the mare2
Bys.ander., They say she's q ''trOtter."
B. Why, enough. Its a fast mare that Britton
has brought in quietly for catch" D-n it,
he's entered her for all the races.
r. Isthere any objection TO that?
B. Certainly there is The first race is for horses
that have never beaten three minutes; the second
for those who have never beaten two fttynve;
the third, two forty-hTe and the last, two forty.
r. That does look strange.
b. Strange. 1t looks On mean. don't sup
pose the marc has a record time of three minutes,
but be evidently knew her speed, and as he is
president OF the association, and it has proclaimed
should not have done Il. The fact is the purses
amOunt TO about $500, and he expects to win them
all and thus pay for the mare for she can't stand
him much more than that.
Just then Al addition was made to the party by
the arrival OF gentleman, who interIected re-
mark something like this: What are you fellows
kicking about still on the mare: Why, there's
the man who made all this talk taking the field
against her in every FOOL Well let him take
but maybe I'll give some OF you chance on the
track tomorrow"
what am DID Tor the next cnoice!' cried
Horn, who had been steadily attending to business
while ali this cCnfab was going Gn THE mare
and Dan are sold. and there is go in the pool"
4 bid OF several dollars was soon made, and the
buyer, amid the laughter Of the crowd, took the
''lTish horse" meaning "Fenian Boy"
Tine selling, talking and drinking continued
until about 050 when the announcement was
made that pools would be sold at the track to-
day and the party separated TO meet again upon
the tUrf.
If the weather is fair there Will, doubtless be q
large attendance, and, despite the kicking"
above mentioned among the betteTs, the race Will
evidently Ge an Interesting one.