The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-11-20
Women Betting at the Races.
One of the most striking features


acquired over the gentler sex. The I
days of wagering boxes of gloves or
bonbons are practically over, and the
keenness with which women pursue the |
mighty dollar in the betting ring is
little short of marvellous to the merely |
casual race goer. Time was when |
ladies did not attend races save in the |
company of their husbands, brothers,
or intimate male friends. Now for q
great number of women who go racing
male escort is superfiuous; in fact, he
is in The way. There are messengers
on the grand stand who do all the buy
inc Of tickets and also the cashing in
for 4mall percentage, and do it much
more quickly and reliably than the
ordinary male race goer can do. The
consequence is that regular hen parties
are now made mp for the races, and pin
money goes in way amazing to behold
to the unsophisticated husband or
father.
In its milder stage the betting fever
among women is rather amusing, and
providing the female hacker is provided
with liberal allowance of common
sense, it viii lead to no particular HARM
The writer numbers among his
acquaintance a lady whom her hus-
band has taken to races very frequently
during the past three or four years. He
never bets himself, but he allows her
from twenty to twenty-five dollars day
to invest. She starts in every year with
charming enthusiasm to bet nationally
and carefully, so as to make enough
money to buy liberal presents for hus-
band and friends, but in her career thus
far she has failed Mgnally. She made
her beginning this year at Sheepshead
Bay, and impaired to the writer in con-
fdence that she intended to buy ''con-
versation chair" for her husband with
the proceeds of her Coney Island invest
ments. The first three days she was
out, but last Tuesday she got a fresh
supply of money 1t melted like ice
under a blazing July sun. Finally she
began to grow demoralized, and bought
one of the twenty five cent tips, y which
ran her deeper into difficulties. Dear
me- she said sadly, on the way home,
'ssuch luck! After the second race l
began to give up all hope of getting
money for chair, but did hope that
I would win sufficient to purchase d
couple of tides. Now, even they have
| flown to the dim distance.
While this lady was unlucky, how
ever, there was bevy of fair ones bet
ting Immediately behind Ter who
picked winners with startlingly uni
| form success. There were four of them
and they won six out of the seven races
on the card. They were adopts in the
use of racing slang. They knew all
about ''pace'f and Judgment, They
| praised Lewis's '.strong finish and
condemned Mclaughlin for having rid
den War Eagle ''all over the place. !"
Altogether, they were experts, in a
measure, aud they probably had paid
dearly for their experience. They en-
and excitement of betting had as much
attraction for them as the mere gam
bling part of the transaction.
At Brighton Beach one secs the worst
side of betting among women. Day
after day, rain or shine, enc can see the
same faces atthe lower end of the stand,
all outwardIy indifferent. but the same
time intensely interested in form, condi-
ton. weights and jockeys. The racing
itself does not interest them. They do
not even take the trouble of looking al
the contests. A finish may cause them
to arise; but it is only to see whether the
horse they have backed is doing well.
They win or lose with the most philo-
sophical outward Indifference. An in
stance occurred few days ago, within
the hearing of the writer, which fully
shows to what an extent women will &c
that have become enslaved to betting.
It was the race which Vocalic won al
Sheepshead Bay last Saturday. The
finish between him and Miss Brewster
was a very close one and from that part
of the stand where the writer sat il
looked very much as if the FLY had wor
by a nose. Immediately behind tht
writer sat middle-aged woman OF ma
tronly proportions and demeanor. Hel
face was white with suppressed excite
ment. In fact, she was so nervous tha
she did not trust herself to look at the
race. When Miss Brewster challenged
Vocalic in the stretch she arose, how
ever, and big beads appropriation started
on her forhead. As the horses shot pas
the post she clutched the writer's arm
and hoarsely inquired: ''What do yol
think won, sirP'' Miss Brewster, be
lieve." was the reply. ..My Godr' sh,
exclaimed, 'sdon't tell me that
have backed the other one." A few
minutes after, Vocalic's number wen
/ up. The woman almost cried with iov
THAT saved me, she said, forgettin,
her reserve in her delight. "Itook fit,
. dollars which nv husband had lait
aside to pay the interest on loan
Twenty-Five dollars went on the othe
races. and attracted by Vocalic's Ugh
weight, I determined to risk all tia
was left on him. Had Vocalic lost,
am afraid that [ could not have face,
| my husband. Now, however, win on
hundred and fifty dollars. which puts m
nearly fifty dollars to the good on tn
: meeting"
Occurrences like this make even th
most enthusiastic male plunger loo
J rather queerly at his faForite amuse
ment or mode of speculation, whateye
9 he chooses to call 1.-THE Hour.
+ Among the Antilles.