New-York tribune., 1905-08-13

That one was on the way 10 the city that has
lost the lid" not particularly apparent on
the Saratoga express until after Albany had
been left behind. The train the one that
reaches the famous Spa Just in time for the first
race OF the six that are run each afternoon. and
Albany II filed up with capital sports with
long sheets OF horse dope" and extravagant
ideas Of the thousands hundreds they were
going 10 win.
Il win" was the first sound that greeted the
oorrespondents ear as ne dropped of the Pull
at the Saratoga station platform.
Il sure VIM repeated the correspondents
friend. who vas waiting 10 show him the way
10 the race track
What's the bet?" asked The Tribune man.
Bet you'd be the first passenger out OF the
car" the answer.
Well the bet about the number OF the
engine" returned the who had lost the
elshting proposition.
They had made a wager as TO whether the
number of the locomotive would he odd or even
on the way 10 the carriage which take
the party 20 the they paused 10 make q
bet hesitating Would she turn 10
the right or LEFT when she finally made UP her
mind? That the all important question and
they put up their dollars It. The woman
finally sat down on the end Of her suitcase with
out turning either way and that bet on
III bel you IN match you Bet you!"
Match you" Bet" Match SO runs the
Saratoga chorus from the hour Of late rising
until the hour OF later going 10 bed. Even bed
Goes not end f. for the bettors sleep betful
sleep and win or loose dream fortunes. accord
ing TO the wisdom with which they have supped
before retiring
>" Surely the goddess OF chance. whatever her
name is. never had colony OF humans quite
as consistent, untirirR faithful. the
5000 souls who have gathered at Saratoga
this season. one does not think OF paying for
anything there in the usual way, unless one is
absolutely alone or friendless
Perhaps you are asked 10 have a drink When
the time comes TO pay the check YOU are sup
posed TO ask for the privilege OF matching for
II. The operation is easy enough. The who
asks YOU puts down coin and you try TO put
another down with the same side up; you match
him that's al there is 10 il. or you don't match
him. and YOU pay for the drink II there
three OF you The odd man pays for the drinks.
Even the newsboys on the street will match you
70 see whether you pay five cents for cent
paper or get Il for nothing
Tha drive from the hotel quarter TO the Sara
toga track is a beautiful one. but there is no
tmc Cor scenery. The women in passing
.riagos and automobiles are beautiful and
goNnod like queens, but no man has eyes for
them. The breezes are laden with the odor Of
flowers from the beautiful gardens along the
way, but there is smell Noses and
eyes delving deep into the list os horses
which are to run, and their past performances.
Bet you" Match you." Bet Match
the chorus is continuous.
The scenes at the track are not unlike those
a. The tracks AT New-York when racing is going
on thcre. Saratoga gets bet down on every
race II possible. and instead Of watching race
as spectacle worth seeing in the finest setting
-in the world the bettor's eye is glued on the
horse which carries hts money. II this animal
falls behind the hettor turns away dsgusted;
Il his horse is in the lead he forgets TO watch
.oIhe race I'm shouting his excitement. II is so of
alaFe exceptions.
- sThe fever Of the ponies is a terrible thing 70
sHfet out 81 ones veins. They say one throw
Of the yellow Jack more easily. They are
telling just now OF a race-mad man of means
VINO ever since the meeting opened. two weeks
ago, has been thinking races and horses and
.l3eckeys. weights and distances and track con-
secations. and who suddenly found that his feet
We're hurting him dreadfGlly. He looked at nis
shoes and found that he had worn holes in the
Holes Of both. and that he was virtually walking
around In his stocking feet He had plenty of
money. had won enough on The last race alone to
keep him in shoes for year. but he had been
TOO absorbed 10 think Of anything but horses.
~ The good housewives Of Saratoga are COM
claiming thar Il is impossible TO keep cooks and
servant girls that racing has begun.
majority Of the girls have taken 10 play the
ponies and until they lose their savings they
have no time 10 spare from the dope sheets"
The only places that seem TO have no trouble
getting help in plenty the restaurants about
the track Girls are there paid 81 50 a day for
washing dishes and they are able TO live in the
atmosphere of The track Some OF them get
tips from the stabemen which really come true
and add 10 their wages considerably. Anyway
= they are in the racing zone.
There Is one woman in Saratoga who has
- found a way OF keeping ~ least maid Of
s all work who is a good cook besides. Her hus-
band is one Of the racing officials and the wife
3 has an extra track admission badge The girl
gets up early and works overtime for the priv
Z iege Of using this badge. The badge Is worth
- a day. which makes the eKpedient impos-
2'vOman lives in fear and trembling that some
Gay Bridget viii make killing ana cult
housework FOR good. The ponies have no. been
running Bridgets way so far. however, and the
af house has never been more clean or the meals
better cooked than since racing began.
- The races are over by o'clock and the Sara
* the centre OF life Perhaps they wander into
lssfhe PagOda-an open air drinking place at
lcfached 10 one OF The hotels. VIII the number
tson the walters shield be odd even They bet
the table How many straws in the can
lister? Each one about the table puts S5 in a
& Boo and they make their guesses. Then some
Isone counts the straWs. The one who comes
9 dearest the correct number takes the pool.
p Some pulls out bin pay a check
- - 'call IL odd for a hver." is the cry.
q Take youi" returns the man with the bill
n. They look carefully at the number in the
bApper right hand corner OF the bill. II IL Is
lssren the one who offered 10 bet takes out his
= roll and hands over So bil IL the number is
- fhA