Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04

He Methods nd the Pseesst,ss I'm nis
Favor-systsm Betting May Win for the
Better, but the Bookmaksr II ss,n Ah..A
81 1AN THE BOOKMAKERS BE BEATEN?''
That is question that il asked at some
time or another BY every man who has specu.
lated in the pool rooms or at the race tracks.
Ninety-nine per cent of those who have asked
the question have answered it for themselves
BY deciding that the public has NO chance in
the long run against the books.
1t is well known that there 10 compsrstjvely
little honest horse racing in this country.
Owners bookmakers. jockeys and the man
ayers OF the tracks ~ q rule are ell out 70 get
the money that the outside public II willing TO
chance in the game, and to barely summarize
the tricks, schemes and combinations that
are employed for that purpose in the
course, OF 2, sesson would bs TO compile
volume, Occasionally a so.called .'crab" like
Ioantaka will legitimatsly outfoot such .ersck-
a-jacks as Tenny and Tea Tray, . result that
cost the public large pile Of money in the
recent Suburban, but such performances in
nine cases out Of ten are prepared in advance.
WHY THE PUBLIC LOSE MoNEY.
1t is not. however, that racing is a dishon-
estIy conducted sport that necessarily causes
the public to lose money almost uniformly. II
race is set up in advance with the sole pur-
pose OF allowing two selected horses to come
first and second respectively it is mani
fest that an outsider who may be picking
horses by chance is as likely a. not
to lay his money on the winner and
thereby draw down good stake on his invest
ment The fact which operates against the
outsider and makes his money q gift to the
bookmaker is that the odds placed are heavily
against him, and in a succession Of bets the
bookmaker will unquestionably get the cash
certainty.
THE POOL ROOMS AT JACKSON CITY,
In Washington there 10 no track betting ex-
cept during the occasional meetings at Ben.
ming or Ivy City, but there 10 daily-winter and
summer alike large number of betters who
speculate In the pool rooms at jackson City on
the races run NJ the leading tracks in the coun-
try jackson City is at the Virginia terminus of
the Long bridge, and il now more popularity
known as Monte Carlo from the fact that faro,
roulette and hazard flourish in the same buildings
IN which odds are laid ON the horses. SO far as
the pools on horses are concerned they are run
on the square. a. that term would be con-
strued by the average sporting man. II
there is any possible chance for the outsider to
beat the horses. it is afforded him in the pool
rooms al jackson City. But the outsider does
not beat the game because the odds against
him are too heavy and In the long run the
most encouraging succession Of winning bets
10 offset by larger losses.
THE BooKMAKKRs' EXPERIENCE
1n's-ating tina, the pool rooms at jackson
City are squarely conducted, what is meant is
that the bookmaksrs have but little informa-
ton as to how races will result that cannot be
obtained by the outsider who givss racing his
attention. People who lose their money and
berate their luck usually have strong
conviction that they have been out
rayeously anu mysteriOusly swindled. but il
they lad Nude a m6thema teal calculation in
advance MS to the possibility Of winning they
would have seen that the bookmaker took an
advantage i'll odds which necessarily gave him
a large percentage vi all cash coming over the
counter in exchange for tickets. 1t is the
''percl ntage Look and not crooked work At
the I! ack that keeps the book makers on the
winning side.
THE PERCENTAGE AGAINST The BITTER.
As stated the patrons Of the boos makers in
this city do little track betting il is only
when there Ii a race meeting at Ivy City or ut
Bsnning that they nave the opportunity to make
selections from personal observation OF the
horses. so far As the Washington patronage
OF the turf extends IL il couined to the
transact tons in The pool rooms a, ross the river
Practically under THESE circumstances the only
disadvantage placed upon the outside better
Is the percentage. ihe Regular patrons OF
tine jackson City pool rooms are not in
fear OF PLAYING against u brace game
IN fact the LoOkhakers cheerrully fur
nish all their own information To their
customers for the purpose OF slim ling bet
ting. The conditions of ths track and weather.
The propable winners as tipped by the spol ting
papers, and all information upOn which q bet
Ter is supposed to base his judgment is posted
upon t4s black board for public inspection and
perusal.
NO EXCLUSIVE INFORMATION.
Each pool room has its own operator within
its own domicils and correspondent at the
track. BY this means, it may be suggested, ex-
elusive information can be secured BY the
bookmakers and worked against the public, but.
AS matter OF fact, ~ not done. The telegraph
instrument Is In full view and hearing of
all customers. There Ia not day that a half
dozen telegraph operators are not specializing
az Jackson City's pool rooms and they are at
liberty TO stand about the instruments and read
what comes over the wire. II there was any
thing crooked TRANSPORTING they and their friends
would have fully as much benefit out Of il as
the bookmakers themselves.
EXPENSES IN THE ROOM AND At TIE TRACK.
In room betting the outsider gets little bet
ter percentage for his money than when bet
ting at the track. The reason il that the book
maker running pool room is under less ex-
pense. At the track the bookmaker must
a paS goo ,h,o .mo day for . hi. privileges,
many minor necessary services which
are comparatively costly. Sheet writers and
card writer's ut the track where the labor In
much greater, get from ~ to Is more per dav
than those employed in the pool rooms.
Few fixtures being required at the track
there is always superabundauce of
bookmakers, and as result the public
money is divided among . larger number.
10 make the business profitable q very heavy
percentage Is absorbed, somew larger than
that exacted in this pool rooms. OF course the
pool room proprietor has some expenses which
the bookmaker at the track does not incur.
The heaviest 10 for tsisgraphic service,
but this is not 20 costly Is il generally
assumed. The Western Union Telegraph Com
pany furnishes the reports and charges only
- per race, the pool room paying the salary
OF the receiving operator. Hence this 10 ssen
not to BE- an sxtravagant item.
HOW TEE PERCENTAGE 10 WORKED.
Now, about the percentage, the stealthy rob-
Der that transfers the cash from the pocket Of
the customer to that of the bookmaker. At
Jackson City there are three firms doing the
bulk OF the business, which 10 about equally
divided aAsoHk abem. The amount Of money
-takeh'nan eSoAn Saeh race b from 500 to
81 900 If there 10 no special event attracting
public sfatfention. Ordinarily about 800
represents the money placed by the public on
each race. There are At least six races day.
Ii there are more ii does not affect the total
amount vsgered in any material degree, as Just