Evening star., 1938-04-10
Straight Place and Show

Then the runner continues, Say.
you don't have to get in that line and
get pushed around trying to get your
oct down. I am making book right
behind the judges stand I pay off
the instant the winning prices are
posted and you won't have to wait in
line again to cash your bet And
per cent cut out of what you bet,
don't you? Well I save you that 10
per cent when you bet with me. Come
or down and see me for the mex;
race"
Close observation disclosed
the fact that quite few large
bets are handled in this man.
ner.
These bookies do not want to be-
come too CONSPICUOUS and so they do
not cater to the 50 bettor.
Has an Outside Window.
Outside the track it is a different
story The management provides a
81 betting window, supposedly for
stable employees, although any one
who wishes to buy a ticket is accom-
modated. This window still is pat
ronized, but not in the same volume
as in other years and the reason is
easy to find.
The bookmakers outside the track
will take ST and even 50-cent bets and
they do a land-office business. They
apparently have no fear of interfer-
ence because it is not uncommon to
hear them call, Get your bets in,
boys, the horses are going to the post,
better hurry up" This, in 1olid
tone of voice, because they have
plenty Of competition, although large
crowd Of bettors seem to be attached
to each and every one.
These bookies outside the en-
closure will take a bet from
any one, whether they know
you or not.
1t seems impossible that the powers
that are in control at Bowie could be
ignorant of what is going on.
Will Have "Totalisator."
This year, for the first time, all the
race tracks around Chicago will have
the benefit during their entire racing
season of the "Totalisator," which
has been called so aptly the ticker
tape of the race track, because it
keeps before the public the exact
amount wagered on every horse in
the race.
The totes now being put in at Au-
rora and Lincoln Fields will be ready
for the openings of those meetings.
Arlington Park and Washington Park
have had totes for years, and plans
have been approved, and contracts
prepared for the installation of the
machines at Hawthorne and Sports
mans Park.
There are FL race courses,
in States where pari-mutuel
wagering is legal, equipped with
T0talisators.
Now that Col. Matt ]. Winn has an
nounced that Churchill Downs in
Louisville, where the Kentucky Derby
is run each year, will have tote in
time for the event of 1899, the only
important tracks in the country that
do not have Totalisators, except, of
course, those in New York, where
bookmakers still operate, are Laurel,
Havre de Grace and Bowie.
Pimlico was the first Eastern race
course to adopt the Totalisator. De-
spite the popularity of the tote, the
other three big racing associations in
Maryland have been backward in their
attitude toward the device, which
gives the patrons absolute protection
against carelessness and dishonesty in
the handling Of money wagered in the
pari-mutuel manner.
1t has been proved that a tote I'M
proves betting because of this guaran-
tee Of security. Our contention is
that the Maryland Racing Commits
sion should rule that all mile race
tracks operating in Maryland should
be compelled to install the Total.sator.