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TICKER ODDS AND THE GAMBLERS. Chicago, Illinois, August 17, 1007. Editor Dally Racing Form: It Is my understanding that, since the passage of the ordinance forbidding it. no racing news has been disseminated over tickers in Chicago. I have not seen a racing service ticker In operation here in the last four years, and I frequent places where one would naturally suppose they would be found Were they In operation. Hence I do not understand the term "ticker odds" as used by certain handbook makers. I have, however, observed that when a horse is backed locally for a considerable sum these so-called "ticker odds" are nearly always less than the closing odds laid at the track, and, again, I have noticed that when there Is little or no play oh a winner here the "ticker odds" are usually the same, though in some instances better than the track odds. Can you enlighten me as to the origin or these "ticker odds"? FAIR PLAY. The "ticker odds" arc supplied by track representatives of the Interstate News Company, which was organized with John A. Payne, of Cincinnati, as general manager, after the Western Union Telegraph Company wiped out its racing department about two years ago. The "ticker odds" in their original state jire less than the actual prices laid at the track from whence they come to Chicago by telegraph. Dally Racing Form is not advised that they arc addressed to any person in particular; does not ; know at what point in the city they are first received, and has no information as to how much is paid for the service orJy whom payment Is i made. The morning after the races are run there appears In one of the local daily newspapers as a paid advertisement and under the heading "Closing Odds Yesterdays Races," the names of the win ners, the second and third horses at each track; with the odds at which sonic, if not all, of the handbook makers pay wagers made with them the previous day. Daily Racing Form does not know who prepares the copy for this advertisement or who pays for It, but it has observed, like Fair Play, that in many instances the printed odds are less than the actual track prices, and once in a while, usually In the case of a winning outsider, they arc more than the actual track odds. It is apparent. that there Is in this city a combination of li a ml book makers with a . dictatorial head, and that the Intent and purpose of, that combination is to. .enrich Its members by paying :ns little as possible, to the bettors who win such wagers as they make. K if ANSWERS TO QUERIES. Communications without names ami addresses of senders will not be answered or noticed. .7. D. McM., Elgin, 111. 12, 4, and S to 5. J. S., Chicago. Cannot Inform you as to John II. Dan II., Cincinnati, O. The parlay lost. An error of the kind named would cut no figure. J. M. II., St. Louis, Mo. An entry is one or more horses. If one horse starts .where several have been named to go, it Is sullieient. J. McK., Cincinnati, O. The bet lost. Had Wrick Oak been scratched the backer would have had a draw regardless of where Antaeus finished.
