The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-20

the figures would no doubt surprise every
body: The feeling is unexplainable. 1t
| simply comes, and there are few bettors
that are not influenced by 1t.
A day or two ago, in a st. Louis selling
race, Lynch, horse that is devoid of class,
but which wins a race now and then in poor
] company, was at Is TO 1. Other horses in
the race were apparently so much faster
/ and gamer than Lynch that he did not seem
10 have chance. The man with a ''hunch"
bet y on Lynch straight and show. When
| the race was called Lynch romped home
three lengths to the good, and the man with
the bunch was $40 better off. Another man
had "hunch' on Atlas in st. Louis two
year-old race Saturday. He felt morally
certain that Atlas would go under the wire
winner, but he lacked the courage of his
convictions and did not place bet. The
price was too long, for one thing. Atlas
won easily.
PATRONS OF TIPSTERS.
Dozens of men that patronize the local
poolroom pay from S. to $40 weekly for daily
information on the races furnished by New
York or Chicago tipsters. These firms"
which really know nothing more about horse
racing than good newspaper Handicapped
probably not half SO much, have scores of
patrons in indianapolis and reap a pretty
good harvest in fees. They send daily tele-
grams or letters with the names of three
or four horses which they give as certain
winners. Plunge to the limit" is the
usual advice. Ordinarily, they are wise
enough to give horses that are made favor
ties III the books, so their chances of losing
Out Win tnelr customers are minimZed.
sometimes their tips go through, more often
they 90 not. But every day in the poolroom
can De seen men who jeaiousiy guard a
sheet or yellow paper on which are type
written several names, fearful that some
pouy VIII read these magic names over
their shoulders. Occasionally the informa-
tion VIII be communicated to friends as a
great favor, and one of the amusing things
about the poolroom is the air of awful mys-
terry that men will observe in discussing a
telegram that some CRATER in New York
or Chicago has cooked up after about five
seconds of deep thinking.
scores more of poolroom PLAYERS follow
the form sheets and tips in the daily pa
pers. one or two Chicago papers employ
expert handicappers to make daily predic-
lions on the races. These tips are surpris-
lngly accurate, as, for instance one Chi
cago newspaper Handicapped had the win
ners or hve races out OF six at Chica go
picked correctly the other day. Usually
Two winners are given at least and il is a
bad day, indeed, when one first horse is nor
named. These tips are eagerly scanned in
the poolroom. Anxious eyes glance from
newspapers TO entry card and back again.
the brain puzzled TO know Just what TO
90; Dlnerent newspapers frequently pick
entirely different horses to win the same
race, and ii is here that the newspaper tin
1olloWer is up stump. He does not know
how TO reconcile the selections. He is in
usually goes wrong.
BETTING ON FAvORITES.
Some players never bet on anything save
favorites. reasoning that the short price
liked by the bookmaker is the judgment
of an expert and good enough for a bettor
to follow. These prefer to play a horse at
to 5 or to 2. betting $50 or 500 at a time.
than to play any other way. When the ,1p
a oft
priced favorite finishes in the rear of a
long. shot, these are the gentry that feel
sore. This is the kind of money that the
bookmaker and the poolroom man bankers
for. He argues that with eight or ten horses
III race anything is Liable TO happen, es-
pecially in a stake race where the hsndi
capperS weights have made all about
equal. Others will never PLAY a fayorite.
always preferring to risk their money on a
money for Mike and his. fellows in most
cases Ten-to-one shots win and win often.
but strangely enough, il is not the 10-to-i
Snot that the bet was placed on
All in all, the poolroom game is a dif5cuIt
proposition-hard to beat, but harder still to
keep away from. 1t exerts a remarkable
l ,iy Men who have once risked a
dollar or two on horse will, as surely as
the sun rises, go back some time to risk an
other-lf not the next day the day after or
the next week. 1t is not satisfactory as
best thing. 1t furnishes an outlet TO the
gambling spirit that seems TO nestle some
where In the makeup of most. people. For
men who can afford il 1t is good finn. for
those who can't il corresponds closely TO
the famous definition of war given by the
late w. T. Sherman.
The increased interest in running-borse
racing, which has swept the country from
oakland to Sheepshead Bay, is as manifest
here in Indianapolis as it is at Chicago ar |
New York A year ago, even, the patrons |
OF the local poolroom numbered compare |
lively few. They were. for the most mart
of the lower order of men-professional gam |
blers. touts, toadstool sports, immature |
clerks. gag-tag and bob-tail Now the pool- |
room has been enlarged TO meet the demands |,
OF the publc-a public which consists not |
alone of Tom Dick and Harry. but OF bust |
ness men and bankers, well-kuown men
about town. a class that has a standing and
has an account at the bank Undoubtedly 1
1t Is the reflection of the fever that holds J
the country. Whether 1t will continue is a /
matter for speculation. 1t is worthy of note
that interest in the races has mounted |