The St. Louis Republic., 1902-12-07
TURFMEH RELATE
EXPERIENCES ABROAD
Sidney Burns Says French Book
makers Are Jealous of Ameri-
can Layers.
CONSPIRACY AGAINST REIFF.
William Duke. Formerly a Partner
of Enoch Wichard. Finds 1t
Hard to Bet His Money
in England.

New York. Dec. s.-One of the passengers
on the storm-tossed st. Louis was Sidney
Burns. an American turfman. who figured
very prominently in the French racing cases
which attracted worldwide attention be-
cause of the charges made against Ameri-
can turf followers in Europe. including
b0OkmakerS. horse owners and jockeys.
BGrns's case Is still undecided. while the
case against Robert L. Rose was dismissed
by the Frenchmen- Burns vii! attempt
while here to enlist the same eminent
United States Government personages in
his behalf who acted on the Rose matter
with success.
Burns has been ''handlcapping'' the
form Of race horses with success since
1858. but for the last six seasons except this
year, he has been frequenter of the Eng
lish turf In 1902 he went to France. where
all accounts agree that a good judge of
racing can MAKE money.
FIGURES ON WIND PRESSURE.
Burns's methods in handicapping most
exhaustive. taking into account they do
the wind pressure against jockey riding
in the style prevalent IN England up to the
advent of American jockeys or against
Yankee riders who introduced the style nov
known as the american seat Mr.. Burns
declares that at 4 mile ii rule tniS Itncr-
ence Is at Least three lengths. or about
thirty feet.
the wind sitting bOl; upright. the
general custom in England before Sloan
went over IN lsso. w9uld have at least thre.'
lengths he worst of It if there was hiea
wind and if his opponent rode with the
crouching seat.
HEAVY RACING SHOES
Another reason given by Burns for his
uniform success Is that ii is yet a common
custom in France to run race horses in
racing shoes which are heavier than IN"
plates so common To America. This
would mean an appreciahle difference in tine
form OF a hOrse-as much as four lengths
or fcriy feet-Burns declares.
His opinion is entitled t0 consideration.
for he admitted to the French authorities
when they questioned him about his iiuan-
cial standing that he was worth 1.H-.,p0
francs or about $1,000. which he had ac-
quired as hacker Of horses and as horse
owner.
He has owned racers off and on for the
French turf.
FRENCH BOoKIES JEALOUS.
Most of the trouble and ACCUSATIONS
which were made against myself and my
countrymsn. said Burns yesterday. were
due to the envy Of the French boOkmakers
/ state that the French odds layers inyaria-
bly, wanted about ~ per cent profit on each
race. whereas. as is well known. an Amer
lean bookmaker thinks himself l.:clsy 10 get
10 per cent
ANY one who wanted TO back n horse
would pass by the Frenchmen and do bust
ness with the Americans. because they laid
better prices as a rule There would be eX-
ceptiona to this. of course
"For instance. John W. Gates would saw
to r. l.. Rose. I want to bet 700 louis on
this race at the odds. which might b. to
l. Rose would accept the wager and then
ter price. This is known as 'hedsins'
when the French prosecuting official,
who is not a racing man and knew nothing
about the betting ring. was given this ex-