BETTING, 263 



insurance at once, and send round word to Tattersall's that 

 you are so doing. You may depend upon it no one will bother 

 you.' 



To a young gentleman entering on his novitiate of backing, 

 or for that matter to most persons concerned in this pleasant 

 but perilous pastime, no better counsel could peradventure be 

 given than that vouchsafed by the author of ' Racecourse and 

 Covert-side.' Here it is quoted in full : 



What, then, it may be asked, should be done by the race- 

 goer who likes to feel some greater interest in the race than the 

 mere spectacle of the struggle can afford } 



There is something to be said for the plan of backing favour- 

 ites ; because a horse is not likely to attain that favouritism unless 

 it has done good work at home, and commanded the confidence of 

 its stable. Favourites are, of course, made and worked up in 

 the market on occasions for deceptive reasons ; but, as a rule, to 

 'follow the money ' is judicious. 



The searcher for winners will also probably have found that 

 one or two of the sporting prophets write with knowledge and 

 judgment. Some of them, on the other hand, do not ; but he 

 must take pains to find those who do, and note their advice. It 

 will be well for him, perhaps, furthermore to study ' the book ' 

 and make himself acquainted with the form of the horse he is in- 

 clined to fancy. He should also consider whether it belongs to 

 a stable worthy of confidence, presided over by an efficient trainer, 

 and whether the jockey is a master of his craft. If he knows any- 

 thing of horses, he should then carefully look it over in the paddock, 

 and during its preliminary canter, noting also how it goes in the 

 market. 



Having done all this, and convinced himself that the horse is 

 likely to win, he will be in a position to advise his friends — men 

 on a racecourse usually take any advice that is confidently offered 

 from any quarter — to back the animal. He had better not do so 

 himself, as there are numerous chances against him of which he 

 knows nothing. Should they take his advice, and win, he can 

 congratulate himself on the benefit he has conferred ; should they 

 not show faith pecuniarily, he can reproach them with their folly 

 in missing the ' good thing ; ' while, should they lose, he will have 

 no difficulty in finding numerous reasons to show that the defeat 



