Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-09-09
Picking the Winners.

man VINO snuts MS eyes anu puts MS
finger on a name is as talented as any
body. One day last week Mrs. Bou-
cicault, Joe Holland and myself went
to the races at Washington Park.
Holland and myself knew all about
the horses, of course, and were prepar-
ed to make "a killing" but Mrs. Bod
cicault knew nothing about horses or
racing, and went only to look on.
"When he had got snugly seated in
a box l volunteered to take Joe's
money down to bet it for him, and
Mrs. Boucicault said:
"Oh, are you going to bet? Then
I want to make bet too
"She picked up the program then
and began looking over the horses for
the first time. l thought it only
gentlemanly to help her out bit, so
| said:
"Highland is the horse to bet on.
She'll run away from the rest like as
if they were standing still
"'Not bit of it, says Holland.
Virgin II, will win.'
"Mrs. Boucicault wrinkled her fore
head and puckered her lips bit and
said:
"I'll bet on Flower Dellis. Please
bet $5 for me-
"Both Holland and / protested.
Told her it was like throwing money
in the lake. and implored her to pick
out horse that had at least decent
chance to keep within rife-shot of the
winner. But no, she smiled and said:
"I like the name of Flower Dellis,
and I'm going to bet on her.
$50 1 put her So on Flower Dellis,
while played Highland myself and
Virgin III. for Holland. The odds
were way long on Flower Dellis, and
felt as though l was throwing Mrs.
Boucicault's $5 away, but by the
everlasting fates it was the winning
bet after all, and brought in quite
snug sum-"
"For the second race | fancied ST.
Albans and so did Holland. But
Mrs. Boucicault chose Ed. Bell. l
demonstrated.
GO Bell is the favorite,' said, 'and
you can't get more than 8 to 5. It's
no use betting on him. He won't
win, anyhow. He's overweighed.'
"'Well, I'm ahead, SO you may put
up 500 for me- said Mrs. Boucicault.
That'll be worth while, won't itY
81 couldn't talk her out of it, so l
went and put her $40 on Ed. Bell,
while Holland and I played St.
Albans. Of course, Ed. Bell and Mrs.
Boucicault was still further enriched.
She was looking over the entries for
the Quickstep Stakes-you know
there was big field in that event
when she looked up and said:
'Bashford! What queer name
for horse. I'll bet on Bashford.'
81 told her there was very strong
stable tip out on Chief Justice, but
that Miss Knott and Bracelet were in
the race. She said she'd risk 800 on
Bashford, so l went and put it on and
it won.
"In the nextrace she picked Santiago
because he was California horse and
because his name and his stables title
sounded Spanish. That bet also won.
BY this time Holland and l were fol-
lowing her, SO we won something on
Santiago, too, but when it came to
placing money on the last race and
she choose w. G.. Morris as her horse
we rebelled. Holland had sure
thing on Fayette and 1 was hot after
Georgetown. Mrs. Boucicault, how
ever, said she liked the colors worn
by the jockey of w. G. Morris. Be-
sides the horse was the same number
as the horse that won the first race.
These little details escaped us, but
she pinned her faith to them and
wanted $50 put on. / tried in friend
ly fashion to talk her out of such
foolishness, but no. She was deter
mined. She said even if she lost she
would be over 800 ahead and she
didn't care.
$50 / went and put it on at A to l.
And if w. G. Morris didn't win the
race you may kick me round the
block. All this never faxed Mrs
Boucicault. She hasn't been hanker-
ing to 60 to the races like you think
she would be after so much success.
Seemed to take it just like nothing at
all. But what gets me is the way she
picked every winner when she knew
nothing whatever about the horses.
Now l think Of it, maybe that's the