Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-29
BETTING ON THE RACES.
Touts and Others Who Thrive ON the
Gullibility Of Greenhorns.

The pool lawn or DIETING ring. /" as IL ia more
generally known in England, il q necessary adj
junet to every horse race. Here il is the small
speeulator eagerly strives to double his invest
ment, while the more daring gambler presses
MS luck or stakes his all in the
hope Of regaining his lost money.
The bookmakers, for such is the name they
are known by, who occupy the small stands in
the betting ring, and offer chances to bet on
every horse in the race, are usually jolly lot,
and spend their money freely. The business
is very fascinating" said one of them, "and If
properly conducted is sure to pay" Horse
races give employment TO q large number Of
persons, while the contingency known as
''touts, or those who give tips on the races,
are q wandering set, following the races and
disposing of their information for a considers
ton. They are as a rule a shrewd Set, and
would resort 70 anything for money. Their
fayorite plan is to hang around the betting
ring until they see a green one, a small specu-
lator. Approaching him in a mysterious fash
ion, they draw him aside, and exacting
a promise from him not to divulge
what he hears, gives him a tip, or
in other words tells him of q horse that Is sure
to win. He is so confident earnest, and even
pathetic in his appeals not to let the ''good
thing" go by that the ''greeny" puts bet on it.
The tout" having satisfied himself that the
Oct 0hS Deeu ulduc, ne udrkB MS man ana goes
for another. This time the tip is not the same,
yet he is equally confident Of its success. Per-
suaded by the apparent genuineness Of the in
formation the greeny tries his luck. Marking
this one the tout" goes for another until he
has given many different tips to as many
men.. jas there are horses in the race. The race
Is run; sometime an outsider" wins. This is
the ''tout's" picnic. Recalling from his notes
the man to whom he gave the tip, he stations
himself at the cashiers box of the bookmaker
where the bet was laid and waits for him. The
man soon arrives in the best of spirits over his
luck, csshes his ticket, and goes off arm-in-arm
with the tout" who reminds him that he made
him beat the race and that he should give him
something. This is usually done and the tip
ster departs, as he says, for additional informa-
ton on the next race, and chuckles over the
guilelessness Of youth. Sometimes he ap-
proaches one of his victims and consoles him
with some romantic story about the jockey
pumping the horse out, contrary to the owners
directions, and of his having been fined This
ready to stake more money on the reliable in
formation"
The 'touts' are not the only ones who live
from tipping. There are others, but they prac-
tiee their vocation in another and probably
more honest way. Cards bearing the names of
the probable winner in every race are sold by
them and their agents at the modest sum Of
Is cents, and now and then if followed prove
profitable. There is great competition, how
ever, in this business, and on account of the
many kinds Of such cards for sale, are rapidly
losing favor. 1t is simply lottery.