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RING OPERATIONS AT NEW ORLEANS. Ryan and Shaw the Most Prominent Figures — Local Betting Fashions. New Orleans. La.. January 4. —While there has been very little really heavy plunging here this white.-, yet the speculation is pit-king up rapidly and in the last week or ten days considerable big nionev has shown in .the ring. John "J. Byan. of Cincinnati, turfman, gct-richqiiick man and theatrical promoter, and T. J. Shaw, the Hew York bookmaker, are the biggest operators here just now. although .reccnth C. K. Ellison has been trailing in close behind them. The betting broke unluckily for Ellison at the beginning of the season, but latterly bj has been getting into his stride and the victories, more especially of his own horses. Jacobite. Teniaceo and Grace Larsen. have keJpOM to start him in the winning way ■gala As to •plunging." in the literal acceptance of the word, there is not now nor never has been much of it down here. The ring does not handle a sufficient amount of money to stand for phenomenal plunges-- such as might he possible on metropolitan tracks. But one can bet from. say. 00 to ,500. according to the odds and the probable contention in a tace. and even at that gait it requir-s no extended period of time to either win or lose a bank roll. Ryrn has overcome his predilection for the spectacular which got him into disfavor around New York a few years ago. when the rosy-hued tinting he attempted to give the local atmosphere out there, and the daily newspai er reports of bis betting transactions, were not looked upon in an altogether pleasing light by the Jockey Club, and the intimation was conveyed to him that his absence would be more desirable than his company. Down here Byan is much subdued. He is going along in the quiet even tenor of his way and unless one knew him by sight, his presence about the ring would not be noticed. To date Byan is away ahead and is said to be hy far the biggest winner here. He has butted into the ownership end of the sport, chiefly through the selling race route, to an extent that makes it look as though he might have the idea of getting together a powerful stable for next seasons racing. He secured possession of the good performers Wes and Miss Ferris out of selling races and also bought from P. M. Civill Dr. McCluer. which has developed into the best selling plater here. If Ryan can avoid the publicity, and the disquieting rumor that usually follows racing sneess. he apparently has the opportunity to speedily become one of the most powerful and prominent owners of the western turf. Shaw is a native of New Orleans, although much of his life in recent years has been passed in following the thoroughbreds away from here. For years he served an apprenticeship as a bookmakers clerk. At the beginning of the local season last year he was cashier for Barney Schreiber. Shortly after the opening of the season Schreiber went off. and then Shaw, who had accumulated some money, decided to book on his own account. He had a successful season, went to New York, bought a membership in the "Mets," and hooked there all season, figuring as one of the leading winners of the season when the curtain was rung down in the fall. Shaw is a tall, dark-complexioned, impressive looking man. He would he noticeable in almost any company. He is a nervy gambler, and when they happen to come his way he wins heavily. He is said to have lost much money in handling Ryans commissions, or the big end of them, before the holidays, but he is evidently here with the financial wherewithal to stick it out to the end of the season. He is at a disadvantage as compared to such operators as Fontelieu and Cook, who know every angle of the local racing, and. as he lays top prices oftentimes, he gets booked in bad when the big money shows. The small fry among the layers of odds have been having a very hard time of it so far this season. The public has been picking the winners with annoying regularity. Besides the fact that many are evidently becoming expert handicappers. under the new system of betting they can nose around, look over the bookmakers sheets, and thus sue at a glance just where the heavy betting is goiug. And the betting public here are much like a Hock of sheep. They follow what they think to he the "wise" money. The abundance of two and three-year-old races that will help to make up the daily programs from now on will bring new elements into calculation and no doubt the men who lay the odds may have belter opportunities in the contest with the public than they have hitherto enjoyed. S. B. Weems.
