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Fans Don’t Mind His Bets on Horses, Rose Declares

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From Associated Press

Cincinnati Reds Manager Pete Rose, in Tennessee for an exhibition game against the Nashville Sounds, made no apologies for his enjoyment of horse racing.

“What are the fans going to do, boo me because I like to bet on horses?” he said Monday night.

“It’s the No. 1 spectator sport in America. Did you know that?”

A court transcript released Monday contained an allegation from a bookmaker who said he took as much as $1 million in sports bets from Rose. (Story, Part III, Page 3.) The transcript does not indicate that Rose bet on baseball.

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Major league baseball regulations do not prohibit horse race betting, and Rose, whose team lost to the Reds’ AAA farm team 5-4 Monday night, declined to talk about allegations of gambling on sports away from the track.

Rose patiently granted interviews for more than half an hour in the dugout and then gave interviews on the field as his team took batting practice. A network news crew was also on hand.

Rose said Reds attendance has gone from 1.2 million to 2.2 million since he rejoined the team, and said he has the support of Reds owner Marge Schott.

Rose, baseball’s all-time leader in hits, said he will eventually answer the allegations that he has violated major league regulations on gambling.

“I have to sit back and let everyone talk now, but I’ll get my shot,” he said. “I’ll get my chance to give my side of the story, and I’ll talk then.”

The Cincinnati manager dismissed suggestions that the investigation has contributed to the Reds’ 9-8 record.

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