Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-08-19
WOMEN GAMBLERS
ON RACE HORSES
Members of the Smart Set i'm British
Isles Risk Their Money on

"A LONDON correspondent says that
at all times in the history of the
smart set there have been women
who like the famous Duchess Bob"
OF Montrose, gambled on horses. But
in those days they were few and far
between. Today no society woman
OF the set that counts considers her.
self really "goey"-and II you are
not "goey" you are nobody--unless
she has "a bit on horse" in the big
races. The racing set is a set apart,
made up as rule OF enormously
rich people, mostly in the circle of
which the late king was leader, They
are a set that never show the white
feather, be their losses what they
may.
There Is one widowed duchess
her grace of Devonshire-whose
husband before he died tied up her
income so that she never has more
than one weeks allowance to her
credit, $1250. II was this duke who
some years ago had to sell his rail-
way shares to pay the lady's gam
bling debts. But Notwithstanding
the precautions taken by his late
grace she still manages to win a
bit and lose a bit" She II was who
from sick bed placed her bets
through the telephone and won
something like $4,000 ON Green
back. A friend who was taking tea
with her on Derby day records how
her grace said to her:
Must Gamble or Die.
II believe I should die If could
not do a little gamble on this great
day"
In the past It was indeed great
day for her, as upon II she invariably
gave one of the most brilliant enter
tainments OF each year.
Lady Crewe is a discreet young
woman who has a great capacity for
spotting a winner. She Is as good
Judge of a horse as her father,
Lord Rosebury, and would like to
possess racing stables OF her own,
did not Lord Crewe object.
Every smart woman In the royal
enclosure at Ascot this year had
sums varying from $50 to thousands
on the horses. A few days before
this fashionable event I was shown
by society woman who runs a
dressmaking establishment, letter
from little viscountess who has not
been a year married, begging for an
entension OF time for the payment OF
her bill on the plea that she was
sure to win lot at Ascot.
81 have had the finest tips" she
added. "and II you phone me and
say you are sending me on my frock
l shall give YOU couple that will be
worth to you more than the amount
OF my little bill, twice over"
Btu she did not win, She lost
heavily After the first days racing
at Ascot her husband went into her
boudoir and found her unconscious.
On the table beside her was bottle
labeled bromide. The doctor was
telephoned for and when he saw her
he despalred Of her life. However,
he managed to restore consciousness.
All the servants and friends OF the
family were told that her ladyship
had appendicitis, but that the doc
tors cleverly managed TO avoid an
operation. On learning what had
brought about the attempted suicide
her husband paid up every one OF
her debts Of honor" which turned
out to be far more considerable than
the ordinary ones-in all a sum OF
nearly $4,000 She swears now
that she will never gamble again,
but those who know her best swear,
too, that this state OF things won't
last long. The gambling craze is In
her blood. Her father was once n
familiar figure at Monte Carlo.
Before the big race II Is the Gus
tom for hosts TO get up sweepstakes
among their guests. Especially does
the custom prevail in the country
at Goodwood and Newmarket for ex-
ample This has been an institution
at Goodwood House, seat OF the
duke OF Richmond and Gordon, who,
time and again, has entertained the
late King Edward and Queen Alex
andra for the races. There Is one
every year in which all the women
OF the party Join, and which is limit
ed 10 $500 each. The other Is for
men at $4,000 each. King Edward
was invariably in this sweepstake,
whether he was visiting the duke or
not. More than one man has de-
clIned an invitation 10 Goodwood
House, for the last races OF the Lon
don season, because he did not care