STARTING PRICES 



two or three animals, the names of which he may not 

 have booked a single penny for. Hence the occasional 

 offers of fifty to one or even a hundred pound to a 

 cigar. Now, neither Jim George nor Paul Widdowson, 

 who does the same for the Sportsman, can take any 

 notice of those sort of offers. It is their duty to 

 compile the prices from where the solid business is 

 done. While we adhere to the custom of newspapers 

 supplying the prices which regulate the transactions of 

 millions of pounds per annum, the way in which the 

 work is done must be recorded, but if it be thoroughly 

 considered the idea is fanciful. It is called " official " 

 in default of their being anything official. I believe 

 at one time the idea was tried at Hurst Park of putting 

 up the starting price in the frame containing the win- 

 ning numbers, but that Mr Joseph Davis was told some- 

 what summarily by the stewards to " desist." Good 

 luck to him for having the courage to assist the public 

 in gaining information considering the amount of 

 S. P. business there is done on a racecourse between 

 layer and backer on the spot and by wire. 



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