The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-28
FEMALF PLUNGFRs.
Women Who Wager Large Sums on
Horse Races.


(Nev York Times)
Lexington, Ky.-A prominent feature
Of racing in 1860 was the increase in
turf gambling by women. The season
developed several women who might be
classed as plungers. Especially in the
west last year they were great patrons
of race course betting rings. IN Chi
cago, st. Louis and around Cincinnati
as well, so strong was the play from the
fair patrons of racing IN the grand
stand that prominent DOOkmakers Of
feTed prizes to the messengers bringing
them the most patronage. Some of
these boys, who began the season at
Memphis and came up the line of the
circuit Of the big meetings, piled their
trade so successfully among the women
that the daily average of their commits
sions was $50. Their rule was to charge
10 cents for every trip they made to the
betting ring, and il the (bOokmaker's
ticket they brought back was on win
ming horses they received an additional
is cents. On occasions when the fair
bettOr was successful on a long chance,
all rules were waived and the boy be-
came the recipient of IS or $40 bill.
Women follow superstitiOnS to a great
extent in their betting on horses, and
they have a fondness Tor the mounts of
a jockey who has been riding in luck.
The largest combination. considering
the amount invested, ever paid off at
Washington park, Chicago, was won by
a woman. The ticket read s., 600 to IS,
the odds being 400 to l. She picked
Monk Overton's mounts in the six
races on the card, and the cOlOred
jockey won on all six, the winners be-
ing German, Poet Scout, Guido, PhiiOra,
BalgOWan and Take Notice. The lucky
Spectator was Mrs. Henry Brown, wife
of the well known Nashville book
maker
The first authentic wager made by
woman was on the Oaks winner Queen
Bertha. The mares owner, Lord FaI-
mouth, when on a visit to his training
quarters, Whitehall, asked Mrs. Scott,
wife Of his famous trainer, what would
win the Oaks. She replied: Queen Der
tina, my lord" Lord Falmouth Wagered
her sixpence that this would not be so.
His lOrdship had the best Of the bet
ting, but he lost the wager, as Queen
Bertha won. On the day after the race
ne obtained from the mint q brand new
siXpence, which he had set in rubies
and diamonds, and with il settled his
wager. It is related that during his
long connection with the turf this is
the only bet Lord Falmouth ever made.
The famous mare that won the lucky
sixpence for Mrs. Scott afterward pro-
duced Spinaway, the Oaks winner in
GalOpins year.
One of the most amusing defenses
recorded in breach of promise case
was made IN q court at Melbourne, Aus
tralia, the plaintiffs suit being based
on the result of a race. The defendant
pleaded that ne had agreed to marry
the plaintiff only on the condition that
certain horse won the Melbourne cup.
Each of them agreed to waive the con-
tract in case the supposed good thing
and
ginning married life in comfort. The
bridegroom-elect had taken 5000 to
$50 on a double event, and the first of
his choices won. His contention was
that he and the young lady were will
ing, but the marriage was not to take
place unless he won the bet. On cross
examination the blushing plaintiff ad-
mitted that something of the sort had
been mentioned, and she also con-
feSsed to having made use of the ex-
preston. "A man who can pick such
double as the Melbourne derby and the
Melbourne cup is worthy of any wo-
man"
Dennis O'Kelly, who lives in turf
history as the owner of the immortal
Eclipse, owes his prominence to the
faith of a woman in chance taking. He
was noisy, gOOd-natured, clustering
young man, very popular with the la
dies he met with reverseS and found
himself in Fleet street prison for
debt. Mr.. O'Kelly would probably have
remained there the better part of his
life had not one of his fair friends sent
him her last G100. With this he again
WoOed the goddess of fortune, who
from that time until the day of his
death, never seemed tired of favoring
him. Having accumulated a few thou
sand guineas some time in 1885, he
heard that a Mr.. Wildman was the
owner Of a very likely 4-year-Old colt,
which had never been raced. He exam
ined the animal, liked him, and bought
half interest in him for $50 guineas.
The more he saw of the horse the more
ne liked him, and shortly afterward
bought the remaining interest for $50
guineas. In this manner he became
sole owner of the famous horse, on
which he afterward BETA fortune that
he would be first and the rest no.
where and won the wager.
Among the largest lady bettors on
the race circuit are Mrs. George Whee-
lock, wife of the well known book