Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-12
BY c. c. Pettus.

BY G. c. Pettus.
There was excitement in the betting ring
at Jamaica after Colonel Whites recent I'M
expected win at 100 to 1. caused by one of
the layers on the back line having over
laid himself against the horse, necessitating
skirmish for more money to finish paying
of
After this unlucky bookmaker had paid
out a couple of thousand dollars to holders
of wagers on the long shot he left his cash.
Ter to quiet the uneasiness of his remaining
creditors while he went to the other end of
the ring to negotiate loan from fellow
layer. This was done. and ali bets were
paid after a few minutes delay.
r While more than one bookmaker. the
world over, has had experiences of this sort.
the few cases Of "welching" that crop up
speak well for the system as whole. as
well as the safeguards thrown around it by
track officials.
When the late Alfred Clfdge was a lead
ing layer of odds on the New York tracks
nearly turned his hair gray. The 18th street
turf exchange of Cridge & Company, in the
late seventies and early eighties, was the
Headquarters for visiting turfmen and local
sports as well.
Fitted up as a club ROOM the Cridge es-
adjustment contained nearly every conven-
fence, and one could sit down and peruse
files of the latest domestic and foreign
sporting papers. or walk upstairs where the
whirr of the roulette ball and click of the
ivory chips appealed to the votaries of
chance.
On the main floor was the turf exchange
proper, where pools were sold nightly on
current racing events. and, with accommo-
dations for several hundred people, this
part of the Cridge establishment was a
lively place evenings.
fhn fro ifx, dnA hn
late John Morrissey. was recognized as a
square sport" and his patrons were num-
bered among the best-known men in Goth
am. An occurrence that took place in the
first season Of his career Q67b) tested as
well as sealed his popularity with the sport
ing public.
A Popular Bookmaker.
Derby and the Cridge Exchange was crowd
Louisville the next day were in full blast
and large amounts were invested on the
chances of the fourteen starters posted.
The colt Chesapeake from Price McGrath's
stable was the favorite. and while that we'll
known turfman had two other colts entered
Calvin and Aristides. he only announced
Chesapeake as his representative. much to
his subsequent regret and that of his
friends.
The next day at noon McGrath added his
colt Aristides to the list, and auction pools
at the track were sold on the McGrath en-
try-Chesapeake and Aristides. In the New
York resorts the same change was made,
and at Cridges Exchange hackers of Chesa-
peake smiled satirically when told that they
had "Aristides running for them also"
A short time later, however, when the
operator In Cridge'ss called out, "Aristides
wins the Kentucky Derby Volcano second"
the Chesapeake plungers experienced two
sets of emotions. Those who had been for
Ar
after Aristides had been added shortly be-
fore the race shook hands with themselves
at their good fortune. But for overnight
hackers 1t was another story.
ers of overnight, auction pools who had
bought Chesapeake as to whether that did
not mean the McGrath entry-in short
whatever McGrath should start In the race.
But without waiting for the official decision
from Louisville on the. matter Cridge at
once rnled that all overnight auction pools
'bou gi12 when Aristides was not posted as
starter should be paid to hackers Of the
confirmed later by advices from Louisville.
It was the first case OF the kind on an
American turf, hence the doubt among
certain people as TO the equity Of the mat
was dictated by the {common-sence view
that only horses listed governed decision OF
auction pools. fs;.ss
! Il was a bonanza for packers Of Volcano
only IS and "a in a hundred and was FREE
uuentiy Jumped in the field with three or
four other horses. At Louisville Col. Jack
Chinn won a 81 GOO pool with $25 on Vol
cano.
Big Money on . Long Shot.
Several years later auction pools in New
York were ruled against by the authorities
and Cridge's turf business at his exchange
was devoted to bookmaking alone. and his
operations extended to the track, where he
made book on a large scale.
One morning about this time well-known
New York business man, proprietor Of a
large department store, who made racing
his pastime and recreation, called on Cridge,