The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-08
FORTUNES IN THE POOLS.
vICrssITUDEs OF THE SPORTING MEN DURING
THE PRESENT RACING SEASON.
New York Graphic, July 81.

There is something almost mysterious In
the sales of pools as viewed by the genera
public. When, however, the novice has once
mastered the system he finds an irresistible
fascination in the speculation. The pool room
affords him an opportunity to back his favor.
ite horse or to speculate upon the general re-
| suit without taking him from his business OF
subjecting him to the inconvenience and ex.
pense of journey to the race courses On
this account the sales of pools in this city are
! very large during the racing season. Neither
are they confined to horse races, but every
thing in which there may be competition
boat-racing, base ball matches, wrestling and
foot races-are legitimate stock in this spe-
cies of speculation.
There are five pool-rooms in this city
Johnson's and the Turf Exchange, at oppo-
site corners of Twenty street and
Broadway; Marshal and Jerry Thomas, at
Thirtieth street and Broadway; the Jockey
Club rooms, at Twenty-seventh street and
Madison Avenue, and James Smiths, No
1146 Broadway. A visit to these places Just
before any event will convince the observer
that more people have fathomed the mysteries
of pool-seiling than is generally suspected.
HOW POOLS ARE SOLD.
The rules upon which the sales are con-
Quoted are uniform at all the rooms. There
are two classes of pools sold-auction pools
and Paris mutuals.
The tickets in all mutual pools are five dol
lars each As they are bought on particular
horse or the "6eld" to win, an indicator regis
ters them. This indicator is lett unmolested
until the day following the event, to allow of
an opportunity for any one to examine the
numbers against any entry. When the event
is finished, the winning tickets are imme-
dediately cashed upon presentation, the
H. -
In the conduct d auction pools, 80 far as
the bidding is concerned, there is little regu-
larity. The auctioneer usually starts the
sales for the "6rst choice" which allows the
purchaser to select his horse or favorite in
whatever is being sold. In the races the
whole list is frequently sold through for sue
cessive choices Some times the ''field" is
sold. There is no particular rule for the
sales they being governed by the designa-
tons made by the highest bidders. A pur-
chaser in the auction pools receives a card
upon the payment of his bid, and the holder |
Of the winning ticket receives the amount |
there may be IN the pool, less two per cent |
commission deducted by the auctioneer. |
Where cards are not Immediately paid for
hey are resold.
The English system of book betting was
adopted this season in this country for the
irst time, and is generally popular. Regis
ers are kept at the pool rooms for this class
If wagers, and steady frequenters of the track
nave fallen into the custom of the old coun.
ry by carrying their own books. The system
8 patronized by large number of gentlemen,
and other private individuals, who
re the heaviest betters on the races. They
eldom buy in their own names, and regis
cred bets are herm etically sealed against the
curiosity Of outsiders.
FORTUNES OF THE FAvoRITEs.
The present season has been disastrous for
he hackers Of favorites in horse racing, the
,reatest disappointment having been met
With at the Monmouth and Saratoga courses, |
While at the Jerome Park the favorites barely
leld their places and saved their hackers.
The p" fields" too are much larger this year, {
nd the uncertainties of locating the winner
re correspondingly increased. They were
experienced early, and have multiplied to '
be great loss of the hackers of favorites as |
be season has advanced.
In the race for the Belmont stakes at Je- I
ONE Park, June 12-witnessed. it is est- I
hated, by 5000 people-McGrath's Calvin was !
he winner, Aristides and Chesapeake being
o the rear. Both the last-named horses had /
cen heavily backed by private bets. The '
dds offered and taken on this race were
alvin, two to one; Chesapeake and Aristides, Il
ach four to one; while more than half
,ore of entries sold from five to one to twen- II
to one. 6
1t is one of the axioms of men who bet c
eavy to "stick as they stand and they sell Il
ON hedge on favorite. The vicissitudes "
the season indicated by the race for the
elmont stakes, the sales of pools, and large :,
cts by outsiders in the other races, only con-
rmed them in their policy to follow up their
rogramme at the Monmouth Park races. AL. .
ough it is estimated that 100000 changed u
ands at Jerome Park, the hackers of favor
Is had not suffered much. In racing at 81
ong Branch the favorites were beaten in the q
ents on which the most money was placed, :.
ID instead of getting even on what losses ~
ID been sustained at Jerome Park they were CT
rgely augmented. Aristides and Chesa- CO
AXE failed to meet the expectations Of ID
ose who knew their points" best, and they
d been heavily backed both in the pools AZ
ID by outsiders. The following resume of ct
me of the races at Long Branch will Illus
ate the varying fortune of the favorites:
HEAVY BLOW TO THE BETTING MEN. vi
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