The sun., 1910-01-09
BOOSTING ODDS NOT In FAVOR
FLORIDA FROWNS ON BOOk.
MAKERS OLD METHODS.

1 FAUhADA FAOWlNS wv nVOA-
MAKERS Old METHODS.
u Became m Evil ON New York Tracks
Before the Agnew.Hart Law went
Into Enect-HOw Price Making lay
ers Worked with the PAungers.
Bookmakers operating at Jacksonville
have been notified that the practice OF
-boosting 'or plugging prices, which
has been common at the racetraoks In
the United States and Canada. is strictly
prohibited and that persons who violate
the new order will be ruled on. This
reform. II backed by sincere motives.
Is expected TO do racing in Florida lot
OF good. In future. therefore. the Jack
sonville layers will be compelled to take
at least 500 on a "a to shot, $50 on a
5 to I shot. and $40 on horse quoted at
10 to 1. In other words the bookmakers
cannot refuse to accept wagers at the
odds they have chalked ON their States
II they do not want a play on a certain
horse no price must be quoted
The plugging OF prices became q
great evil in the former betting rings
on the New York tracks before the pas
sage Of the Agnew-Hart measure Lead
ing bookmakers who knew more than
others about the respective merits Of
the horses in each race established the
market. They wrote down the odds
in accordance with their own calcula-
tions and more than 800 Olayers copied them.
Enjoying such an advantage, il was not
at all strange that the bookmakers be-
came unscrupulous and proceeded TO
manipulate the prices for the benefit
of themselves and some Of the big bettors
who were their clients.
II a plunger had a good thing and
wanted to secure a fat price. at the same
time concealing his play. he went to one
OF these bookmakers and handed him
a comm ission to be placed on a certain
horse. The bookmaker making the
prices that were promptly copied by his
business rivals seldom failed TO quote
a higher price against his clients horse
than was warranted and then, as the
quotation appeared ON 200 states, his
agents hurried about the ring getting
the commission down in small humps.
Meanwhile this bookmaker refused to
accept wagers on the horse.
In many instances It developed that the
bookmaker, anxious to profit by the
pllmger's information. placed a solid
wager at top price for himself first and
then got his clients money down at the
best odds obtainable. One OF the biggest
layers on the metropolitan tracks worked
this game 30 incessantly that in due
time the other chalkers became wary
Of his prices and avoided him altogether.
His methods were well illustrated the
day James r. Keene's Sysonby made his
first appearance as a twO-year-old. The
great Melton colt had been kept so well
under cover that he was generally UNDER
estimated by the professional checkers.
II was known that he was a high ella 90
youngster. but his renl worth was a well
kept secret.
The debut OF Sysonby took place at
Brighton Beach. A mob surrounded
the rings price maker. waiting for the
first chalk marks. The crafty layer.
backed by several big bettors, put up
'-even money against the Keene colt.
and the quotation was carried at top
speed to the other layers. In the twink
ling OF an eye the big operators were
Offering 200 bookmakers in the main ring
all the money they were willing to ac-
cept on Sysonby until the price was
rubbed 70 4 to 5. At this price there was
another heavy play, until 3 10 was offered
on all sides
The original price maker. however. did
not weaken on his -even money" propo-
sition, for the excellent reason that he
refused every big wager that came his
way. though he kept the quotation on
his slate and held it up where all could
see il. Finally a Western business man
who was not a regular at the track came
along, and seeing "even money on this
ohalker's slate said:
I'm bet you fifty on Sysonby'
Don't want iti- growled the rings price
maker. Go away from herei You're
blocking the orowdl'
But you've got even money on your
slatei" persisted the Western man.
III you don't want my bet why don't
you rub out the price?"
stop annoying me or I'll have you
ejectedl' yelled the bookmaker. where
upon a fight seemed imminent. Pub
licity caused a cessation OF these methods
for a time, but the bookmaker soon
resumed on the old lines.
Baldy Ryan put over n killing one
day at Jamaica with horse named Cary.
He took this same price maker into his
confidence and told him to play the odds.
When the market opened the layer put
90 TO I on his slate and these odds ap-