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LACKING IN JUDGMENT OF PRICES. Eastern Bettinq Man Criticises the Bookmakers at New Orleans. New Orleans. La.. January 14. — Among the easterners who are spending the winter here are many keen observers of racing, men who make betting a business, ami many of them have lived well on tlie profits accruing from their superior judgment for years. One of those persons in the course of a chat on local conditions a day or two ago, said: "You have in the west and south many experienced bookmakers, men who. you Bright say. have been brought up to tlie business and know it all the way through. At the same time you will find a lot of men trying to make book at both the local tracks who do not know enough "to come in out of the wot. They may be handicappers but they appesr to have no Idea of prices whatever. An illustration of this came under my notice a short time ago. There are two men hero who make the prices. I was standing in the ring looking around while the liookmakers were tentatively putting up the opening odds. There was one horse that at any rate figured to bo flot worse than the second choice. Here and there all sorts of prices were posted alKiut him. One fellow had him at 20, another at .-,,0, and one or two chalked up as much as 50 to 1 against him. When tho two men who knew what they were doing, and were willing to take money, chalked up the price It was 8 to 5. The horse went to the post at about that figure, and although he did not win it was the legitimate quotaion. ••Another thing I have noticed about your western betting is that there seems to be a desire to herd the people together like a bunch of sheep. There Is not room enough in your betting rings for a in.in to turn around, and to tell you the truth if I only wanted to bet five dollars on a race I would not put myself to the discomfort to do it. Your betting boths are placed so closely together that one can scarcely squeeze in between them, while the ends of the ring are drawn together so that there is not more than ten feet of space for the crowd to get iu and out. If one wanted to be cynical he might say that it looks like a dragnet sort of affair. "Got em in but dont let em out.* Why not open up your betting rings so as to give the people plenty of room to get about? I am sure the public would appreciate more freedom and comfort while they are trying to place their mouey."
