Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-01-23
THE RACES
As Seen at Lucky 6aldwin's" Ranch
in CaIjfornia


course, in the way he should go, is win
terlng in California and, missing the
stern New England guide posts along the
straight and narrow way, strayed off the
other day to a race track whose doings
made the horse trot at Tunbridge or the
free-for-all at the Dog River Valley fair in
Northfield seem like pale reflection of
the real thing. His story of the event
given below will be read with interest -
ION the Sd of January, without cloud
to be seen at 1850 special car started
for Lucky Baldwin's' ranch and, Incl
dentally, the races. A ride of about so
minutes in the open end of the electric
car and through beautiful country with
orange groves on either side and the trees
hanging so full of nearly ripe fruit that
many of the limbs have to be propped up,
we landed at the entrance of the racing
park. In defence of this city will say
that Pasadena contributed less than 25
people on that day, two Of these being
young Japs.
ssThe race track has beautiful location.
The immense grandstand, which is fine
new structure, would probably seat from
$500 to 5000 people, all chairs, and the
view from them is simply grand. The
park grounds are nearly surrounded by a
row OF tall eucalyptus trees and beyond
these on rising ground to the foothills
are long stretches of perfectly straight
rows of orange trees, / think they were,
and farther yet long range of rugged
mountains with very uneven sky line.
All this backed by a perfectly clear blue
sky made picture long to be remem-
bered. One dollar (scrip) gave you adj
mission to the park and your choice of a
seat in the stand, outside of the boxes,
which, of course, were reserved.
'sThey have the finest track ever saw.
1t was in perfect condition and they said
they made record time the day l was
there. Beyond the track are located the
paddocks, some 80 or 40 in numher-neat
appearing, hip-roofed, broad-eaved build
ings stained greenland they would ac-
commodate good number of horses each.
heard it reported that they had some
thing like 5000 horses in and around
there for racing purposes.
sDirectly underneath the seats is
large, high well-lighted pavilion with ce-
ment floor. In it, located at convenient
intervals, are stands where can be OBJ
tanned hot roast beef sandwiches, made
while you wait; also stands with beers,
wines and liquors of all kinds and all do
ing a rushing business, but with no
drunkenness to be seen. The way sand
witches and drinks are taken care OF be-
tween races indicates heavy strain on
the system. Down two-thirds of its
length on either side are located booths
which are occupied by two men each, and
on a blackboard some two feet square are
posted the names of the string of horses
for the next race, opposite each name be-
ing chalked the odds they will give,
which is being changed constantly.
Each man, with field glasses, is watching
his neighbors to see that they are not Civ
ing better odds than he. Here is where
the public come in, pick their horse and
put up their money with the occupants of
the booths. The horses are run in strings
of from six to twelve to a race and no
string appears the second time.
ssThe space between booths is occupied
by a moving mass of humanity, or in
humanity, largely with wad of bills in
their hands or fist full of gold pieces.
They watch the boards and, 1 suppose,
put up their money here they can do
the best. A greater part of the actors
appear prosperous with occasionally
man whom you would think would do
we'll to put up at least $40 in a fresh suit
of clothes.
sISeemingly no one thinks anything of
putting up So, SO, $50, $50 or 800 on
single horse. The bugle sounds and they
know the horses are coming over to start
the race, and business at the booths is on
the rush. The horses enter an enclosure
near the stand and, by paying an extra 80
cents, you have few minutes to look
them over to see if they are in condition
to do good work. In the mean time,
there are young men, suppose represent
ing the operators in the booths below,
who pass through the seats in the stand
with card giving information similar to
the black boards downstairs. They are
soliciting bets and the way the women
put up their money is caution-old and
young, all sorts and conditions, largely
well dressed and with good display of
diamonds, but not all by any means.
Even boys, seemingly not over 16 years
of age-with their mothers, judging from
looks-handle good wads of money, fives,
tens and twenties pass freely.
"Out come the horses and business con-
tinues brisk up to the time they get the
send-off after a great deal of maneuver-
ing. Now every body follows the horses,
largely with field glasses, and after they
make the turn into the home stretch
everybody stands in the chairs and yells
and begs for his or her horse. Down
they come, usually we'll punched, and it
is all over in less than minute and
half. Now is the time for the winners to
line up at the booths where they placed
their money and get their cash. Some
win only a handful of silver dollars; 9th
ers rake in good stacks of so and $40
gold pieces. In one instance, saw
man take from one booth good number
of Uncle Sans bills and none of them
with less than three figures and some OF
them starting with the figure 5. How
many instances there are of this kind
can't say, as could watch but three
or four booths at time. I was there to
see and learn and / did it.
Gas soon as one race is ended and be-
fore the riders are fairly off the horses,
the boards are cleared and another string
is on ali ready for business. Races are
pulled off promptly every Is or 20'min-
utes all the afternoon six DAYS in the