Page 58 - The Jazzsipper Novel

57

THE JAZZ SIPPER

up on one chance to win. When the smarter bet would have been to bet on
the horse to show, it would have given him three chances to win, vice one.
Uncle Frank had told Vance, to always bet small when he first started taking
him to the track. Vance remembered Uncle Frank exact words, slow for sure
money, if it is fast, it would not last, bet to have fun not to make a living.
Because, they call this gambling you cannot beat the odds. At that moment
Uncle Frank came back and Vance could see that he was smiling. Vance was
wondering if Uncle Frank caught the winner, Belly Up. It paid 12-1! Uncle
Frank asked Vance how he was making out, not to good matter of fact not
good at all Vance replied. Uncle Frank held his hand out to him with what
looked like a wad of cash; we are doing alright Vance. Here put this in your
pockets. I took the twenty five dollars and bet it on Bumpin on Sunset to show
and even coming in third place it paid 25-1. Vance and Uncle Frank began
laughing hysterical; Vance split was his original twenty-five dollars plus twelve
hundred and fifty more dollars. Uncle Frank was really enjoying himself.
Vance asked Uncle Frank how did he know to cover the bet, Uncle Frank said
that he knew how much Vance was into Jazz, and when he saw the horse
named Bumpin on Sunset running in the seventh race he figured that Vance
would do like most people, go all in when they felt that it is some sort of sign.

But Uncle Frank said remember this Vance, if you do not remember
anything else, signs are not meant for you to bet on, they are meant for you
to strategize around them and to get the most out of them. Uncle Frank winked
at Vance and began walking back towards his track buddies to begin arguing
some more. But before he walked away he told Vance he wanted to talk with
him when they left the track. Vance was so happy that Uncle Frank had