The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-02
Noah Armstrong a Central Figure
When He Goes Into the
Betting Ring.
How He Gets the Laugh on Men
Who Seek Inside Infor-
nation.
Owners and Trainers Often Ignorant o.
the Merits of Their Horses-The
Rich Realization.

CHICAGO, July 1.-The Herald prints n
good story on famous horsernan: People
don't follow Noah Armstrong around at
Washington Park quite SO much this year
ns they did when Spokane won the derby.
But he is still q central figure in the grand
stand. and whenever he walks down into
the betting ring and puts 800 on horse it
is all over except putting up the numbers
He is SO successful in placing his bets that
to avoid being followed he usually sends
his money into the ring, and in reply to a
question that is asked him a great many
times during the day: "What do you like,
Mr.. Armstrong;" he invariably answers,
''Whisky and sugar." Then he has the
laugh on the man who seeks for informa
tion on the race that is pending
and did not intend to ask the Mon
tana man to take a drink. There
are many things that Mr.. Arm
strong would have taken apart and read
justed if he had been experimenting the
earth. Few things make him 80 rufiled in
temper as to have some one say: ''Pve got
it straight from the stable that this horse
can't lose" "Thsse touts would ruin the
temper of an angel and break a mint in
less than a month";" says Mr.. Armstrong.
'Half the time the owners and trainers
don't know how good their horses are. 1
remember once when I was going to start
Grey Cloud in race few years ago down
at Latonia. 1 thought he had a good chance
to win it, and made up my mind to back
him. The morning of the raoo 1 went out
to see him gallop, and when he came i'll
asked my trainer what he thought of the
chances, and he said: Mr.. Armstrong,
we're not in it. Grey Cloud won't be in
the neiehborhood at the finish
Then you wouldn't advise me to back
himP Well, ] should say not, said my
trainer. Don't you risk q lead dollar with
hole in it on his chances This was not
very encouraging but when they began
selling auction pools that afternoon ! hung
around the box, and as everybody in the
crowd seemed to have the tip that my horse
was no good there was no one but me to
People began 'joshing' me about the long
ways would have to walk to get home, and
! began to get a little warm and started
down the line, giving the bookmakers lit
tie argument about Grey Cloud at long
odds. BY the time the race started I had
pocket to make it bulge out as if was oar
rying small loaf of bread for lunoh
1T was only big gallop for Grey Cloud
and he won by several lengths. When the
race was over his trainer rushed up to me
and said: Did you back him. Mr.. Arm
stronp?' just few dollars said I, q
little loose change that had in my pocket
My God! he groaned, Il don't see why you
didn't make plunge on him. 1 thought it
was the surest thing that ever saw in my
life.' The liar can never be success unless
he has good memory concluded Mr..
Armstrong, land these race track touts
talk SO much and tell SO many different
stories to different men that very few of
them can remember just what they have
said, and so are in constant danger Of being
caught in the Annanias aot.''