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Maryland State Archives Jeffersonian, Towson, Maryland mdsa_sc3410_1_81-0047 Enlarge and print image (6M) |
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Maryland State Archives Jeffersonian, Towson, Maryland mdsa_sc3410_1_81-0047 Enlarge and print image (6M) |
| D?1 Iff Hfl f# BE /fMT MP WOMiff TO & Hcunded By The Police - Shunned By Moralists Flourish In Tpws^n f\& Well As Uther Tpwns In v.v , Bookmakers County - EJ L-B Bets His Ability Against Ability ^f Public 7b Pick Winners Hounded by the police, shunned by moralists and avoided by the real-righty gamblers book-makers flourish in Towson as well as some of the other towns throughout Baltimore county like the evergreens. The races do not have to be at Pimlico or Timonium for men and women to gamble, and some of the "indoor sport" operators would make respectable Wall Street'operators sit up and take notice. The chances they take daily during tire course of their ordinary business would drive the plain business man to distraction. With but 100 or so of more or less fast horses, most of which they have never seen, between them and the poor .house, and with their entire substance staked on the slowness of these critters their lives are just one race after another. Today they may be comparatively wealthy—tomorrow broke. STATIONERY In Fancy Boxes at Vs Price during our REBUILDING SALE BALANCE OF STOCK 10% to 50% Off Established/835 317 N. Charles Street Store Closes 5 P. M. Saturdays 1 P. M. *********** Bookmakers rarely witness a race. A horse to them is a name only. Confronted by the possi-bility of having to pay as much as twenty dollars for every one received in the course of a day their hope is that every "nag" upon which they take a bet may drop dead at the barrier or at best break its leg. At any rate they remain in this apparently risky game and by "hook or crook" manage to keep their heads above water. How they do it no one knows, not even themselves. A first-class bookmaker handles hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars daily; he's a business man and insists that he's honest. His book is the community's oyster and the comraun-nity is always ready and willing to shuck the oyster. The bookmaker bets his ability against the ability of the public to pick winners. To "run down" or "line" in bookmakers' parlance means the approximate odds against horses running at the various tracks. The tracks may be thousands of miles from where the bookmaker is operating, but he knows just how the betting is going on any horse entered. Hence the above-mentioned "run-down sheet." These sheets, which contain the names of horses entered in various events, are printed at a central plant and distributed among the bookmakers in various States. They are also used in the betting at the track. The bookmaker also pays for a "scratch" or ticker service, which gives him last minute information concerning withdrawals from the various races. Ordinary '' scratch sheets,'' naming overnight withdrawals from faces, of course, can be had at the downtown news stands. So when Pete asks Bill to "run him down at Belmont" he is asking for the latest information which Bill gets via the telegraph. Obtaining the approximate Odds against various horses named on the sheet before him; Pete places the figures opposite their names. He- may call Bill several times »»»»?»?«***??***??*?•>?> PLUMBING WALTER E. BAYNE 304 E. Pennsylvania Avenue TOWSON, MD. Phone, Towson 357 Get Our Price on Sewerage Connections I *** UNIQUE IN ITS CLASSIC BEAUTi Druid Rdge^meTetT* Provides for its patrons' service and equipment of particular excellence. Property is patrolled day and night by duly authorized officers. Superintendent's Office and car stop Reisterstown Road Entrance, Pikesville. Phones, 159—201. Executive Office, 21 W. Saratoga Street, Baltimore, Phone, Plaza 1500. ;«************»;^^ SERVICE OF UNSURPASSED EXCELLENCE STEWART & MOWEN COMPANY (W. F. WOODEN, Successor) Funeral Directors 108 WEST NORTH AVENUE BALTIMORE, MD TELEPHONE, VERNON 1342 ESPECIALLY EQUIPPED TO RENDER IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO SUBURBAN AND' COUNTRY CALLS during the afternoon for later! '' dope,'' because this '' run-down'' information is as essential to the I success of the day's business as is J the ticker service to a stock broker. He must obtain it regularly in order to tell where he is "at." The "lay-off" is nothing more nor less than surplus cash on the