Show metropolitan races at acque duct park begun with usual betting system new york april 15 the metropolitan racing season of 1908 opened today at aqueduct park track and tho days program was carried out without interference and with only slight changes in the usual system of betting outwardly there were no signs that a stubborn fight had been waged at albany for two months to make racetrack gambling impossible in this state but to one familiar with the old conditions and methods on new york racetracks race tracks were manifest many small concessions to the public sentiment against the betting system in spite of a cold drizzling ram spectators were in the grand stand and on the fied when the inaugural scramble of five furlongs went to there was betting almost as much as usual but there were certain restrictions on both the bettor and the bookmaker for Hi stance no more than books were allowed in the main betting pavilion and in the field all stools and cash boxes were barred and the bookmakers book makers took up their place in two long rows and accepted and paid wagers out of hand programs with the odds marked opposite the horses names furnished the only information available to the spectators no bet less than 5 was accepted in the main pavilion while 2 was the minimum wager permissible in the field these changes had no apparent effect on the eager bettorf bettors bet tors there was plenty of money apparently and it was wagered as freely as in previous years numerous signs informed the public that unseemly haste in placing bets would not be tolerated that there must be no running pushing jostling or other football tactics which have heretofore obtained in the ring loud obscene or offensive language also was tabooed tabo oed according to a placard restriction ml nors were barred and the enforcement of this rule was apparent in the absence of this element so often on race tracks in jact the betting ring was calm and almost subdued in its demeanor the opening of the racing seabon today found fewer pool rooms doing business hero than in several years but the number of handbooks it Is said more than made up for the lack of pool rooms |