The Florida star., 1901-05-24
The FAMOUS BROOKLYN Handicap.


-. not ID America, Is the
great Brooklyn Handicap. whose entry
hst always bears the names OF MAN.
VI the most noted horses In the un,,aS
states Months before Il is rnn thon.
SANDS or dollars are wagered. and snor,.
ing circles throughout the country dis
cuSs II, and on the day OF the race hun-
s OF strangers from east west.
oils. s'i0p
All roads lead to the race track on
tnat- day. Trolley cars. Ell" trains
buses, etc.. are packed with peopIe OF
every station OF life. and the chances
oI tne various horses entered is the
cnler topic OF conversation everywhere
Even the stald old citizens, who feel
tney must set a good example to the
world by keeping away from the track
on all other days. let themselves loose
rs IL were. on Brooklyn Hanclcap day
and can be seen lowering around Ine
betting ring or seated I'm the grand
stand. as excited and enthusiastic as n
boy at his first circus.
what adds greatly 10 the animation
and picturesqueness OF the scene is the
large number or the fair sex that I'm.
Variably attend the Brooklyn Handi-
cap. and they come not merely 10 wit.
ness the great race. but with plenty OF
coin or the realm 10 back their opin.
Ions. While the men make their wa
% gers on past records, present form. con-
ultlon or the track, ETC.. the majority
OF tie women bet on a horse because
or his fancy name. his looks or on ac-
count or a dream. In fact. they often
shut their eyes and jab at their pro-
grammes with pencil and then place
their money on the name marked.
The crowd at the track is thoroughly
cosmopolitan. All types and classes
are represented from the American
millionaire who has driven over on his
.tallyhO to the dago who has left his
fruit stand In charge OF his wife and
Is on hand with a Tip" to "maka de
mon." Some or these sons OF Italy
have a roll with them and bet their
dollars like thoroughbreds
Tips" tiy In every direction like
sparks from an anvil, and that sleek
and smooth Individual known as the
.''tout''-the sporty looking chap who
calls you aside TO confidentially say
that the race has been fixed" and
that he has the name OF the horse who
will win It's on hand. and he gets
many dollar from the greenhorns de-
spite the watchfulness or the police.
The average racegoer has learned the
tricks or these gentry and gives them
no encouragement. and the manage
ment or every well regulated race track
does Its best 20 suppress them; but.
like the railroad ticket scalper. the
tout" manages 10 stick and make a
living. The old axiom OF put not
your trust 10 princes" applies equally
well to ''touts."
The Brooklyn Handicap was insti-
tuted In 1887. and. although richer
stakes are run for-the American Der
by and the Futurity. for instance-lt is
easily the leader OF every other race i'm
the country. The distance is a mile
and a quarter. and a horse must have
pluck and endurance as well as speed
TO be with the leaders IL the finish.
The race Is run on the Brooklyn Jock
ey clubs track at Gravesend. N. Y,
and IL the day be fair 10000 TO 10000
people witness IL. Owing 10 rain on
several occasions the track has been
heavy, and Oh this account rank out
siders have carried of the honors-
This happened in 1890 when Casta-
way IL. at odds OF 90 TO l. gallOped in
a winner and won barrel OF money
for his owner. He was ridden by the
famous little jockey Burns. In 1898
Diablo. another 30 TO shot, won the |
big race. beating the favorite. Lamp |
Fighter for which Pierre LOrillard paid |
the large sum OF $4,000. Lampllghter |
had been backed in every large city In |
the United States 10 win the brooklyn |
and hundreds or thousands
or dollars were lost on him. Ii Is said |
that Lorillard alone lost $4,000. Fred |
raraI, who was one OF our best jockeys
at that time, pilOted Diablo TO victory.
winning for the horses owner SoOOOO.
One OF the most exciting finishes ever
witnessed In n race in America nap
pened In 1887. when Dry MOnopole won
the handicap by a nose and established
a record OF POT for this race, and this
time was not beaten until 1890, When
on 4 atatlT /