Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-07
PLAYING THE HORSES
SUPERSTITION RULES MANY A
BETTING MAN.
How He Has Come to Abandon Sys
TENS and Every Kind Of Rule
in Laying Wagers.

lows the races Is no exception to the rule.
Hard-luck stories and superstitions go to-
gether, and since the Benning meet began
one can hear all kinds of queer reasons for
failures to win. The sharpest and keenest
of the betting fraternity are not exempt
from these superstitions. Those who start
IN to bet on horse flesh generally begin
with system" such as backing the IA
vorite and in case Of loss to double up
the next favorite, they adopt some of
the other numerous theories which have
been figured out as sure to beat the book
les. By bitter experience many have
learned that systems are delusion and
snare, as well sure things and
straight tips" which are given out by
the professional touts. When one begins
to realize this then he finds himself OPP
posed to doing anything by rule, and takes
refuge in signs and superstitions. Dream
books and hoodooS now play star parts in
placing bets.
Cross-eyed men are an abomination to
the betting fraternity. There Is a Pan
doras box of misfortunes in a glance from
one of them. but to see a croSS-eyed wo-
man while going to the track is sure to be
forerunner of good luck. If a regular
meets a hunchback on his way to the races
and II he can by any manner of means
touch the hump his fortune for that day
is made, and he may bet his money with
the most sublime confidence. Blind men
the track followers 1t is one of the super
stitfons that passing by the blind without
giving aid will bring bad luck. Betting
men believe that looking at graveyard
while going to the track will cause bad
luck all the week. and to cross a funeral
simply means to lose on every race. No
thoroughbred would think of passing under
LATER and if by accident he does so his
good luck for the day is gone. No matter
how tempting the program is he will wait
until the following day to place his money.
To get tip from a red-headed girl who
likes the races is regarded as safe in
vestment, and a census office clerk avows
that he is more than three hundred ahead
on tips given him by red-headed girl in
the same bureau who knows every horse
on the turf.
A young newspaper man has a novel way
of placing his money the races. He
takes the number of the first street car he
sees Oh the morning of the race and plays
that number, that is, buying the ticket
bearing that number when it is reached by
the bookmaker Some men play the horse
with the most striking name, while others
are willing to place their money on the
horse with the commonest and ugliesl
name.
The condolences that have led to heavy
winnings or losings on the track are many.
and whenever number of sporting men
get together these happenings form the
chief topic of conversation. A well-known
local sporting man, and who is amply able
to lose a few thousand, lost heavily last
town hotel talking to some of his friends
and frankly confessed that he believed the
fates were against him, and all because, as
he put It, II killed a white and black cat
which had made life burdensome to me.
I'll never kill another cat long as l live.
I'll move out Of the neighbOrhood first and
give 1t over to the felines. My wife said
TOD toag go broke and I've come near doing it.
Many will remember the day on which
Badge beat Salvador. A man stopped in
the office Of friend before going to the
track, and his friend asked him to cash a
check for him, for he had to stay in his
office all the afternoon. You need not
give me the money until tonight he said.
The man consented and went to the track.
On the way he met friend who told him
to bet the last dollar he had in the world
on Badge to beat Salvador. When he got
down to that race all his money was gone
his friend. Hardly realizing what he did
he walked into the ring and placed the
fifty against one thousand five hundred on
Badge. Badge won out and the man went
home, but he never has told his friend of
the chances he took in risking his fifty.
When Hanover was defeated by FirenN
barber who had mortgaged his shop and
placed the money on Hanover. blew his
brains out that night in his shop. Old
Hanover won ten consecutive races after
the barber killed himself.
An interesting story is told by barber
on 14th street. He Is known to be wild on
horse racing and is pretty well posted on
the flyers. Il have been betting on the
ponies for the last fifteen years." said
he. land there was a time when I was
lucky and my tips were regarded as good;
but these conditions have changed. 1 have
lost my grip somehow I can live hard
and save money for the races but every
cent of the money that is my own-saved
right here in this surprisingly goes to the
wind when 1 put it on one of the ponies.
You may not believe it. but when I go out
and borrow a dollar or two and put it on
some old plug I am just sure to win. 1t
has happened that way for me for the
past six years. and there are white men
who back my judgment occasionally who
tell you that what say is true"