Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1891 — THE RACE TOUT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE RACE TOUT.

Who He Is aud How He Works and Picks the Winners. “Hello, tout! s “That’s right. Call me by my name. I’m a tout. But look here, do you know there is a wrong impression as to what a tout is? Well, there is. People think a tout is one who hangs around the pool-room at a race track and waits for suckers. To advise one man to bet on Bohemian Lad, and another man to bet on Grass Widow, and

another to place his money on Biddy McPhee, and so on till he gets a man to bet on every race. He marks them all, and when the race is over, and, for insance, Bug Holliday, wins the race, he lays for the man who bet on the Bug, and when the lucky plunger draws his money the fellow demands $1 or $5 for giving his ‘friend’ the wanning tip. “Well, that is what most people think is a tout, but it’s all wrong. A tout is a fellow who does more work at a race track at night than at day. He sleeps there all night, on the grass or ou the roof of a shed, and gets up at 3 o’clock in the morning and waits for the trainers and jockeys to exercise the horses that are to run that afternoon. The tout thus finds out the exaot condition of each horse. If Long John Beillv has been a favorite in the pools the night before and does not show up well in the early morning practice the tout will not bet on him, but will place his money on Tony Mullane, Lefty Marr, King Kelly, Chris Green, Joe Good, or whichever horse shows up the best in the trial. The tout always has a few dollars to bet himself, and, in the long run, seldom quits loser, for he follows the races from place to place and keeps posted all the time. I’ve been a tout several years now and I find it better business than carrying samples. ” “Are you doing well at this meeting?” “Not very. So far everybody, including the touts, seem to be getting the bad end of this meeting. I’m broke now, and you'll save a life by inviting me to take a drink.”