The Osceola times., 1876-05-06
BETTING on RACES.
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and smerteaa Pooe6.

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Tho 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. II Ia true Mr.. Wilkes did not
himrelf open the books, but by repeat
edly calling attention to the advantages
which books offered, and by persuading
John M0rrisscy 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 honored with book. Iouisville,
New Orleans, Nashville, Lexington, Bal
| timore, and, in fact, all other courses, are
dependent entirely on the old plan--the
American pool.
There arc many advantages In the
English plan which ours does not enjoy
but on the whole, IL we were to be de.
prived of either, we should be compelled
to own a preference for the American
pool. However, as there are many OF
our readers who have but vague idea
Of English books, we explain the matter
little before saying anything OF It's
advantages.
In England, the book-maker is the
party who lays odds against the various
horses entered for the stake, and 80 is the
book plan as introduced among US. Say,
for example, that Ten Broeck, George
Graham, Volcano, Emile Cobb, Jack
Trigg, and Judge Wells are entered for
a cup race, at 2f miles. The book.makeT
would look at the recorded performance
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
shove, it would be almost certainty
that Ten Broeck would win the race; I;
but then he might break down before
the race took place, or he might not start,
or might be scratched by his owner, or
some of the thousand accidents which
horse flesh is heir to, might overtake
him; 30 the book maker would say: al
will lay four to enc that Ten Brock does
not win." Looking at George Graham
added to the fact that II he and Ten
Brock came together all right, that
George would certainly be compelled to
take a second place, he would lay seven
10 one against him; about the same
against Emile Cobb, with ten to one
against Volcano, and fifteen TO one against
Jack and the Judge-and thus would
his book be complete. In this book he
limits himself to loss of ten or twenty
thousand dollars. OF course only one
horse can win, and "a bets are against
them all, every bet which 10 laid, ex'
cepting the one against the winner, Is
cash TO the book makers pocket. Soalsc
il a bet which lays on horse that breaks
down or does not start, and this, In fact
is the chief profit reaped, for in a stak,
of forty horses perhaps only ten will come
TO the string, and Of these ten but one
can win, excepting in case of a dead heat
when half is paid to each horse; and II
is from the large amounts received from
those which do not win that book-makeri
are enabled to lay such heavy odd,
against the different contestants.
The great advantages in the English
system are-One knows exactly how
much money he will win or lose by bet.
ting on any named horse that he can
bet as small or as large sum a. he may
desire that he has no per centagc to pay
on his winnings; that he can place the
bet at any time during the season when
he has the money to SPARE, and Is moi
cramped all at once. But the greatest
advantage lies, where properly 1t should
to the owner Of the horse, the party who
spends his money and time in creating
sport. Say, for instance, that an owner
has colt which he has entered in vari.
Gus stakes rs q two year old, and which
has run unsuccessfully as did Calvin and
Pennington, here the owner has run into
great expense. When the three-year old
stakes are announced very heavy oddi
are placed against his horse. In Cal
wins instance thirty to one was given by
the book makers But very frequently
colt shows wonderful improvement al
three over his two year old career. o.
course at home and by his owner h thi'
first known. Aagain, recurring TO Cal
win, in this very manner was Mr.. McGratf
enabled TO win 415,0 900 for $500, AZ Cal
win won his three year old stakes right
off the reel, while as two year old h
was worth nothing at all.
Under the pool system this woult
have been absolutely impossible, for a
the colt had been galloped on the track
half the bummers Of the town would b,
| lying in fence corners catching his tint
and telling of tho discovery made.
Still English books have many disad
vantages, ~ we have already shown, ant
besides, to those who have no means o
knowing anything about the horses, I
personal observation Is necessary L
such as wish to place their money intel
ligently, and not altogether from chance
while in heat race, one has chance t
hedge. which is something unknown 4
the English practice. Hedging, in fact
is always possible in pools II one will
only take the time to wait his chances
as pools constantly vary during an even
ing selling to no large q per cent. il
fact that we would not like to name tn