The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-04
NEW YORK BETTING MEN.
The Book-Malsers of the Metropolis, and
the Amounts They Win aud Lose.


the Amounts They Win aud Lose.
New York sun.
"John, how much do I owe your"
Seventeen fifty"
The first speaker drew large roll of money
from an inside pocket, counted out seven
teen 800 notes, and adding $50 note TO the
pile, handed it to the man who said severn
teen fifty.
The two men were sitting on the starboard
side of the steamboat st. John, forward. On
their way to the Monmouth Park races
They were young members OF the book
making fraternity and were SURROUNDED nv
betting men and others connected sim tbs
turf. A cool breeze coming in through the
gansways rendered the party good-hunInTed
and soclable.
How many book-makers are there" in
quired an interested listener,
"Forty-two," replied one of the guild.
"How much money do you book on an
average race day?''
"How much passes through our handsgft
Eyes"
"On a good day, at Sheepshead Bay, for in-
stance, the heavy men will average $2000)
EACH while some of the new lightweghts will
not book more than few hundred dollars"
What is the highest bet ever booked in
this countryP'
THE Plunger bet Horton, Charley Reeds
partner $4,000 to 81, 900 on 'Girohe,' in her
race with Barrett and 'Bootjack' last fall at
Sheepshead Bay, and Charley Reed bet the
Plunger another $4,000 even on the same
race"
who is the freest better among horse
men?'
Pierre Lorillard He has placed $4,000
on a race. He bets in an off-hand indiserim-
mate way, and backs his own horses hand
somely. The Dryers back their stable heav-
lily at times as well as the horses of other
owners. They are more careful than Pierre.
Ex-Governor Bowie is a strong hacker. The
owners of the horses run under shrewd old
Eph. Snedeker's name, including Gehhard,
occasionally dive in deeply; the Days chip
up their money freely; in fact, all the own
ers, trainers, jockeys and even stable-boys
take their chances"
When betting in the great ring becomes
dull the book-makers often jump at each
other. Gray headed James E. Kelly, when
the fit is on, will put up from s. 900 to So
600. He has won and lost more money prob
ably than any other member of the fraterri-
ty. When young man be worked at plas-
tering for 81 a day. One hot Saturday night
he threw down his tools swearing that he
would starve before he would handle them
again. Young David johnson, son OF Thorn
as, is the most lmpulsiye gambler in the
ring. His shout of $500 to 81, o00' was
the cause of his paying over the former
amount to brother book maker recently.
Cridge Co. and few others will risk many
thousands on a race, but the majority con-
fine their possible losses to about So, 600.
| Heavy individual betting is exceptional,
however. The bulk of the money, which.
sometimes aggregates a quarter of million
a day in books, mutual and auction pools.
and com binations, comes from the general
throng of race-goers,
In the crowd that journeys to the races are
groups of rollicking wide-awake Irishuen.
Many of them are saloon-keepers, livery
stable keepers tradesmen, and politicians
bau nj Of =. III .ok
freely. On hearing them discuss the merits
OF the horses, what weights they can carry
and win. what distance suits them best,
which is the fastest horse on dry track and
which is the best slayer in the mud, one
wonders how they can possibly lose. That
they do lose may be inferred from the male
dictions hurled on the homeward trip at
horses and jockeys who, the losers swear,
might have won if they had raced and ridden
differently.
Next in number come marketmen and pros
porous dealers who begin their labors in the
morning and finish by noon, and others
whose work commences at gas-light and lasts
until the small hours. Brokers, club-men,
men about town, actors, sporting men of all
grades, professional men of light practice,
sinecure ofhce-holders, gentlemen of leisure
and their families, clerks and young fellows
on their summer vacation, literary men en-
gagged on furnishing weekly and monthly
publications. and billiard men all help to
swell the crowd. Women have become inn
bued with the betting mania until there are
now hundreds of regular betting specta-
tors in the ladies' section of the grand stand.
Messenger boys are employed in carrying
perfumed crisp bills from the occupants OF
private boxes, as well as rumpled and greasy
money from the wives and daughters OF plain
people in the tier below, to be exchanged for
the little colored tickets covered with cabal-
istic figures.