book. Take, for instance, a bookmaker who is receiving "play" on a four-horse race. One of these horses is bound to be the favorite—that is, it will have bet on it more than any other horses in the race. If the horse is in fine running condition, it may be termed a "hot" or "odds-on" favorite, and a particular book may show $500 in its favor. The next best horse may show $250, the next $125 and the last choice only $50. The book is carrying a total of $925. The last quoted odds against the favorite are $1 to $2, which means that should it win the book stands to pay out $750. This leaves a surplus of $175, which would be the book's winnings in the race. The second choice may be quoted at $2 to $1, and should this horse win the book must pay to winners $750, still leaving the book a profit of $175. The third horse, quoted at 4 to 1, and if it won the race the book would pay out $550. In view of these figures the bookmaker does some quick thinking. His book, already fairly well balanced, possibly can be improved upon. So he calls another bookmaker and "lays-off" some of the money on his own book; that is, he bets the second bookmaker $175 that either the favoroite or second choice will win the race. If he loses, he still can pay the people who have placed bets with him and not lose a cent. Tf one of the other horses wins he has a chance to win money. He has merely "laid;-off" some of his heaviest play. But he does not always '' layoff" money on the first or second choices. Following a careful perusal of his '' dope sheets'' that morning he may have decided that the third of fourth choices have a chance to win. *****»JmJ»****»^J*********«3»«2»**«5» In such event the prospect of long odds may persuade him to lay with the other bookmaker a tidy sum on one of these. If his judgment is correct, he may "bump" the other fellow and still have intact the money laid with him on the other horses. Thus he " cleans up'' and the ' book has a good day. I If, on the other hand, his "layoff" loses he may have to dig into his own pocket to pay his winning clients. He does not lose all he has "laid off," as there is a gentlemen's agreement covering such losses between bookmakers. Ten per cent, of such losses are returned as "commission/' which is another advantage of the custom. The apparently reckless bookmaker, when he accepts bets on every horse in a race shows by his conduct that he is a thorough gambler. There are individuals, however, with whom he refuses to deal. He has felt the weight of these individuals luck, judgment, or what you will, and having been '' bumped'' several times, refuses further play from these sources. As is well known among those who follow the ponoies, there are certain persons who seem to possess an almost uncanny power to select winners at long odds. A. book cannot stand much of this. It is the "piker" plays of one or two dollars that gives the book its profit. These plays generally are based on weird calcula, which mean nothing, or are the result of mere "hunches." Pikers sometimes win, but so infrequently that they do not seriously figure in the bookmaker's calculations, except in the aggregate. ENVY! 'Standard" The quality of our workmanship will be attested to by hundreds of people throughout this section. Work attended to promptly. S. L. HOWARD TOWSON, MD. Phone, Towson 110 %*WW%> «i>•"•"•~«> «i> •> •"•nl~«i~4r*4PVWWW INSURANCE In all its Branches WHEELER & COLE FRANK Ii WHBILER & Ofiutt Bid,,., TOWSON, MD. *************************+ I WORKINGMEN! | Y The best way to prevent the "sales" jf y from owning your money is to buy 3 * where no "bargains" are sold and J * put it in your pipe that we sell no T sweat-shop Pants that cost little j more than the hauling. Wr buy and T pay the price for reliable Pants to T sell at $2 up. No branch stores. Look for 511 on the Big Electric Sign 3. on the south side of the street. Open * until 10 o'clock Saturday. A THE PANTS SHOP | 511 W. Franklin Street | Between Paca and Greene y NO BRANCH STORES. % Should these small bets concentrate upon a "long shot," the bookmaker simply "lays-off" sufficient money to cover possible loss on that particular horse. The real problem presents itself when, near the close of the betting on a particular race, it is found that there is no play on any of the longer priced horses; that the money "riding" on the book is so distributed as to cover the pay-off on only one horse, possibly because of the unusual odds on the horses winning. Should the race be won by