Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-08-11
STEALING RACE
TRACK TIPS
Smoth Game Worked by Plbngers
Whe Watch the Telegraph
Instrument


race track Administrations who were
able to read the telegraph sounder from
outside the cashiers Enclosure. The
method pursued by these epecula tors
was to place wagers on the strength OF
tips that came over the wire. While
other bettors were utterly ignorant OF
what went on between poolrooms in d
given circuit, the operators beside them
might overhear messages authorizing
commissions of $500 or 1000 on this O,
that horse. They cared not where the
messages originated. 1t was enough
to know that horse was "out for the
money" The profits ACQUIRING from
this system, say those who tried It,
sometimes exceed the winnings of the
proprietors themselves.
OF all the pOOlroom's habitues the op-
orator on the outside was by far the
most popular. In the opinion of his
friends he ranked superior to the man
with "giltedged" tips straight from the
stable, for the reason that he often ad
vised them to stand shy of advice
shown later on to be worthless. The
players ability to understand Morse
was. OF course, valuable only where the
click of the instrument was audible,
say. ten feet away, or far enough for il
to penetrate the partition separating
the Official xelegrapher from customers.
and In about four fiifths of the pool
rooms this was the ease. Rarely was
an operator bent on speculation to be
round In room where the Instruments
were boxed in. II by accident he en-
c0untered such a place he quickly de-
serted It,
The operation of this scheme was de-
acribed by an operator who was Stand
ing Ina poolroom not far from New
Yorkcity hall on the afternoon of Nav
., just prior to the running of the Met
ropolitan handicap. He was consider
ing whether to play Stalwrat. Irish
Lad or Highball. his preference inclin-
Ing strongly to the latter. While he
was revolving the problem in his mind,
with his ear close to the wall. the in
strument inside started up in a sharp.
1erky fashion. Some one was calling
the room where he was.
Il, l." answered the Western Union
man. Tt
Irish Lad 5000 straight and 5000
place." said the sender.
%. X. you're on" was the reply,
Irish Lad was then quoted at s to 2
and even. In less than minute after
ward the same once called again.
Want any more Irish Lad money ?"
Yes all you've got. Let her come"
two hundred dollars more straight
and 5000 place."
Total $500 to win and $500 second?v
asked the receiver.
That's It," said the other
From my knowledge OF racing" OBJ
served the operator. who was telling the
story, i knew that a bet of that size
would send Irish Lads price down to
3. II not lower. and throwing all preju-
dices aside, ! reached for my cash
pocket and drew out two $50 bills. Then.
n less time than It takes to tell II.
wrote slip which read:
Irish Lad. so to 20 and 20 to 220.
The man at the receiving window, un-
aware Of the big bets his boss was al
,Tsady Carrying on the horse, accepted
my money without question. Well. Il
started In then to root as they say.
against my own bet. feeling after all.
That should have decided on Highball.
The result showed. however. that my
money was well placed, for Irish Lad
won and quit winner OF $40.
nut ! was not always lucky. and my
experience taught me that even those
who are strictly In the inner circle very
often ret left. remember one regret.
able day about two years ago when I
lost every dollar had saved up for va
cation and was forced to borrow enough
money to see me through.
Hotentot was carded for a race at
the 81. Louis track. and was quoted at 3
and even. He looked like a certainty
Tor the better end OF the purse. I had
'doped' him out with great care. and
was on the point Of placing $40 each
way on him. when some one called I'M
on the wire and asked for Hottentot.s
price.
Three and even. responded the
ticker
I'm take $500 for the place. said the
inquirer.
Five hundred to five hundred Hot.
tentot second. You're on came the re-
ply.
Il realized that $50 or 500 lust at
that time would put me right on nv
feet. and it did seem to be a golden
opportunity. Moreover, my impression
was strengthened by seeing prosper-
ous-iooking man make dart for the
window to put $50 straight and $50
place on this horse.
Carefully unfilding roll containing
500 that was to go for my holiday. II
grasped $50 Of it in my left hand re-
placing the other $40 in my pocket and
wrote out slip-'40 to win and 40
place. Hottentot.'
To make sad story short. Hotter.
tot never got even a call. and the chart
next gay showed that his position had