"Across the Board"
 

I recently reread the 1956 book, Across the Board by Tony Betts (Anthony Zito.) who was the handicapper for the New York Morning Telegraph. 311 pages

I'm posting this here because it covers handicapping and handicappers from the days of bookies to the start of pari-mutuel betting.

In the late 1920's Admission was $3.85 for men $2.50 for women to the grandstand, and $7.70 for men and $5.50 for women to the clubhouse.

Belmont offered 6 races per card, later going to 7 races.

Chapter 5 is about handicappers. There were the speed handicappers who bet tens of thousands with bookies with math generated selections. It was similar to what we face today with CAW's and their large bankrolls.

Anthony Zito writes about gangsters and gamblers like Arnold Rothstein.

The following quotes are from the chapters listed.

Chapter 13 -- Big Betters
The biggest better in the oral (bookie) days was Payne Whitney. He was the favorite customer of bookmaker Johnny Walker who handled up to a million a day.

Chapter 16 -- Tipsters and Touts

Chapter 17 -- Coups and Crooked Plays
Charles (Lucky) Luciano was a tremendous spot player who received tips from Plunger Pat Knebelkamp.

Chapter 18 -- Men Who Stole for Horses

Chapter 19 -- Characters

I bought my copy used at Amazon.

That's quite expensive-- like $68 in current dollars to get into the grandstand.

Thats hard to believe , people back then didn't have 2 pennies to rub together

Can you verify that ?

That was the roaring 20's before the great depression.

Horse racing was the only legal game around.

Love that book