any other horse than the horse in mind, the book may lose, and perhaps heavily. When such a condition arises the bookmaker either takes a gambling chance on the particular horse winning or endeavors to obtain some "lay-off" on the longer-priced horses in the race. Tf he succeeds in this his book again is balanced. These calculations and theories also apply to the "second" and "third" money, which means the money placed on the horses to "place" or "show." Some bookmakers juggle this money and allow it to get mixed with the first money; but such a proceeding is extremely dangerous, and only can be safely accomplished as the result of the fine calculation in the "lay-off." For instance, a book is carrying $500 to win and 800 to place on the same horse. Tf the horse .x~x~x~x~xk~xk~x~xkkk>hx~x** The Art Photo-Engraving Co.,Inc. MAKERS OF PRINTING PLATES ARTISTS—ENGRAVERS 109 S. Charles St. Baltimore. Md. Plaza 3O04 wins the book must pay the odds on both bets. If, on the other hand, the horse "places"—comes second—the first money is clear. The operator simply and thoroughly settles the problem by a reference to his "run-down." Tf he sees there is a chance to come out ahead either way, he holds the bets. If there is a superabundance of money riding either way, he lays off some of it. Every first-class operator has one or more agents, or "street men." It is the duty of these men to cover certain territory each day and deal at first hand with the clientele. In the morning the street man makes his rounds and pays the winning bets of the previous day. He then takes bets on the sport of the day then beginning. As these new bets are taken he telephones the amount and the name of the horses in to his employer, .who thus is enabled to keep his book up to the minute. The telephones of operators usually are "silent" or unlisted in the directory; sometimes they are in a cafe where the operator makes his headquarters. The writer knows of one such place in Baltimore city where thousands <************S****^******** are wagered daaily, and not one cent changes hands. Office workers, store clerks, frequenters of barber shops, all are infected with the virus of easy money via the "pony route." There is one public place in particular in Towson where the chief topic of conversation seems to be the horses. It is a common thing to hear employes discussing with customers "Susie Jane in the mud vs. "Skinny Bones" who is not so fast, but whose "workouts" seem to show a decided improvement in heavy going. Indeed, for all the activity of the police and for all the daily losses in this sport by men and women the playing of hand books seems on the increase. In one of the villages of Baltimore county there is a quiet respectable meat shop where one may purchase a pound ofo ground steak or a few pork chops and re- (Continued on Back Page) %^*% ? • ? ? • * ? ? * • ? ? ? ? • ^% ?" '?* -.??•* You'll Enjoy SEGARS There are many today, looking with envy $ upon the fellow who is about to start on his £ annual vacation, but had the same envy been £ shown during the preceedidg months, when X this thoughtful chap was saving for this event, X there would be no need for "the many" to X say "I can't afford a vacation, I hav'nt the £ money." t X T ? f X Now is the time to start putting a portion y X of your earnings away each week for a vaca- X tion or for any emergency that might arise. i 1 l I i i X i i i I The National Bank 1 | of Cockeysville X x ? t Cockeysville, Md. I X Well Pay You 4% Interest Too DIDN'T IT RAIN ? Let's hope it is over. Now for some Long Walks. You need good soles and straight heels. Send your shoes that need mending TO US. We will return them good f.or many long walks. Vaughan Shoe Repairing Co. 204 N. Liberty St. or 803 W. 36th St. Baltimore, Maryland While you wait or do your shopping." *+*+****+***++*++*****+*+*************+****+********4 *+*+******++***+***+*****+*+*+*+***^**^|| EL TANGO Reisterstown Road, North Hills of The Green Sprintr Valley, at The Sign of The Purple Light, Twenty Minutes From City. DINING-DANCING--CABARET Restaurant open from 2 P. M. until'1.30 A. S£ daily Week Days Entertainment from 7 P. M. to 1.30 A. M] Saturday, "The Dansant," 5 P. M. until 1.30 A.H Sunday Music from 5 P. M. to 1.30 A. M. , SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT SERVICE ON LAWN Phone Plaza 0827 or Pikesville 421-J EL TANGO ORCHESTRA Orchestra you heard Broadcasted from Station W-E-A-R and will be heard again later. •x~xk~x~x~x~xkkkkk~xk~xkk~x«x~x^ |