Sunday Washington globe., 1902-03-16

This is the second time have been at
race track in fifteen years, " said a middle
aged gentleman to his companion. THE
other occasion upon which saw the horses
run was in the latter eighties at that grand
track Washington Park. in Chicago. Those
we're the palmy days of horse racing in the
Windy City, and as recall the experience
of my visit to the great course, do il with
a deal OF satisfaction for several reasons. |
was some younger then than am now but,
strange as it may seem, never took any in
terest in the small dissipations usual with
young men. was brought up in a slow old
town, and only had my eyes opened to the
little eccentricities Of modern life after |
reached a mature age. / had occasion to
visit Chicago, and like all other travellers,
aimed to make my stay there just as short
as possible. I finished my business one
Friday afternoon, and as luck would have
it, received orders from my house to re-
main over Saturday and await instructions
from headquarters. was considerably
chastened in spirit, as had half arranged
to go to ST. Louis Friday night and have
some enjoyment. Well, to make long story
short, was disgusted and sought solace in
the companonship of a group Of rather
wild young fellows, and, to make an open
confession to you, we had several bottles Of
soda water-Or something. About ten
O'Clock at night we wound up in a poolrOom
conducted by a certain Silver Bill Riley,
and witnessed the selling Of number of
auction pools on the racing events that were
carded for the neTt afternoon at Washing
ton Park l was quite enthusiastic, both in
a literal and hgurative sense, and before
realized what was doing ! had bought
number of little cards that cost $50 each,
and promised large returns in case a little
Tennessee 6lly happened TO finish first in
the fourth race. The oftener / bought the
little slips of cardboard the greater grew
my ambition to win all the money that was
lying around loose in the city of Chicago.
SO kept purchasing until nobody wanted
to take the field end Of the bet. Then we
left the room and went to our different abid-
ing places.
Il was the most astonished and disgusted
man in Chicago when I awoke the next
morning and found all those tickets in my
pockets. The idea of winning the bets did
not occur to me at ALL and for some time
lay there on the lounge in my room and
pondered on whether it would be best to
turn IN an alarm Of fire OF summon the
Detective Department and set them on the
track of the men who were accountable for
my having the tickets instead Of some
81 900 of my hard-earued money. I finally
compromised the matter by pockeung the
tickets and making bee.line for Silver
Bills place ! found him easily, and was
received with his usual courteous smile.
He recognized me as the man who had
done the high and desperate plunging on
the preceding evening. ! explained TO him
that / had made mistake in betting the
money, and that ! could not afford 10 lose
the rather large amount He told me that
he thought the animal upon which had
laid the wagers would win the race, and
said that if he we're in my place he would
stand with the bets as they were. How.
ever, ne said that if I wished him to do so
and had another $1,000 to invest, he would
buy field tickets for that amount and thus
hedge ont against my bets on the favorite
He explained that by doing this / would
only be out a small commission on the bets
and accepted his advice and handed over
all the money had | felt better when
the matter had been adjusted and went
back to the hotel and figured up my fnau-
cial status. If the 6lly won ! would be
out exactly S25, and if she did not win
would lose somewhere in the neighborhOod
Of SIS. So, everything considered was
immensely relieved. You see, my tickets
on the field and on the favorite each called
for approximately 1000, and either way
the race resulted ! could not lose much
Well along in the afternoon l hied myself
to the track to witness the races ! was
not attracted by the opportunity afforded
to bet on the horses; in fact was heartily
sick Of the very name OF race horse But
was curious to see the race that had
caused me so much disturbance The day
was one of the few perfect days that occur
in Chicago, and the grand stands were
filed with spectators and spectators, and
watched the Running Of the FIRST three
carded events with only passing interest.
noticed that on a blackboard at the back
of the judges stand there was an an
nouucement that certain horse had been
added TO the fourth race before the final
entries had been closed early in the morn
ing. did not pay any particular attention
to the announcement, as l was only too
anxious to have the agony over with and to
receive my money from Colonel Riley. /
went down into the betting inclosure and
watched the busy pencilers take the wagers
Of the public and hand them back the signi-
fcaut little cards. / noticed that the FLY
upon which had bet the night before was
held at even money, and as / turned to
leave the place / saw that the horse that
had been added in the early morning
was qroted at 90 10 IT,
The race was a short one, hve furlougs,
] think. and the animals were soon lined
up at the post They made a pretty picture
as they changed positions while the boys
were making an effort to outwit one another
and the starter The occupants Of the
stands were intensely interested, and when
the murmur They're off" sounded as from
one throat found myself as excited as any
of them. peered out across the restfui
green Of the infeld and saw the confused
tumble of bright-colored silk and struggling
animals sweep down the back stretch like
variegated cloud. As they passed the three
quarter pole saw the scarlet colors of my
6ly fash out from the bunch of flying
horses, while the crowd breathed the name
Of the neat little animal. Into the stretch
they came, with all sails set, and when the
horses were well Strengthened out for the
run home some one behind me yelled.
Look at him come Look al him come"
| wanted to argue with chat man right then,