The Washington times., 1904-10-09

st. AsaUh race track OF ancient and
: honorable fame. When the race course
was outlawed some eight or ten years
I ago, the graudstand was made into the
/ present DoOlrOOm. by tearing out the
/ seats and Walling up the exposed side.
/ At present the building resembles a
/ cross between a dollhouse and a stable.
{ on the west side Is a long row Of glass
windows and doors.
The cupolas OF the old grandstand
give the rambling structure a jauuty
air, but the faded paint and general ne
glect detraCt from this. Inside there is
no attempt made at decoration. The
walls are bare and dirty.
The Big Blackboards.
AT the farther end Of the barnIike
room are the blackboards on which are
the names OF the entries in the races
TO be run that afternoon. Iulmedla tely
below these boards is a long, high couu-
ter such as is found in any saloon. Be
hind this are seated the bookmakers on
high stools. On narrow shelf in front
of the blackboards the assistant clerks
walk hack and forth, changing the odds
as the returns come in from the tracks
and marking the winners and the horses
that finish second and third.
To the right Of the bIackboards IS
high seat for the telegrapher, where
he sits Ike a judge in a police court.
and stiIl farther along are the windows
where the fortunate ones cash In their
bets. There are three Of these. one for
each Of the three colored tickets-red
green, and yellow.
Another in the Middle.
About the middle Of the room is an
other betting counter which is for com
binati0n" bets alone. the other counters
being for the straight bets. The com
binaJiun bets have a great attraction for
the frequenters Of the place, for they
offer long odds. Instead OF playing one
horse 70 win or for place in one race
or both. ia a combination bet you play
horses TO win In two or more races VITA
the odds increased proportionately. In
other words, If you play a combination of
a ten-to-one-shot ia one race and a six
to-one shot ia the second, you get odds
of seventy-six 10 one. Although the
chances for landing a combination bet
are simmer than those In straight bets.
yet there are enough winners I'm these
combinations 10 make them a drawing
card.
Lining the sides of the rooms are
lunch stands and a bar. There are rows
floor space, where the bettor can sit
down 10 count up his winnings or his
losses. usually the latter. or 10 wait for
the returns from the races in which
they are interested. Here is where you
fad your old hand with his race book
filled with clippings showing the past
performances OF every horse that ever
went for warming up gallOp on any
track iu the country. What he can't
. cell you about the supposed chances of
the ''pOnies" is not worth telling, and
what he does tell you is often worth
less But in spite Of his mistakes he
often lands a winner.
A Dirty Place.
one distinguishing mark about the
whole place is dirt. The floor would
make a seIf-respe porker sad. Just
20 look an IT, There IS an aroma about
the room that is all it's own. but nobody
seems TO notice il particularly II is
the essence of all arenas from the un-
clean. II the p0olro0m is TO continue
running. and there is little doubt but
what 30 viii. the best thing that could
happen 20 81 would be a smashing down
by the Alexandria nre brigade Every
thing goes on the floor. from lunch TO
t0rn-up betting tickets.
On Saturday Afternoon.
Take the Saturday afternoon special
train Tor ST. 4saph This is usually
a great day for the pOolroOm. The
crowd assemblies early at the Thirteen
aud-a-haIf Street station 20 catch the
1-45. which should land them az the pool
room in time to play the FIRST race.
Some 200 or 800 men. and half a dozen
women crowd into the cars. Nearly all
or them carry copies OF the Morning
Telegraph" which IS the bible upon
which they pin their faith 1t is a hope
fuI crowd that leaves the station. Not
one in the bunch but thinks, and hopes.
that this may be hls or her day
Every dog has mis- day. and cats
have "a night too but the days are
rev and far between for the follower Of
the races. The merits Of the various
horses are discussed on the twenty
minute trip down to the DOOlrOom. and