The Washington times., 1902-03-30
Amid THE Wild SCENES
INCIDENT 70 Race DAY
World of Hopeful Longing
Elation or Regret.
NERvE-RACKING BUT GLORIOUS
Mad Whirl of Excitement From Noon Till
Dusk-Betting Ring Mecca for All.
Paddock Has It's Coterie-vivid De-
scription of Typical Race.
A day at the races!


! What a world of hopeful longing. Of
nervous excitement. of wild elation or
vain regret it holds.
Many men and women of phlegmatic
| temperament can see nothing in a day
at the races; but to the person of sport
| i've instinct, through whose veins the
blood leaps in a tumult of energy, it
means much strenuous nerve tension
and delirious joy. 1t is nerve-racking.
| but it is glorious.
day at the races commences soon
after the sun has passed the dividing line
| on its journey 10 the West Then begins
the tramp to the track. All roads lead
| to the races. The tallyho and coach
| whirl their favored few to the course
the crowds go in the street cars Have
you ever gone to the races In a street
car? II not. you have missed an ex-
perence.
The street car on a race-day is a place
TO study character. You will see all sorts
Of humanity crowded together there Men
and women hang on the straps and laugh
! and chatter. You will sec the regular"
tently studying the chances of the vari-
Gus horses. Oblivious of the noise around
him. you will see the merchant who has
taken a day off for recreation, or, per-
haps. an official who has stolen away for
the afternoon. You will see the small
salaricd clerk, whose spirit is willing
but whose purse is weak In his breast
| Gnrin
but always hopes. On the turf, as well
as under it. all men are equal
Scenes Near the Track.
When the car stops at the racetrack you
| get off with the crowd. You follow the
| procession down the narrow board walk.
slowly-too slowly. you think. The man
ahead of you has his racing glasses
| thrown carelessly over his shoulders, and
| II you are truly sporty you straightway
| resolve to get yourself a pair the next
| day-if you win. Along the walk you
| meet here and there n man -clutching
| tightly package of mysterious appearing
| envelopes and crying at the top, of his
| voice. Get Guessem's tips here. Picked
| five out of six yesterday. A good thing
| for today. Don't miss this chance to get
rich" '.S
| You reach the turnstile. A man in uni
| form bids you hurry up, urging You to
SHOW your badges and have your
| coupons ready" Finally you are inside the
| gates. A constant din of voices is heard.
| above which man at your elbow shouts,
| Programme Of the race. programme"
A man with ladies enters behind you.
| He bids them hurried "Goodby; see
you later" and rushes off toward the bet
| ting pavilion. being stopped half dozen
| times and asked what do you like
| The women mount the steps TO the grand
| stand, cast a sweeping glance over the
| occupants to see if "Dotty Dimple" is
| there and what she is wearing: futter a
| passing "Howdy do" to an acquaintance.
and settle themselves in comfortable
! seats, resolved to have a real good
! time"
| II you wander to the edge of the bet
| ting ring you will see seemingly endless
| mob OF showing. babbing, eager men. Ob-
| serve closely and you will probably see In
| the midst of a pushing crowd the man
| who came in with ladies few moments
| before. He has the betting face now, ana
| is eagerly edging his way toward a ma"