The sun., 1903-09-27
NUMB RIOTERS
- AT THE RACES.
People Who Can't Speak TIL It's
Over-Others Never See
Raee-Missousi Psssimists.

are all rooters necessarily noise makers.
said an observant detective who has been
doing duty around the New York tracks
for many years. The bowling smoke-up-
Bill rooters who. after day at the track
ave to put their vocal organs in slings or
apply poultices to them. are in the great
majority, OF course. but there are oodles
Of rooters who root just as hard as the
shriekers without making ary sound.
They are the intense people who take
the game 80 seriously that they arc rendered
more or less dumb, or whose emotion over
the outcome Of race Is 80 great that they
are incapable Of giving expression to it by
the mere making Of a noise happened to
be standing near a silent rooter Of this sort
on the day that McChesney smothered his
field in the Twin City Handicap.
He was we'll dressed and we'll Get up
man of forty. with pair Of field glasses
slung over his shoulder. He watched the
race with his arms resting on the rail near
the judges stand
When the swift Western horse swept
down the stretch. clear winner. with his
hne, frictionless stride. and the 80 900 people
on the gro 'nds were yelling themselves
hoarse and acting like crazy folks, this ma n
newer let out cheep nor 70 much as changed
bis position by the breadth Of an inch. But
when McChesney galloped under the wire
with the consummate ease Of q horse that 3
only had pipe opener this silent rooter
slowly turned away from the rail.
His face was quite white. and wore a
most serious expression. He slowly and
do oil A-n
hat, stoopsd over and placed it rim down
on the grass with both hands, stood up
and Strengthened himself. gave a sudden
leap into the air and then came down with
both feet upon the hat, crushing it 20 pulp.
Il couldn't quite make out whether 1t was
chagrin or happiness that made him do
that, bit few minutes later | caught
sight M him. bareheaded, taking down
big wad Of yellow bills from book
makers cashier. Jumping on his hat was
his way OF expressing his joy. He rode
back to town in a skull cap that he bought
from a figs and peanuts butcher
But the most curious people to watch
on raostrack are the pessinistic rooters-
those who. by word or manner, seem to
root against the horses they've picked
and played. They're all from Missouri,
this kind-you've got to show EN- II
the pessknistio rooter's horse is ten lengths
in the lead entering the stretch, the rooter
who roots against himself remains dis
consolate.
oh. they'll get him. the pessimistic
rooter says gloomily to those around
him. He'll stop, all right. Oh, yes, he's
block In front, know, but he'll come
back 80 fast that he'll look as il he's tied
to an awning pole. Sure. played him
that's just the reason that he can't win
That's the way the gloomy rooter takes
on, no matter how bright his chances look
He refuses to be esmforted, and is dismal
10 the last.
Il studied one Of them tho other after
noon. and it was queer to see how per-
fectly miserable he succeeded in making
himself He had a good bet down on
10 to shot in the last race. and turning
into the stretch his horse came bounding
along, four lengths in front. at a never
stop clip that would have told child that
he had no chance whatever to lose.
Everybody in the stand and on the
lawn was bawling the horses name. but
just couldn't and wouldn't see it.
Now. watch the skate curl up and
explode he oroaked drearily. He's just
a buffer and morning glory. that's all
he is---one o these four legged shines
Uh-huh, ye-eh, he's keeping his lead all
right, but he'll be looking for the hole in
the fence in few seconds See il he
won't
He can't stay. Stay nothing. He
couldn't stay in the White House for twenty
minutes II he had free booze.
'Um-ye-eh, it looks as il he ought
10 cop now, Of course. with five lengths
the best Of it at the eighth pole: but
wouldn't be s'prised to see the mutt fall
down. 1t nd be Just like him. Can't
tell me that I'm in for any such luck as
lighting on 10 to 1 shot--not much. I'd
be falling out o bed if entertained any
such pipe notion as that
When the 10 to shot bounced past the
judges stand, after making an exhibition
of his field and winning. pulled up, by
eight lengths, the gloomy rooter against
himself was still shaking his head
oh. he'll be disqualified all right. for
some reason or other--for fouling, or for
being short Of weight, or something
Y can't tell me that they won I take his num-
ber down.
NO jockey went into the stand to make
any complaint. The race was fairly run,
and there was no ground for any kick.
The boys all weighed out without any hitch,
and the red board of confirmation went up.
Um-well, it's bout to 1 that that
bookie that made the bet with has already
jumped the fence and welched,' said the
dismal man, az he started for the betting
ring to collect.
Il rode into town on the Same car with
that pessimist Of the track.
Hear that you bumped EN- good on
the last race, overheard one Of his friends
say to him.
um-ye-eh, picked up few dollars.
was his reply. but what's the use? I'll
be giving it right back to 'em Tomorrow
oh, don't know said the other man.
cheerfuly. " might land 'em again
Tomorrow
Who, me?' said the dismal one, in
half mournfuI, half surprised tone. Guess
not You'd never see me cashing two bets
In two days II you waited thousand
years--that nd be too good. probably
won't get in line again for a couple o
weeks, no matter il play every race
There are plenty Of rooters who, although
they have good seats on the stand with a
-