TOTALISATORS AND SWEEPS. 63 



Mr. W. R. Wilson, of St. Albans, lias entrusted 

 Mr. Adams to run his big estate and racehorses as a 

 consultation for £130,000, the first prize being the 

 St. Albans estate, and Trenton, Carnage, Strath- 

 more, Wallace, and other horses are included in the 

 prize list. Mr. Adams also ran a big lottery for tlie 

 Bank of Van Diemen's Land, various large proper- 

 ties being offered in Hobart as prizes. It is really 

 surprising how the money rolls in by thousands for 

 these sweeps and consultations. It shows what money 

 there is in circulation, and what an immense number 

 of people are inclined for a quiet gamble. Owners of 

 horses generally demand a cut out of the sweep from 

 the man who is fortunate enough to draw a horse. 



Some men are grasping in this respect, and de- 

 mand the lion's share. It is a species cf blackmailing 

 that is detestable. If the drawer of the horse does 

 not part up, then the owner threatens to scratch his 

 animal, and sooner than lose all chance of a win the 

 drawer generally lays a large slice of the sweep. 



Some owners would scorn to do such dirty actions, 

 and I know Mr. W. R. Wilson declined an offer of 

 part of a sweep about one of his horses, but agreed to 

 take so much of it as a wager. 



The names of the drawers of horses in sweeps are 

 not supposed to be divulged, but they generally come 

 out in some way or other, very often through the 

 fault of the holder of the ticket, who is so overjoyed 



