The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-08-02
TRACK sUPERsTiTloNs.
QUEER BELIEFS HELD BY THOSE WHO
BET ON HORSE RACES.

QUEER BELIEFS HELD BY THOSE WHO
BET on HORSE RACES.
"How is IL that gamblers, and es-
pecially gamblers on the turf, are so
superstitious q
This question was asked of an old
race goer recently, but he denied al
together that they were superstitious.
He said ; Stacking horses in a race is
all game of chance. You may have
the very best horse in the race and
may back him heavily, but through
some mshap, such a. the horse being
pocketed, or slipping his bride, he
may be beaten. Now these mishaps
make the chance in the game, aud
there are certain signs that all race
gocrs believe in that tell when to back
a certain horse and when TO let him
alone. Why, would no more think
of backing horse that these signs and
omens said would not win than l
would attempt to fly
"How is it, then, that you don't al
ways win2 Are the signs sometimes
wrong ~
"Never. The signs are always
right, but we don't always read them
correctly, aud even when we do we
sometimes think we know best. Then
we have TO suffer for our conceit."
SAW THE WINNER IN A DREAM.
a"Just tell me of some of the signs
that you go by"
"First of all, | never make bet un-
less l have my mascot with me. 1t is
S. gold piece. If l should happen
to leave it at home just watch the
race. Sometimes have tried to win
when l have not that gold piece with
me, but always lost, and so now
have gwen it up. found that gold
piece several years ago when coming
through the gates Of Jerome park. ]
only had a five dollar bill with me tha.
day, aad in the FIRST race / placed it on
a horse that won and paid S56,75 for
$5. | concluded that the S. gold
piece was meant to bring me good
luck, and I determined to keep it.
That day l won $760, and every since
l have never been without money.
monday is bad day to lose on.
If one starts the week badly then you
may be sure it will end badly. II /
lose on Monday rarely make another
bet until the next Monday comes
around. Sometimes have varied this
rula nd t,.,nI 20 ,y,, h,,t e., ,~f
use.
"In lacing my shoe this morning /
laced it wrong. If had left it laced
wrong all would have been well and
should have won, but instead | unfast-
ened it aud relaced it. That is sure
sign of ill luck ...
Some bettors believe in dreams.
They will sometimes dream that a GER
tain horse will win race, and theh
back that horse when he next runs.
An old turfman told this story about 3
dream recently:
sit was two days before the Grea1
American stakes was run at GravesenE
l dreamed of the race. / saw quit
distinctly number of horses start, ant
one, big chestnut, win. Who he was
| l could not make out. / tried all DAY
long to find out the name of this horsf
but it was of no use. l had his pic
ture stamped on my mind, and when
got to the track tried again TO fad ou
the name of this youngsier, but it wa,
no use. just as the horses were going
to the post recognized my winner ip
the dream. 1t was August Belmont's
st. Carlo, ridden by Garrison. | rush
to the ring and managed to put OF
some money. Well, you know st
Carlo won, and / won 5000. Thatt
one reason why believe in dreams.
Many believe that a hunchback il
sure sign of luck In this uperstitior
turfmen do not agree with actora
Many an actor has refused 10 play be.
cause he has seen hunchback in tht
audience, and he believes it a sure sign
of i'll luck. Turfmen think differently
They say if you are in search of good
luck never let hunchback pass with
out touching the bump, no matter how
lightly-'he tips of the fingers will do.
Some say that you must WISH for luck
at the same time that you touch the
hunchback, and in order TO work the
charm the hunchback must be aware
of your action.
Cross eyed persons brink good and
bad luck with them. If man sees q
cross eyed woman he will have good
luck, but this cross eyed woman will
bring bad luck to another woman. IT
the same way cross eyed man vii
bring good luck to a woman and baG
luck to man.
ALL GAME OF CHANCE.
All patrons of the race course arr