THE RACING PRESS 



However, those immediately in touch with sporting 

 topics can easily recognise his style. There is 

 always a fund of dry humour about Allison. 



After taking his M.A. he had a long struggle with 

 the Cobham Stud, and I believe that, but for his pluck 

 and knowledge, he would not have got back the big 

 sums expended on it. Incidentally for some years 

 he edited the St Stephen's Review, now defunct. 



Those who are not in touch with the ways of the 

 sporting press may consider it rather wonderful the 

 way that starting prices are compiled. Every member 

 of the ring and backer in Tattersalls knows Jim George, 

 who has for years returned the prices for the Sporting 

 Life ; in fact, he is one of the best known identities on 

 a racecourse. We know his gold glasses, his leggings 

 in bad weather, and that wonderful white top hat 

 which comes out every year on Gold Cup Day at Ascot. 

 " There it is," one member of the Press will murmur 

 to another, and there's no need to query what : it is 

 Jim George's immortal headgear. But that is an 

 idiosyncrasy of his, for he is a dapper figure, and 

 dresses quite in a modern way, with good clothes. 

 The only assumption is that there must be a history 

 concerning that hat. With regard to his work, he is 

 ever alert in the ring, going up and down the rails 

 to hear the latest " bargains," and has access to the 

 books of the leading layers in the ring to refer to when 

 he so desires, so that correctness with regard to the 

 last prices booked or offered shall be maintained. 



Sometimes there is grumbling on the part of those 

 who have only heard certain offers on the outskirts of 

 the ring ; they are as a rule very unreliable, and the 

 difference is easily accounted for. One small man 

 may have had an extraordinary run on two or three 

 horses only, and wishes to get a few pounds in over 



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