The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-09-10
OLD BURTON.
A Quaint Old Character and His verJ
Queer Ways.


Queer Wsys.
"Old Burton" the bool-malSer, one OF
the quaintest characters ever seen in
the betting ring of q race track, is
about TO return TO the turf. Several
years ago "Old Burton" as he was al
ways called, retired from the turf on ac-
count of ill health, and has passed sew
nral years in the mountains of his ma
tive state. Having fully recovered his
health Burton proposes again to assume
the conspicuous position in the racing
world which he formerly occupied and
which nobody ever disputed.
Many amusing stories are still told of
Burton. Nobody ever knew his other
name. He is large man of florid com
plexlon, who always dressed in loud
suit of some white material. Standing
on his box in the betting ring he was
the most conspicuous figure there, and
would shout his odds against the ia
vorite in a voice which would startle
the horses at the post and in their stalls
in the paddock. He always laid the
highest price in the ring against n
horse, and when ''out of line" with the
other books on the odds would never
scratch but would "take chance"
against the public. The result of his
system was that when he lost he lost
heavily, but when he won his winnings
were enormous and easily made up his
losses.
One day at Long Branch the days
racing ended up with hurdle race.
When the odds were posted Burton
marked up ten to one against Charlie
magne a horse which the other books
made favorite at six to five. OF course
the money was fairly thrown at Burton,
but he would not scratch his price and
took all that was offered. From ten to
one to even money the crowd played
Charlemagne in Burton's book, and
when the horses went to the post Bur-
ton stood to lose twenty-five thousand
dollars if Charlemagne won.
AS the horses caught the flag and
were off "Old Burton jumped into his
betting stand and crouched down so
that he could not see the race. One of
the boolies who knew his weakness
shouted out the positions of the horses
at the hurdle, entirely for the benefit
of the old man.
"Charlemagne at the first hurdle by
4 length' he shouted, and down went
Burton into his box, mumbling to him
self:
'"There you go-twenty-two thousand
| dollars thrown away. You Tennessee
fool, you don't know any more about
| book-making than child!' And then
he struck his head violently against the
side of the box.
'Charlemagne over the fifth hurdle
by ten tengths!" continued his accom-
modating friend.
Fool! idiot! dolt! Will you ever learn
anything? There you go-losing bar
rel of money without chance to
win," and again his head came in
violent contact with the side of the box.
''Charlemagne in the stretch by forty
engths!'' his friend shouted. BY this
time the old man was crazy. Between
banging his head against the side OF
the box and striking himself with his
fists, he was nearly tired out, when his
friend shouted out: 'Charlemagne falls
over the last hurdle!'
Then the old man jumped out of his
box, ran with the fleetness of deer to
the rail where the book-makers were
congregated, and shouted, waving his
hat in the air: "Who says old Burton
is not the best book-malzer on the track,
Who can pick losers better than me?'
| Once q Week.