The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-09-17
BIG BETTING at SARATOGA.
Three Bets of $4,000 Eaci,---
Reckless Gambling Of all Kinds
Going On.

Going On.
The vogue of turf plunging and the
abandon with which wealthy and ex-
elusive summer visitors at Saratoga
took up the perilous pastime combined
TO furnish one of the most remarkable
features of the racing at Saratoga
under the management of the mil
lionaires whose money and inufence
have rehabilitated the turf at that
resort. AS singular as the sudden
popularity of race-track betting among
fashionable people is the marked
change in the attitude of the powers
of the turf in relation to that one
/ thing.
It has been but few years since the
stewards of the Jockey club, backed by
| the officials of the most popular rae
ing associations about New York, took
a decided stand against "plunging, :"
and especially against the professional
element among Che betting men, with
the result that even the most success
full of those who make business of
backing horses became cautions, and
while they still bet heavily, were care
full to guard as much as possible
against their operations attracting too
much public attention. Now, how
ever. it would seem as if one of the
| objects sought by the plungers is pub
| licity, and there was no end to the
sensational stories of high rolling"
at Saratoga since the summer meeting
opened, the gambling including reck-
less play at faro, roulette and cards as
well as plunging on the horses.
In this fashionable diversion several
members of the Jockey club have taken
conspicuous part alongside the big
gamblers among the horse owners,
while the professional betters have
been in their glory at the Spa, where,
regardless of social position, they have
had mention in newspaper reports
alongside the social leaders who have
gone in for amusement or gain through
The medium of the betting ring. One
result of the fashionable status of turf
gambling is that the bookmakers are
looking ahead to season Of uncommon
prosperity, their only doubt as to the
future being as to whether or not the
same people who have been betting
large amounts at Saratoga will con-
tiDUe the amusement noE that the
scene Of racing has changed back to
New York. One explanation Of the
general popularity Of turf speculation
at Saratoga was the suggestion that
SUMMER visitors there bet on she races
or anything else simply because there
was practically nothing else. to amuse
them.
The bwvsmakers, however. believe
otherwise and the ring generally anti
cipates great things now that Sae re-
turn to New York has been usheTed in
by the RUNNING Of the Futurity, with
about all the great racTng stables OF
North America collected as one, point
and such men as j. W. Gates. J. a.
A. Drake, State Senator P. II. Nc
:Carren, j. 6. Lyman, R.. 7. Wilson
Jr., Frank Farrell, Charles Ellison,
John W. SchorT, and 6. e. Smith
among the big HDg operators on hand
to lead the betting, and host Of coca
sional big bette5s present to take a
+9 fliero whenever the impulse moves
them. OF the division Of occasional
plungers'' that the season has brought
into prominence. the most conspicuous
at Saratoga have been j. G. BollAas-
bee, Harry Payne Whitney. H. B.
Duryea, John Sanford, L. Waterbury
J. E. Madden, and julius FleiseAlasn.
The professional plungers alses were
exceedingly busy at Saratoga. and
prospered 50 we'll that about all as IN
attendance at Shespshead Bay. Of this
latter division the best known oD the
TURF are Pittsbusg Phil (G T.
Smith,, David Gideon, j. p. Me&son-
AID, NJ. F. Dwyez. Charles ElHson,
and the comparatively new conner,
John Stanley of Pittsbrrg, who al
ready has achieved great degree Of
success and who was the man behind
some of the mess sensational co1ps
achieved at Saratoga
First place among the plungess OF
the east and therefore OF the American
tn7f for the present season, however,
belongs undispusably to State Se9ator
Patrick II. McCsrren, who maintains
a fairly formida5le stable of race
horses. There are bigger and better
stables than the McCarren string,
but there are mo- horses backed more
heavily or WITH DetteT results; Uhan sne
same lot of animals Senator Nc
Carren has but two or three hosses in
his barn that are regarded as Of stake
quality, but e his selling platers can
win for him he is satisfied, and though
he is as reaGy as any man on the turf
to buy a good horse and pay good
price for him the politician turfman so
far has not made the mistake of trying
to accomplish impossi bilGfies. New
York Times.
Miles Goes to Philippines.
Washington, Sept. 11.-Lieut. Gen.