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FOLKS TO BE SEEN AT THE RACES. Stories of Notables on the Metropolitan Tracks and Something of Their Characteristics. "We ought to see a lot of interesting jieople today." remarked the man who knows everybody as he took a seat in the grandstand. "The races attract all classes still. Heres a chap, for instance, the short fellow with the red face, who was a jockey a lew years ago. but when he became too heavy to ride hi found employment as betting agent for the owiu r of a prominent stable, one day at Morris Irrk he started betting on the first race with a ten dollar note, lie placed it on a twenty to one shot and cashed. Then he parlayed his winnings on a five to one shot and collected again. When live races had been won he was 2.imk ahead, hut he wasnt satisfied. The favorite iu the sixth ran looked like a cinch, so this chap wagered 2,- KX» at 1 to 2. When the starter dropped the lag the favorite was left at the post only to run second. The bettor didnt drop dead: he just smiled and made a bee line for the cars. Hes been Hying to roll small bets into a fortune ever since, but luck has been steadily against film. "The tall man with white hair, iron gray mustache and a brogue is a regular. He owns several big blacksmith shops and has plenty of money. He knows all the leading trainers and has the best kind of information. Following the races lias been his hobby for many years. He was induced to buy a couple of horses recently and one of them was prepared for a killing. The blacksmith kept the details a secret until the day of the race, when he handed the tip to a few close friends. The horse had shown a last work-out at-daylight several days before and when the cbalkers put up 40 to 1 the blacksmith and his friends had visions of wealth: but the horse could not raise a gallop in the race ami came home a disgraceful last. The blacksmith lost ho time in harrying to the paddock to interview his trainer. " If you dont take that plug oil my hands. he said. Ill shoot him on the sisit. So the trainer took the horse and gave him away to a fellow who had a milk route ami the plug is still in harness. "This fellow with the sharp features is a well-known trainer. He used lo handle the stable of a rich Chicago man and took some of the horses to England ten years ago. He got a thoroughbred ready for one of the biggest killings on record and after the victory the Bnilsb turf authorities said they didnt like his methods. They did nothing rash, for there was no evdence of wrong, but it was clear they didnt like the way the trainer got sp 1 out of his horses. So, they say. lie received a quiet hint that his absence would Ik- acceptable and he came back to this country, where he trained the winners of some of the richest stakes. His employer has not raced on a large scale in recent years, so that the trainer has had very little chance to show his skill: tint he has a bunch of two-year-olds in his care now and hopes to make something out of them. "Handicapping is a long suit with the man whose hair is prematurely white and who wears eyeglasses on the tip of his nose. He believes that figures do not lie and has no faith in stable information. Ill lict that he has a room full of dope and from this matter he makes his deductions, and hes made money at the game, too. Ive known the time when he wagered . HM or more on a horse at a long price and has cashed. He believes in the honesty of all races and says that the moment you think theres crookedness youre gone. I heard him say once that if every horse ran true to form a lirst-class baas dieapper could not lose and I know that is the principle he goes by. "Speaking of handicapping reminds me hat the quiet looking man with the big field glasses has made a business of allotting weights for many years. He can take twenty five or more horses and in accordance with the quality shown by them allot the weights in such a manner that the cheapest selling plater is on equal terms with a stake winner. According to his figures a field of this kind, providing every horse should run strictly to form, would finish on even terms. Skill is required in arranging weights in this manner, not mere guesswork, and a thorough knowledge of horses is also important. Aside from the business of arranging the weights this studious person raises chickens and is a base ball fan of the thirty-third degree. "Heres a Kentucky breeder who has received Hg money lor some of the horses foaled at his establishment. Several years ago he brought a star three-year-old east, and after tie had won some notable races a soldier of fortune met the breeder iu the paddock at this track. " How much will you take for that horse?" asked die speculator. " WhatD you give?" was the counter query. " Twenty afte thousand dollars," was the quick response. " "Its a bargain. exclaimed the breeder cooly, and his customer promptly dug up the money and led the horse away. The breeder got 5.0fHi for another horse later on from a rich man who liked to see his colors carried to victory, but the latter got the worst of tile buruuin. I knew of still another horse that brought .uoo and several that realized smaller prices, but when the breeder sold his yearlings last season he had to let them go for almost nothing. "An accident suddenly ended the riding career of that young man who limps with the aid of a cane. Hall a dozen years ago he was one of the crack jockeys here. He was under contract to a big stable and got a large salary. His mounts usually received heavy backing and his services were in demand. It was while the boy was enjoying his greatest success that he took a atonal iu a stake event and had reached a point 1M yards from the wire when his horse was jammed into the fence. The boy was thrown ami several horses trampled on him. When he was picked up it was thought that he had been fatally injured, but at the hospital it was found that he had escaped with a broken leg. He was laid up for a long time and when he was able to get out he found thai he was permanently lame. The Jockey Club put him on the pension list and he has drawn a small weekly allowance, just enough to keep him alive. "The individual in riding costume with a monocle fixed in his right eye is well known as a gentleman jockey. He is wealthy and spends practically all of his lime at the tracks or at hunt meetings. He talks like an englishman, but he is a full-blooded American and one of the best amateur crosscountry riders on this side of the Atlantic. Many persons believe that he can tmtride some of the best professionals. "Theres another rich young man who is a fearless Cross-country rider. He broke his arm the other day as the result of a haul fall at a hunt meeting, but as soon as he recovers the uae of it hell be back at the old game. "The little man svith the high collar and black Cigar is one of our best-known comedians. He comes to the track four days a week, and he hustles all the time for inside iufortnation. The trainers aud jockeys all know him. so that he is never without tips: but he also likes hunches. On Metropolitan Handicap day ho preferred hunches and as he entered the track he met a rich theatrical manager. Scanning the entries he exclaimed: " Plutocrat! Its a cinch." So he played Plutocrat in the second race at 8 to 1 and had the pleasure of seeing the colt win by a nose. Then he looked around him for another hunch and happened lo see a society man dressed in the height of fashion. Again he scanned the program and saw among the entries for the big race the name Fashion Plate. " Thats the nag! he cried. He got « to 1 for a small bet. Fashion Plate won too and the comedian danced for joy. "Have you seen the comet V asked a friend as they walked up to the bar just before the next race. Out came the program again, and the comedians linger ran down the list of starters until it stopped at Mystic Light. " Thats a sure thing. said the fun maker, lie g«j 10 to 1. but his time the hunch didnt work so well, for Mystic Light was beaten. Alter the race the comedian met his friend still at the bar. The hitler said: " Why didnt you wait and have a mint julep V Theyre line. " mint julep! said the jokesmith. Why didnt you ask me to have one before the hist race? Hey? That would have made me play MeUowmint, the winner. " I apologize. said the friend. " Apologise is in the next race. said the actor, as he ran off to got a bet down. Apologise lost and the comedian has been looking like a funeral director ever siuce." — New York Sun.
