News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-24
WOMEN AT HORSE RACES.
The Degrading E=ect of their tlsits-oo"e
scenes af Brighton Beach,
[From the Brooklyn Union.l ]


Two.tbirds of those who came in to
the Brighton Beach track the other day
were women unaccomplnied by gentle
men. They were of all ages, from the
blooming maiden of sixteen to the gray
haired woman of unmentionable age.
There was blase appearance about the
most of them that induced reflection
and led to observation. Many OF them
before entering the stand spent some
time in the refreshment room, where
they drank beer and talked with jockeys,
getting tips. Many of them were hand
somely dressed, while others were poor
ly attired. Ali Were feverish and ex-
cited, and talked horse in way that
would have aroused the admiration Of
stable boy.
One woman of small stature, and evi-
IDENTIFY possessed of limited means,
fitted nervously about, now talking to
one jockey and now to another, and then
to some regular attendant at the track,
getting points and discussing the merits
of the horses. ''Oh," she said, to
woman who was sitting near her, ''lf l
could only get one winner to-day that
paid large, / would be happy. All 1
want Is one" On another corner two
well dressed women were talking TO a
homelv negro. whose particular forte IS
hurdle racing. "You are sure, one Oh
them was saying, ''that this morse w4ll
win IN this race, and this ore IN tHe
hext"
"Sure rs Gospel, was the reply.
Another group consisted OF we'll
dressed women and a colored woman
The latter had been to Monmouth PARK
and had lost, and she was saying: Use
come keah to win.' One of the white
women suggested making up purse
with her for luck. She consented, and
they made up purse, striking Illus
tration of the fact that horse racing as
well as politics makes strange bed tel-
lows.
In one corner of the grand stand sat
woman who was betting heavily. She
was as nervous as a person with st.
Vitus's dance. When she lost, her face
was a painful sight to witness, and
when she won she was like school
girl.
'eThere is no use talking" said an old
and well-known attendant at the race
tracks. 81 have watched it for a long
time, and tell you the race track IS
thousand times worse for women than
for men. / have known respectable
married women to come here when their
husbands knew nothing about 1t, and IN
a short time become moral wrecks. 1t
is a fearfully degrading sport for wo-
men. They cannot stand it. 1t is all
right for a man to take his wife once IN
a while to a respectable track, but when
he lets her bet on the race he is leading
her into a path which will end in his
disgrace"
Eyes" said another, ''it is easily
brought about. A woman comes here
alone. She bets her money on horse
and losses. She does not know what to
do. Some fellow gives her money and
helps her out. He meets her the next
time she comes and gives her points.
After that he becomes hero in her eyes,
and then begins what ends In the old
story of disgrace A track is not MT
Mace for woman to attend alone, and
when she begins to bet she hangs the
first stone around her neck tina browns
her. l am not moralist, and bet as
much on races as the average man, but
I would rather see my wife dead than to
have her here mixing with the crowd
and betting money when carried away
with excitement"