Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-03-19
suPERsTITIoNs OF OLD SPORTS.
some singular Fancies of People
Who Live by Plucking the
Public.

"No I'm not betting to-day" was
the reply OF a sporting man
in answer to an inquiry from another of
his ilk whether he had bought any pools
in the race last Saturday.
Busted" was another laconic.inquiry.
"No, but | laced one OF my shoes up
wrong this morning. It's bad sign.
I'll let 'em alone to-day"
"Are you superstitious?"
81 frankly confess that | am" he re-
piled, as he lit cigar, land | don't
know OF sporting man or gambler that
is not superstitious; and, furthermore,
do not believe there is human being
living who is not. OF course some are
more so than others, but take gamblers
and horsemcn as class and you will find
that each one has his own peculiar quilp.
Now, this morning laced my shoe up
wrong II / had left il that way it would
have been lucky day for me, but l
didn't; l unlaced it, and I'll bet two to
one that if l bought horse he would
break his neck before he came under the
string"
"That's quite interesting. Would you
mind giving me some OF your expert
ences? What do you consider lucky,
omen?"
u
omen, Ell? That's Just as the idea strikes
me. When was in New York last sum
mer | used TO count white horses. Say |
was standing at the corner Of Fulton
street and Broadway. I'd take out my
watch-when had one-and time my
self and count the number of white horses
that turned from Broadway into Fulton
street during five minutes time. | would
sometimes go on the odd numbers and
sometimes on the even. Like this: If |
made up my mind on even horses and
the even number went by during the five
minutes, then would be lucky, and vice
versa"
81 have heard OF gamblers visiting for
tune tellers for tips. Do you ever visit
them ?"
"Many u time, sir. Here's one in
stance. am red-hot Republican, and
was backing Jim Blaine to sheol and
gone, when went one day to see for
tune-teller. Says she: you have been
making foolish bets; go and bet the other
way all that you have-all the money
you can beg or borrow l told her was
betting on Blaine, and she said: Wait.
Then she went into another room and
came out in about n minute. Cleveland
will be elected rs sure as you sit there in
that chair, but he will never serve his
term ont That was paralyzer, but
took stock in it. for she never fooled me
in her life. | hedged and bet on Grover,
my hedge, and OF Kelly, the boot-maker.
Here's another instance from the same
woman: had been playing in hard luck
till l had only $12 left. l went to her
and told her how was fixed and that |
wanted tip on the races. She told me
to read the names of the horses to her.
did so, and when got through the list
she said: 'Tilford is the only one am
sure Of; bet your money on Tilford.'
went down to the track and when the
horses went to the post there were only
four tickets on him.
That was n bonanza, you know, if he
won. 1 bought one IS ticket. The track
regular duck pond, slosh up to the horses
knees. Tilford came in last. Oh, for
got; he was entered for two races that
day. The next race he was in heard
that Mike Daily, the man who owned
him, wanted to scratch him, but the
judges wouldn't have it. That wasn't
very encouraging, but stuck to him and
put my last flyer on him. His jockey
famed him every jump and brought him
in winner by two lengths. | got five
hundred odd dollars for my So ticket. So
much for fortune-tellers' tips. Some for
tune-tellers are snides, but take one edu-
Gated, or that has it naturally born in
him, and they get there as general
rule"
"You gamble with cards, do your"
80, yes; make my living as sport
ing man"
"Does your superstition affect you in
playing cards?"
Yes, indeed. Ii i am going to play
cards for money | always hunt up beg
gar and give him some money for luck
| have walked sometimes two miles tc
find beggar, but don't have to do il
here. There is one on every corner.
knew gambler in New York who goes
daily to an Italian on Green street, who
has these little canaries who tell fortunes
by pulling an envelope out OF pack. lie
always follows the advice OF the bird ,ant
have actually seen him shed tears ovel
some of the slips he got, not from grief
but from vexatioI, II it went against hi
grain"
Have you ever been at any OF tn,
European gambling places?"
ooh, yes, was at Monaco"
"How does the old thing work there p
"Oh, the same as here or anywhere
else. supposed when you were boy
at school, and chose sides for town-ball
. you chose up for innings by splitting on d
stick and calling wet or dry for choice
haven't your"
eyes, many Il time"
"IIa, ha! Well, one evening did tn,
same thing at Monaco. | threw up tn,
stick and called dry and dry it was.
/. went and played roulette. quit 20 ,OOt
francs winner at midnight. have had
gamblers tell me that they had acquired
the habit Of trying their luck in diferen
ways, but ! claim it's not habit-it'
nature, born in a man, and never comes
, out. Why, know dozens of people VIII,
, laugh at superstition that will have cas-
i OF the dumps ii they see the new moor
, over their right shoulder for the frs
They, think II they see it over their lief
shoulder and make q wish they will ge
their wish,-Aha California.