Hapless horseplayer wants his money's worth from Pimlico

Gary R. Scherr, the hapless horseplayer who says he took home two counterfeit $100 bills as winnings from Pimlico Race Course, won't be getting his money back.

Track officials instead offered Mr. Scherr $200 worth of admissions and food. But no cash.

Fine, said Mr. Scherr. "I accept his offer and I want a table for four on Preakness Day for my inconvenience. With a view."

Short of the coveted Preakness seats, Mr. Scherr said, he wants his money back.

"It's unfair because the entrance doesn't cost 'em anything, the food doesn't cost 'em anything," Mr. Scherr said.

"It shows good faith, but the real good faith would have been to pay me."

Mr. Scherr, 35, said he received two bogus $100 bills as part of his winnings from Sunday's eighth race, in which he correctly picked the first two horses.

Pimlico officials reported finding at least 10 counterfeit $100 bills in their take Sunday afternoon.

One man was arrested at the track trying to pass one of the phony bills.

In a letter sent yesterday to Mr. Scherr, Pimlico General Manager Jim Mango said, "We are clearly not responsible for reimbursement. We cannot assume liability least [sic] we become a repository for all bogus money found in Baltimore."

Mr. Mango was unavailable yesterday to respond to Mr. Scherr's Preakness Day request.

Mr. Scherr said he has one other idea.

"I might accept his offer and bring homeless to eat at the track," he said.

"If that's the way he wants to do it, I'm going to bring 10 poor people there to eat lunch in his clubhouse."

Mr. Mango's letter said track officials were "delighted" to see Mr. Scherr's story in the newspaper this week.

"This positive publicity has been favorable for Pimlico Race Course and we thank you for it," Mr. Mango wrote.