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CONDITIONS IMPROVING MANAGER WINN ENTHUSIASTIC OVER WAY PUBLIC HAS TAKEN TO THE KUTUELS. Sealed Bids Now in Use in Selling Races Jockeys at the Track, Their Weights and Their Employers. j EI Paso, Tex.. December IS. Conditions at the Juarez track have improved considerably since the installation of the new pari-mutiiel machines. With the Bowie system in vogue, much dissatisfaction was expressed and manager M. J. Winn lost no time in ordering the approved style of machines shipped here from the Laurel course iu Maryland. The machines now in use are the same kind used at Churchill Downs. Local bettors can now see -every bet registered as it is made, and the betting ring is constantly crowded as the horses are going to the post by those who take pleasure in figuring the approximate odds prevailing against their choice. One thing that has helped to make the mutuels here a great success is the fact that good odds prevail, against the various winners iu comparison with the prices that formerly appeared when the ring was in operation. Last Sunday, for instance. Olds-mobile won bis third straight victory in as many starts during the meeting, yet even money was the price posted. "I cant understand how that horse could be even money," said one EI Paso racing enthusiast who was in attendance for the first time since the mutuels have been in operation. Had the books been on I am sure one would have been insulted had he endeavored to secure 3 to 5 for his monev." This same opinion is shared by all who visit the track for the first time this year. From the foregoing it must not be gathered that large sums of money are being wagered in the mutuels. however. Such is far from being the case. The betting is increasing daily, however, and it will be but a short time before the track is making a profit, which it so richly deserves. Col. Matt J. Winn is enthusiastic over the way El Pasoans have taken to the mutuel machines. "It takes some time to educate the public to a new proposition." said Colonel Winn. "We do not expect to make any money at Juarez this year. On the contrary, we have figured that the meeting will be operated at a slight loss. We may be agreeably surprised in this respect, however, but we intend to show the public that cleaner racing can be given with mutuels in operation, and that better prices will prevail than with a syndicate book in operation. The results so far have been more than satisfactory, and in another year you will find that Juarez is the center of winter racing." The views of Colonel Winn are shared by horsemen here. Big plungers do not like the Juarez betting. They realize that they cant get a big price for their wagers when they bet vast sums, and this clement is conspicuous by its absence. This speaks well for this healthy side of the sport. Joe rmensetter. John Fcrriss, "William Cain, Kay Spence and other owners are wagering in the machines every afternoon. They are gratified at the prices they have obtained against their winning horses. The spirit of the horsemen is best expressed by Joe Cmensetter. who said: "It is up to the horsemen here to help make the Juarez sport a success. One way that we can help is to bet through the machines, other money will follow. If the horsemen dont wager their money here, then it would be foolish to expect the public to bet. I find that I can get better results by betting in the machines than away from the track. I am not a large bettor, but often put down a wager of 00, and the price I have realized against the five winners I have sent to the post has been most liberal iu every instance." There are ten machines in operation, three of the denomination, six ones, while on the lawn and the "free field" there is one machine. The Jockey Club Juarez has fallen in line with the Kentucky and Canadian tracks and has amended the rule regarding the bidding up of the winners in selling races. The practice of open bidding has been abolished, and in its place has come the sealed-bid system, now in use on many of the eastern tracks. The rule was amended at the request of many of the horsemen and went into effect last Tuesday. It was believed the change would result in curbing the activities of Jim Shilling, who has figured as chief of the halter brigade. That the amended rule is not altogether working to the satisfaction of those who requested tiie change is evident by the fact that an agitation is already on foot to have the rule further amended, so as to restrict the privilege of bidding on the winners in selling races to those owners represented by horses in the race. A petition, asking that this bo done, is being circulated and signed by many of the horsemen, but what success they will have in bringing the management to their way of thinking is largely a matter of conjecture. However, Colonel Winn is striving to do everything to give the horsemen a square deal, and he will give their proposal the most careful V-onsideration before deciding one way or the other. Mack Garner is still leading the jockeys riding here, and his excellent work in the saddle has gained for him many admirers and followers. W. A. Carroll, who came over from Tijuana to ride for P. M. Civill, to whom lie is under contract, is doing splendid work since arriving here. A list of the jockeys available at this meeting, together with their riding weights and the names of their contract employers, is given below: Jockey. Wt. Employer. Acton, J 107 Free lance Bailey, L 105 A. A. Gregg Baird, J 100 AV. Young Carroll, W. A 103 P. M. Civill Earley, F 10S F. Forsting Garner, M 1O0 Corrigan and McKinney Garner, L 93 T. F. Garner Gibson, II 97 W. Singleton Guy. R 102 Free lance Hullcoat. A 105 Free lance Henry, T 9S J. M. Henry, Sr. Hunt, C 99 K. Spence Hunt, T SO K. Spence Howard, J 100 Free lance Johnston, B 109 J. Ammerman King, A 109 IT. Fansett Lunsford, H 85 ..K. Spence Molesworth, G 104 J. C. Ferriss McCabe, J ..110 Free lance Mclntyre, W 107 F. Wnllhauser OBrien. J 90 Hall Bros. Rosen, W 110 Free lance Robbins, J 110 Free lance Smith, F 110 Free lance Stirling, D 102 Free lance Stuart. H 100 Free lance Sorrell, R 108 ,.F.D. Weir Taylor, N 103 .G. W. Crippen Tullett, II 103 Mrs. II. Tullett stable only Troise, R 85 R. B. Allen Warren, G 105 T. Reynolds White, C 102 Free lance Williams, J. 95 AV. E. Cliue Apprentice.
