Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-21
PLUNGER NOW
WORKS HARD
TOM SEXTON EARNS HIS BREAD
AS A WAITER
SAYS HE WILL GET BACK ON THE
TURF SOME DAY
Was Once a Terror to Bookmakers, but
Went Broke When Juggler Was
Disqualified at New
Orleans
epecial to The Herald.

NEW YORK, July 20.-"I lost $4,000 on
that race, and my two following bets
went wrong. 80 1 was out a little more
than $4,000 on the day. It was the begin
ming of my bad luck and-but beg your
pardon, shall 1 order your chops medium
or we'll done?"
Within earshot of the speaker were
four men widely known on the race
tracks, enjoying lheir supper one night
in Jacks" on Sixth avenue. One of the
men caught the speakers words and
pricked UP his ears because he had heard
the voice before. He turned around, sur
veyed the speaker an instant, and whis-
pered to his friends:
"Well, I'll be blowed! That's Tom Sex
ton, the plunger and owner And now he's
a waiter!"
1t was Tom Sexton, all right-Tom Sex
ton, who could make Sol Lchtenstein,
king of bookmakers, rub his slate"-Tom
Sexton, erstwhile owner of stable of
thoroughbreds, who not long ago could
count his winnings on the races up to
$500, 900.
"I lost fortune, but soon I'll win a
bigger one, and that's the surest thing
you know" Sexton said "Tm out Of
training now and broke''-this without a
trace of bitterness-"but I've had the eX-
perience, which will stand me in good
stead. A qutter is no good. I had to
turn my hand to something until 1 got
on my feet, so m q waiter now. 1t seems
queer, to be sure. They used to walt on
me, so 1 know how to wait on them. I'll
be all right in a few months, and 1 am
going to get together another stable, buy
up some yearlings and work along to
pay the feed bills until I put winner
under the wire. And then!'
What "And Then" Means
mt ,ho
what "and then means. He will return
to the firing line" and say, as he halts
in front of the "bookies'': Bet you $4,000
each way"
Sections voice was fairly eloquent in its
tone of hopefulness. His eyes of Irish
gray were forever winking. The lips were
constantly parting in smile. His was
the same cheerful demeanor which has
amazed regulars" on the race tracks for
the past two years, when he received his
winnings or paid his losses amounting to
thousands on a single race. 1t was ap-
parently all the same to Tom Sexton.
JJp to a year ago he was the owner or
Ostrich Wexford, Massive and rev
other good thoroughbreds. The local race
tracks had not seen so daring plunger
since the retirement of "Pittsburg Phll
Smith.
at was natural that should be good
father was known as the best judge IN
ireland. He was commissioned by the
British government to buy horses in Ire
land during the Boer war. l came TO thls
country when was is years or age. lhaI
was seven years ago. L secured employ
ment in downtown office and Jared wen
enough until 1 learned how to put pet
down, The first time 1 went broke and
cast about for work and took the nrst
thing at hand, job as longshoreman.
AS soon as got on my feet l went back
to the races"
Knew How to Ride
''I not only, knew how to take care OF
horses but 1 knew how to ride them. IL
Is the custom in County Cavan, where L
came from, to have horse race on the
afternoon of a wedding. The country
boys, of whom 1 was one, would train
their horses for an event weeks in ad-
vance. The start was usually about two
miles distant from the cottage where the
wedding was to take place. The route lay
over roads, fields and fences. All! those
we're the races and the purse was kiss
from the bride.
"Vhen l recovered from my first blow
on the races over here l worked and bet a
little until l got together 5000 ana then
chuclxed I'M nv Job. / ran that $500 up to
more than $3G0,000. Once l got ahead IL
was the weight of money that won Tor me-
They say that racing is losing game.
It's a winning game for any one If played
right. Stick to the horses and let other
sneculation alone. That's the secret.
Never forget that form counts I'm broke
now because l crippled myself in outside
ventures. If I'd had the capital last fall
I wouldn't be here now l had the chance
but couldn't avail myself of 1t.
ut was during the Saratoga meeting.
MY horse Ostrich was entered in an over
night handicap. L told my friends here IN
New York week before that L would
place Ostrich where he would win, and L
was so confident that L said l would re
turn to them their money if they lost. l
had expected to receive some money on
the afternoon of the race When it did not
arrive 1 was too proud to go to my friends
and tell them | was broke. l could have
got $4,000, but I hesitated. Ostrich was at
to l. He won. Forty thousand dollars
slipped through my fingers because of my
pride.
Bad Run of Luck
81 had been up against a bad streak for
months. 1t struck me at the fall meeting
at Benning. l entered Ostrich in race
and bet $4,000 on him at even money and
4 to 5 to~run third. Romanelli rode him.
That is the only race of my career where
couldn't have lost If given any sort of a
ride. One of the boys told me afterward
that Romanelli tried to put him .'over the
fence during the race and neglected
ostrich in the attempt. Anyway lost.
Il Inquired to get my money back on
wexford and backed him for $4,000.
WEXFORD ran away going to the post and
my money was burnt up. 1 decided to
take flyer in Wall street when L re-
turned to New York That was a game 1
knew nothing about, and guess was a
sucker. They got the money and it
crippled me for racing capital.
Il saidthat the weight of money makes
men win at the races, and III explain
what L mean. Take a horse that Is n
legitimate favorite on form Don't plev
him to win, but go back to place or show
betting. You will have to take odds on :,
but the weight of your money will make
you win Form may go wrong one dav,
but it will assert itself the next
"At the fall meeting at Aoueduct +yo
years ago 1 lost $4,000 in one day. The
next day 1 won $4,000. 1t was at the Ia
maica track that bid in Ostrich out of a
selling race for $500. I won $S5O0 on him
the first time he started in my colors 7
never could quite understand why Jack
McGinnis took Ostrich away from me
fte.. ookC