2 So LIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



letter ; and if no lower odds are asked for, we infer 

 that his chance is very little better. 



Thus, there might be three horses (A, B, and C) 

 against whom the nominal odds were 10 to 1, and yet 

 these horses might not be equally good favourites, 

 because the odds might not be taken, or might be 

 asked for in vain. We might accordingly find three 

 such horses arranged thus : 



Odds. 



A . . . 10 to 1 (wanted). 

 B . . . 10 to 1 (taken). 

 C . . . 10 to 1 (offered). 



Or these different stages might mark the upward or 

 downward progress of the same horse in the betting. 

 In fact, there are yet more delicate gradations, marked 

 by such expressions respecting certain odds, as 

 offered freely, offered, offered and taken (meaning that 

 some offers only have been accepted), taken, taken and 

 wanted, ivanted, and so on. 



As an illustration of some of the principles I have 

 been considering, let us take from the day's paper, 1 

 the state of the odds respecting the 'Two Thousand 

 Guineas.' It is presented in the following form : 



TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS. 

 7 to 2 against Rosicrucian (off.). 

 6 to 1 against Pace (off. ; 7 to 1 w.). 

 10 to 1 against Green Sleeve (off.). 

 100 to 7 against Blue Gown (off.). 

 180 to 80 against Sir J. Hawley's lot (t.). 



1 This article was written early in March 1868. 



