AMERICUS GIRL AND OTHERS 



Her races are too fresh in the memory to allude to 

 fully, but the Portland Handicap at Doncaster, which 

 she won in 1908, might be referred to. We knew in 

 the morning that Maher had the mount, and at break- 

 fast a man said to me : "I see you have napped 

 Americus Girl to-day, but it so much depends on the 

 draw, and surely it is going to rain." He was pulling 

 my leg, for I had taken a violent liking to Mr Ledlie's 

 filly and there was no half-expression of this when 

 wiring my final notes on the previous evening. Mr 

 Peebles was encountered in the paddock. It is not 

 etiquette to go up to speak to either owner or trainer 

 when they are talking together; it may be a con- 

 versation of much moment, and the bad taste of inter- 

 rupting it is obvious. But Mr Ledlie was soon in 

 evidence and said : " My mare is very well. I hope 

 she will win." " P.P.P.," I could see, was sanguine, 

 but not so emphatic. I had determined to do myself 

 a bit of good over the race, and with the help of another 

 doled out two's and three's and one or two fivers ready, 

 getting ten to one about a chance I knew would 

 shorten. Betting on the nod that week was not too 

 convenient, except by winning at S. P., and I knew that 

 that would mean sacrificing a lot, for she would not be 

 a long shot at the finish, and what was the use of risking 

 a tenner on a wire to stand to win thirty or forty pounds 

 when more than twice the amount could be picked up 

 by betting cash ? 



I managed to get fifty pounds to a fiver on 

 the curtsy, bow or nod — which you like. That was 

 most satisfactory. This was nearly all done on the 

 " outskirts," which for the uninitiated can be ex- 

 plained as meaning bookmakers whose pitches are 

 some distance from the bigger men. A well-known 

 detective inspector, now retired, a charming fellow 



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