Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-06
E 1928
Smith d Co.
Punster.
WAITING TO WIN.

Having made your bet you now await the re-
suit OF the race. The room is connected by
wire with the race track over which the race is
to be run, and you are not only enabled to 30
learn of the result but also of the race az it il
run. This telegraph wire is an endless source
of information to the patrons of the room,
which information is promptly shouted out or
placed upon the board. First, the state Of the
weather and of the track is placed: next the
scratches" or horses withdrawn; next the
names of the jockeys; then comes the first track
betting, the second and finally the third. A
very few minutes after the third track betting
is marked up tick. tick, tick goes the telegraph
instrument, and the operator cries: ''At the
post" That means that the horses have gone
to the starting post. A few late bets are hastily
made and the crowd in the room gathers
about the little Enclosure. Several minutes Of
impatient waiting and the operator cries.:
.'They are off ~ Then, at short intervals, tick.
tick, tick goes the instrument, and descrip-
ton of the entire race is cried out: "At the
half st. James by a length; LOantoka second
half u length ahead of Belwood. At the three
quarter, Loantoka by two lengths; st James
second, a length ahead Of Punster, IT,; Belwood
close up. In the stretch, Loantoka by half a
length; Punster, IT,, second, a neck in front OF
Belwood. Winner'-(and an aggravating wait
follows, during which the probable result is
discussed by the excited, impatient crowd in
nervous, low hispers)-"Punster, jr!'
The silence of the crowd is now broken by
an excited discussion Of the probable causes
leading to the defeat Of the vanquished horses
and the victory Of the winner Tick tick. tick
goes the instrument again and the confirmation
of the result is cried out: "Punster, jr., first,
st. James second, Loantoka third. Time, LIT.
Next race, 49,"
The result is at once marked on the board,
the fortunate winners step up to the cashier .
window to have their tickets cashed and betting
on the next race is begun. Your faith in Pun
a ~ hay haa ,,al a.,
the cashier and hand in your ticket. That
official carefully scrutinizes the record sheet be-
fore him; ascertains your bet to have been duly
made; then, tearing off corner Of the ticket,
marks a ring around the number on the sheet
and hands over TO you $20-the $5 you put up
and the $15 bet against it.
COMBINATION BETS.
There is also another form of betting pursued
in these resorts, viz: Combination bets" This
among the small bettors, and Ia thus described:
From the different horses running in the dif-
ferent races one 10 selected from two or more
races to either win or get "the place." and 90
informing the combination man lwho generally
occupies little enclosure to himsslf), he mem
tons the odds he viii offer against such result
coming TO pass. For instance, you Designate
Punster, r., for "a place" in the first race.
Dodge TO win in the second, KenWood to win in
the third, and Pearl Set for .'ths place
in the fourth; The man might ny '.2t to l."
you put up your money ron would receive .
ticket reciting the names of the horses, thar
position in their respective races and the
amount wagered against your money. Nov,
fcs you e win, Punsssr, r, would have p run
would have 10 win tbs second, Ksawood would
have 10 win the third and Pearl aet would
have TO run not less than second in the fourth.
4 failure 70 do sny one eS these would esuso