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"THREE MEN ON A HORSE" Eacy Play About Eacing Erwin Trowbridge Eeads Daily Eacing Form and Eeaps Eeward. A visit to the Harris Theater to see the newest comedy hit, "Three Men on a Horse," will embitter those poor souls who go from week to week in the hopes of picking a winner. For there, nightly, a young man with the high-sounding name of Erwin Trowbridge Jack Sheehan, will demonstrate that one hour of concentration with Daily Racing Form, while en route via bus to and from his home in Ozone Heights, N. J., can result in the selection of the straight, place and show horses in each race for an entire card. This man thinks nothing of clicking off four- and five-horse parlays to the amazement of his brother-in-law and several chance acquaintances he meets in a cheap hotel while on a bender. However, there is one catch. Erwin has made his thousands on the races on paper and would never think of betting even one dollar. Erwin is a "Babbitt," who lives in a row of houses that are all alike. They were built by his domineering brother-in-law, who is the typical business man, who hasnt made good, but doesnt know it. His wife sends a suit of Erwins to the tailor and, in searching the pockets, finds a memo book containing the horses names and pay-off prices. Thinking they arc girls names and phone numbers, she summons her brother, who comments on Erwins inability to get ahead at his profession of writing verses for a greeting card manufacturer. However, Erwin does not exit until a bitter argument ensues in which he is badly worsted because of his timidity. His brother-in-law, having been shown the memo book, acuses Erwin of having a dozen bank accounts with his winnings, but Erwin, almost in tears, denies this. He stalks out deeply wounded and is next seen at the bar of the Hotel Lavallier under the weather and explaining to the barkeeper that he should be at the off ice "writing verses for Mothers Day cards, as the deadline is but a day away. Three gentlemen on their uppers are seated at a table trying to pick a spot to plunge their last twelve dollars. Erwin overhears them and advises them to play another, but they do not heed him. Erwins tip proves correct and they follow his advice for the rest of the card and clean up more than a thousand dollars. They offer Erwin ten per cent and ask him to give up his job and handicap for that percentage for them. Hecannot miss, they tell him, . and will make his weekly salary every day. Erwin objects and feebly attempts to get to the office, but winds up in the hotel the next day with a hangover and a conscience. Thereafter the play moves rapidly through a dozen financial difficulties and finally reaches the point where Erwins three friends have cleaned up a fortune, which they have placed on Mr. Khayyam to win. The race is the Metropolitan run at Belmont Park last year. They suddenly doubt .Erwins integrity and force him to bet everything they have paid him on the race, too, so that if they lose, so will Erwin. The latter meekly consents and the broadcast of the race is heard oyer the radio. Chase Mes tragic end is recounted and Equipoise flashes across the line in front. The friends turn on Erwin and beat him up, but are interrupted by the announcement that Equipoise had been disqualified and that Mr. Khayyam was moved from second place into the victory. Meanwhile Erwins wife, brother-in-law and employer had found their way to the hotel and Erwin has his revenge. He has the laugh on his wifes brother, who accidentally bet all his money on losing horses. His wife is glad to get him back and his employer gives him a raise and a larger office. The gentlemen offer their well wishes.
