The San Francisco call., 1896-02-18
THEIR PLAY IS LIGHT,
Peolrooms Still Booking in Dark
ness on Ingleside Track
Events.
McGovern, a 200 to I Shot at the
Track, Given a Crack Rider
and Held at IS to I.

The poolrooms or 'tcommission houses, ="
as the proprietors of these gambling dens
term their places, struggled through an
other day OF misery yesterday, and, incl
dentally, the players also. There was no
relaxation of vigilance on the part of the
track management, and the information, if
any, that was smuggled from the track was
SO slow in reaching the rooms as to be prac-
tically worthless in business way. The
gamblers have about exhausted their re-
sources in an endeavor to obtain the
scratched horses and betting and are
quietly resting on their arms awaiting the
reopening of the Bay District track.
There is no end OF grumbling and COM
plant among the patrons of these dens
about the sharp practices resorted to by
the proprietors to fleece them of their coin.
Every day knots of men can be seen
standing on the edge Of the sidewalk or in
doorways in the vicinity of these places
engaged in earnest conversation, and in
variably the topic is about not getting
run for their money" The question is
often asked, knowing the questionable
methods of the gamblers, why do these
men risk their money in the hands
of the tricksters2 Not a few of
them are engaged in various business
puTSulIS anu CAN Ill dllOTu CDe
time and money they risk. The gambling
spirit is inherent. The temptation is
thrown in their way and tales of plungers
on the turf winning thousands cause them
to try their luck. In many cases it begins
with q dollar and tickle fortune smiles on
the player. The next time larger amount
is ventured, which this time results in dis
aster. In desperation the EMPLOYERS
money is then used TO recoup the loss,
with invariably the old story of shame,
disgrace and the penitentiary as the clos
ing scene.
At best gam bling on horse races is most
uncertain, but as conducted in the pool
rooms it is doubly so. OF forty-nine JOCK
eys that rode in the different races at In
posted twenty of that number wrong. On
McGovern, starter in the hurdle race, a
200 to 1 shot at the track, they had as rider
Bob Cairns, one of the ablest of the stee-
pIechase riders, with 15 to offered against
him. The horse was ridden by Rudolph,
a Jockey OF little reputation, and il Ger
tainly looks as though the jockey posted
and the false odds quoted was done to de-
eeive the patrons of these resorts and con-
vey the impression that good thing was
to be sprung.
Riders were incorrectly given in six diff
ferent instances in the opening race, with
riders and odds given on two scratched
horSeS. Inc oCdS quoted were also rldIc-
ulously lower than at the track, Ida
Sauer, $50 to 1 chance being held at Is to
l. Messenger & Co. were "out OF business"
during the second event, with it's twenty
entries, for no jockeys were given and no
odds laid. AT 2:20 P. NJ notice was
posted saying that tickets on starters would
be paid according to odds given in the
papers.
Throughout all Of the other races the
most glaring errors occurred. In the sixth
race Coady was chalked up to ride Duchess
of Milpitas, with 6 to offered against her.
The mare was scratched in the forenoon.
Tim Murphy, who was the event at odds
Of 15 to l, was well thought of in the
rooms, 6 to being all the gamblers would
lay against him. Japan, a LOO to L shot on
the track, with Reidy up, had laid
against him, with Hewitt as the supposed
rider.
Bets we're accepted on starters in the
fourth event three minutes after the race
had been decided. Notwithstanding all of
the questionable methods practiced in
these gam mbling dens dupes are found will
ing to risk their money in them, but so it
has ever been. Green-goods men con-
tinue to ply their nefarlous traffic. and the
thin ble-rigger still travels with the circus.
Under the cathode ray justice would
quickly cause their removal.