The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-18
SURPRISES FOR PUNTERS.
RESULTS OF BETTING SYSTEMS AT
sHEEPSHElD Raj,

At the Fail MeetinE-A spell of Low
Averages, With n whoop-Up ~ the Close
syssemswell Tested-Gravesend's Outlool
Punters are shaking one another's hands be.
eause the fall meeting at S~heepshead Bay IA
ever. 1t has upset all previous records and
allowed what the weather sharps call an area
AZ low pressure around the winning favorites
record from the first day almost to the close.
This very popular track is always adiflcult one
for the system player. and the warning Of
ether years was to look out for q high opening
percentage. fading away to about 80 per
sent. This year the peculiarly high record
a, winning ~favorites in the very small fields at
brighton Beach made the Sheepshead meeting
more OF a problem than usual; but II is safe to
cay that few expected what happened. Favorite
players and Sloan players shook hands In their
common misfortune in the early days OF the
meeting. both hoping for better things each
day, but these did not materialize, and 1t took
a long, long purse and a considerable amount
of sand at the back OF 1t to bring the average
punter out on the right side OF the ledger.
To explain: Last year the daily proportions
OF winning f~avorites ran 80 per cent. Al, 90. 90,
90, so. Al. 4S, AZ. Al. 40, and 30 a fair average
record, but this year the record started out
With "a per cent. and continued with 20 per
cent, OF, 81. AZ. Al, 40 30. rs. 35, 80. 43, and A.
This record needed on Sept. &, 8 favorites on
Sent. q, favorites, and on Sept. 10. 4 favorites,
or Il favorites to win in nineteen races, to
bring It up to even decent average figures.
There we're 80 first f~avorites to win in 10 races,
rs against % in ~ races in 1897. the records
for other years being 40 per cent. In
1906. AZ per cent. in 1895. SO per cent. In 1894.
IG per ent. in 1893 and A per cent. In 1891.
In these years the meeting opened with a high
percentage. which fell steadily, whereas this
year there was a low opening. the low record
was long sustained, and there was a phenome-
nal whoop-up in the last four days. What a
cinch for the integral system player with large
CAPITAL and c~ouragel At this meeting the first
favorite ran second eight times. three Of which
at less than 1-2 on for the place. while in
1897 fourteen landed place cash with six at
unplayable odds. The three this year were
on Sept. Z. King Barleycorn and Ty-
phoon H.. and on Sept. 10 The Friar.
and It is interesting to note that in
the first five days no first favorite in thirty
races gained the place. but all either won or
finished In the ruck. The runs Of losing first
fAvorites were two of five losers. two OF four
losers. and on Sept. Z one OF seven losers, not a
favorite that day finishing in front. The sec
ond ~favorites also ran erratically. Fifteen fin
ished in front. but in the first thirteen races not
one won. In 1897 none won in the first eleven
races. and at the thirty-sixth race only four
we're to the good. The 1898 record was gained
by three winning on Aug. 81 and four winning
OH Sept. 5, the day when no favorite won.
Therein is the nub Of the Redd system. In
1893 twenty-four second favorites gained the
place, with only four at less than 1-2 on. while
in 1897 eleven won place money at good odds.
The proportion OF first and second winning
~favorites in 1893 was "A per cent. as against so
per cent. in 1896. the normal figures being
from SO to 70 per cent. Last year at this meet
ing Sept. 8 was the day when no ~favorite won;
yet there are those who still laugh at the COIN
cidences to which system players attach con-
siderable Importance. This year only one favor
tie was unplayable. on Aug. 29-Briarsweet. l.
10 on. Last year there were three. This year
there was one dead heat, on Sept. 10-Alice
Farley. 1875. and Maxine Gomez. 81. Here
it should be noted that last falls meeting also
supplied one dead heat, the extraordinary one
Of Mars Chan-Woodpigeon. on sept. 5. There
was one disqualification for foul. Martimas.
12-1. on Sept. 3. the mate to that of Sept. 8.
1897. when the horse involved was Archduke.
Outsiders were few. as usual. at this meeti ng.
TIL ey were: Sept. 1, Latson. 10-1. won; Ok
third; Sept. 10, Ton Spot. lO0-1.. this last
supplying the usual drop from the clouds due
S SsSin a,a the a Minni ssnfS avo Or ss sSo STsfa AK ih Hdas
10 to 4. this year II 10 q or 3 to 2 so where Is
the ground for the constant statement that
odds have been better for the last two years
under the cleaner. moro wholesome rae
The entries. largo in many cases. and ranging
from ,seventy-one to thirty.seven horses a
day, show an average, of eight horses to a race.
rs against about eight and q half in 1897. a very
satisfactory state of things. which is largely re-
sponsible for the good odds. Thus with. good
fields. good. clean. racing. good odds. it has
once more been demonstrated that he. who
unduly increases his initial bet in proportion to
his capital-at this meeting-is pretty certain
to lose.
The Redd system. named after a %well-known
again, even through the very low percentages
Of the opening days. This system makes use
Of the duplicate first and second fayorites In
this way: Play is made to win $50 q day on the
better; or II this is not indicated. II the second
fayorite either, wins or gets the place, the du-
plicate second favorite for the next race
won play ceases for the day. II q
loss Is made. no notice Is taken OF
first fayorite loses the second favorite Is played
lat 2-l or better to win the next race for the
amount bet and lost previously: II this bet Is
the next race, and II this bet is lost the punter
waits until such a sequence occurs again. indi-
eating the play for the second ~fayorite straight:
May !, 1893, and at the recent fall Sheepshead
meeting it panned out in detail as follows:
Aug, 20 SFlorence Clarke. 81. -.
Miss Smith. B-I..... -.
SPeep o. Day. DO. 49,. Won -.
t~CleOphus. l1-5"...... Second -.
1918 long AcEs. m5s-i""s2 a =.
{flelschmann stablo.4-1 -.
George Keene. jss--i.."... =.
ElrpHFm. Al