“A ringer is a horse disquised as another horse. Lets say you own a grey horse thats a top allowance grade horse and I own a cheap horse that runs for a low claiming tag. What we do is switch horses. The bettors think they’re farsbet on my cheap claiming tag horse but he’s really your allowance horse. Its getting harder to get away with this today because now they have more ways to identify horses but people still try it from time to time.”
“So whats so special about this one horse race and why do you need me to place the bet?”
“My friend is a horse trainer Ellen. He’s been secretly clocking Joisey Girl in the early morning before the clockers show up at the track. He figures that Joisey Girl is at least ten lengths better than the top contenders in the race. But if either one of us is spotted making a big bet on the horse the price will go down. Joisey Girl hasn’t run in two years. She was hurt but she had surgery and my friend nursed her back to health. She figures to go off about seventy to one if no one gets wise.”
“How much do you want me to bet on it Jacques?”
“I only have five hundred dollars that I saved for my rent to bet. I’ll give you one hundred dollars worth of the bet just for putting it in. Just walk up to the five hundred dollar win window two minutes before the race goes off and say one ticket on number seven.”
“But what if it loses Jacques? Then how will you pay your rent?”
“Its no big deal Ellen. If Joisey Girl loses I’ll just have to sleep with my land lady again. She’d much rather have me sleep with her than give her the rent money any way.”
“Sleep with you’re land lady again! You’re putting me on about your land lady. Right?”
“No, thats the deal we made. She said five hundred a month or I sleep with her on rent day. But she wanted a three month security deposit, so I had to sleep with her three times because I didn’t have the fiveteen hundred for the security deposit.”
“Take off that shirt Jacques. I want to see if your abs are worth five hundred dollars a month free rent. And I’m gonna take pictures to show my friends in Texas if they are.”
“Okay Ellen, I’m taking off my shirt but I don’t want to see those pictures ending up in Play Girl or something. Remember, I wear white socks.”
“Damn, I’m snapping. Those abs are worth a thousand a month rent. Hey take of some more Jacques. Maybe I could sell the pictures to Play Girl.”
“Okay Ellen stop snapping where here. Got to put my shirt back on now. Just remember to play it cool. If anyone asks you why you’re betting number seven just say its your lucky number and act like you really don’t care if it loses.”
“Okay I’ll do it Jacques. Any way seven is my lucky number. I’ve got ten dollars of wild money. So I’m gonna play a seven and seven daily double for my self.”
“I was going to leave right after the first race Ellen. After all, I am supposed to be providing a cab service. But okay, put your double in. Maybe its a winner.”
“Thanks Jacques, I feel lucky today. And you’re right. It is a picture perfect day today. New England is really a beautiful place.”
“There she is Ellen. Joisey Girl is walking out on the track now.”
“She’s a beauty Jacques. Hope she runs as good as she looks.”
“I’m gonna head down to the finish line. See ya there after you get the bet in Ellen.”
“You’ve got it Jacques, the finish line is my favorite place at the track also.”
Ellen returned with the five hundred dollar win ticket on Joisey Girl and then the track announcer announced “their in the gate.”
“Are you nervous Jacques? You’ve got a lot riding on this race.”
“A little nervous Ellen. I found the most beautiful property in the world that I want to buy, but I can only buy it if Joisey Girl comes through for me.”