St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-27
DERBY REFLECTIONS.

There is always plenty to be seen in
that part of the enclosures allotted to
the b0Okmakers. But the number on
hand yesterday was very small, COM
pared with other years, and, conse-
Quently competition was not particu-
larly brisk. The b0okmakers are,
usually, ccntented. looking set of men;
and we'll they may be. You rarely hear
OF a 'bookie" going broke. not even
when the hackers make a ''killing," but
it is not all infreQuent thing for the
hackers to go home with an empty pocket.
However. if there was nothing in book
making the hackers would have no OPP
pOrtanities to place their money. and
hence there would be no fun in attend
ing the races. The bookmaker is not so
bad as he is oftentimeS painted, and
it is Il most entertaining sight TO see
him risk his all in furnishing amuse-
ment for the public. 1t requires some
nerve to be boolmaker, for, when
calculations are likely TO go tOpsy-
turvy, particularly if the horse backed
wins.
The Derby would be unlnteresting if
the crowd did not include the usual
contingent of the colored element. Have
you ever noticed the avidity with which
the colored gentry take to horse racing,
and. in many instances, the success
which attends their bets. The colored
sport quickly gets onto the good points.
the pedigree, the form and the perfor-
mances of the leading horses. They
can tell you how such a horse
ran at Saratoga, at Nashville and
at Garfield Park, whether he is good on
heavy track or light track, and his
chances of conceding such and such a
horse certain weight penalty. His
memory in these particulars is remark
able, and many of them seem to make 1T
their one end and aim in life. 1t is also
noticeable that some of the most sue
cessful riders on the American turf are
colored boys.
Men by the thousands were swearing
at the street car service yesterday, and
women by the hundreds permanently
wrinkled their brows by the frenzied
contracting thereof from the same NOV
ing cause, namely: That they had to
stand in the pouring rain at the corner
of University and Smelling avenues,
waiting for car to carry them
to the city from the races.
The useless transfer system
imposed on those attending the races
was aDominable. Men women and chill
ufou were ODli9eu 10 yet out Ol TIE cars
at this new junction in the pouring rain
and wade through the mud and water
for hundred yards or so. and then had
to wait, in many instances, for several
cars to pass before they could even get
standing room in car bound for this
city. AS it was all who came by
street car from the races last
evening, had their clothes saturated
with water and their tempers ruffied,
besides, because OF the forced transfer.
The company ran small car from this
city to Hamline only once in twenty-siX
minutes. and the thousands who could
not ride in these were obliged to trans
fer TO the short line at Smelling avenue.
A number of persons were heard to say
that they ought to compel the company
to let them stay in the cars on the
short line until they afforded means of
transportation. Others suggested that
the conductors run their cars clear
through, irrespective Of the general Or
ders. But these suggestions were re-
piled to by the street car men with the
laughing rejoinder that Mr.. Lowry
| owned the line. 1t was hard to con-
| vince the people that it was otherwise
| than absolutely absurd to require the
| transfer, even in good weather. They
| cannot see why through cars should not
| be run to the fair grounds, during the
racing season, at frequent intervals.