The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-05-11
BETTING 0N RACES.
The Respective Merits of English Rocks
and American Pools.

| The Respective MrritH OF English Rocks
and American Pools.
The Louisville Ledger says! About
two years since, Mr., George Wilkes, Of
the New York Spirit of the Times, in
troduced into this country the English
system of betting on American race
courses. 1t is true Mr., Wilkes did not
himself open the books, but by repeat
cdly calling attention to the advantages
which books offered, and by pcrSuading
John MorriSscy first, and afterwards
Kelly and bliss, books were opened in a
few of the leading stables at Jerome
Park and Saratoga.
But notwithstanding the success which
attended the venture, even to this day
Saratoga, Jerome Park and Long Branch
are the only courses whose stakes have
been honorcd with a book Louisville,
New Orleans, Nashville, Lexington, Bal
timorc, and, in fact, all other courses, are
dependent entirely ON the old plan--th
American pool.
There are many advantages in the
English plan which ours does not enjoy
but ON the whole, if we were to be de
privcd Of either, We should he compelled
to own a preference for the American
pool. However, ~ there are many of
our readers who have but a vague idea
of English books, we explain the matter
n little before saying anything OF its
advantages
In England, the bOok.makcr is the
party who lays odds against the various
horses entered for the stake and 50 il the
book plan as introduced among Ms, Say,
for example, that Ten Brock, George
Graham, Volcano Emile Cobb, Jack
Trigg, and Judge Wells are entered for
II cup race, at p miles, The book.makcr
would look at the recorded performances
of each horse, what he could learn OF his
private doings at home, and then would
set about making up his betting list,
which is called the book From the lot
above, it would be almost certainty
that Ten Brock would win the race
but then he might break down before
the race took place, or he might not start,
or might he scratched by his owner or
some Of the thousand accidents which |
horse flesh is heir to, might Ovcrtakc |
him; 50 the bookmakcr would say: 81
will lay four to one that Ten Brock does
not win" Looking at George Graham
with the above chances against him,
rddcd to the fact that if he and Ten
Brock came together all right, that
George would certainly he compelled 10
lake second place, he would lay seven
TO one against him; about the same
Igainst Emile Cobb, with ten to one
against Volcano, and fifteen to one against
Jack and the ,judgc-and thus would
his book be complete. In this book he
limits himself to n loss of ten or twenty
thousand dollars OF course only one
horse can win and as bets are against
them all, every bet which il laid, cx-
ccpting the one against the winner, is
cash to the book makers pocket. Soalso
is bet which lays on horse that breaks
down or does not start, and this, in fact,
is the chief profit rcapcd, for in a stake
,f forty horses perhaps only ten will come
o the string, and of these ten but one
AN win, excepting in case of dead heat
when half is paid to each horse; and it
5 from the large amounts received from ,
hose which do not win that bOOk-makcrs
re enabled to lay such heavy odds ,
gainst the different contestants.
The great advantages in the English
ystcm arc-Onc knows exactly how
much money he will win or lose by bet.
ing on any named horse; that he can
ct as small or as large a sum AS he may
csirc that he has no per ccntage to pay
n his winnings; that he can place the
ct at any time during the season when
e has the money to suarc, and is not ;
rampcd all at once. But the greatest
dvantage lies, where properly it should, {
0 the owner Of the horse, the party who I
pcnds his money and time in creating :
port. Say, for instance, that an owner
Ias Il colt which he has entered in vari-
MS stakes as u two year old, and which
las run unsucccsSfully ny did Calvin and
Bennington, here the owner has run into
,rcat expense. When the three-yCar old
takes are announced very heavy odds
ire placed against his horse In Cal
'in's instance thirty to one was given by
he book. k.makcrs But very frequently
colt shows wonderful improvement at
hrcc over his two year old career. OF
curse at home and by his owner is this
rSt known. Aagain, recurring to Cal
in, in thiSvcry manner was Mr.. McGrath
nablcd to win $4,000 for $500, as Cal !
in won his three year old stakes right
# the reel, while as Il two year old he I
as worth nothing at all (
Under the pool system this would 4
ave been absolutely impossible, for ~ {
ne colt had been gaIlopcd on the track, :
alf the bummers of the town would be ;
ling in fence corners catching his time {
nd telling of the discovery made. /;
Still English books have many disad- !
antagcs, as we have already shown, and /
cslcs, to those who have no means Of !
moving anything about the horses, Il 4
ersonal observation is necessary to Z
Ich as wish to place their money intel
gently, and not altogether frem chance; {
lille in heat race. one has a chance To ,
edge, which is something unknown to
ne English practice. Hedging, in fact
always possible in pools if one will
My take the time to wait his chances,
) pools constantly vary during IN even
" selling to 50 large per cent. in
lct that we would not like to name the
CURE for fear of not being believed.
But the greatest impost which is placed
Al. =. , H..