OTHER COUNTRIES, OTHER WAYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 46

OTHER COUNTRIES, OTHER WAYS.

"While the component parts that go to make racing the sport that it is are the same in the two countries, America and England, the followers of sport in the land of the Stars and Stripes are entirely different, says a writer in a Home paper. Take the bookmaker. There he is all business, and it is a favour almost to get him to take a bet, unless you happen to be one of the plungers, whose accounts are eagerly sought. The majority of them are of the Israelite persuasion, and if for that reason alone always want a little the best of it. While betting is supposed to be carried on on the English plan, the term could not be more misapplied. In England, the bookmaker tries to jolly you. into making a bet with him, and will make you believe that he is offering at leasi a point of two better than anybody else; besides that, he will go all over to look for you so as to get your patronage. In America you go into a crowded betting ring, and after having a thousand men step on your toes, and ever so many hands stuck in your face, and being generally cuffed about in all directions, tou succeed in getting, up to a book, the owner of which may be an entire stranger to you, so many are there in line. You place your bet, it is entered in his book, and all that he has to identify you by is the number on your badge. THis i&, of course, the experience of the casual patron. If you happen to win, you have to get into a line that may be 50yds long, and crawl up step by step to the cashier and be paid off. So much for betting.