THE LATE DICK DUNN 



about describes his experiences in the last few years 

 of his Hfe. But, despite this, would he ever take 

 advantage of those he knew? Not on your life! 

 1 remember once at Gatwick, of which I was a member 

 for many years, going across to the lower end of the 

 rails where he stood that day — it was an infrequent 

 j^itch — and said: "What will you lay me Sona ? " — 

 that wasn't the name of the horse though. He didn't 

 take the slightest notice, and I repeated the question, 

 but he was still quite deaf to me. I added with some 

 asperity : " I asked you for thirty pounds to five pounds 

 Sona." But still he looked at everjrthing and everyone 

 save myself. I began to think that it was a question 

 of credit, but that couldn't be, for the five-pound note 

 had been much in evidence. Then I said, not to be 

 balked : " Take this fiver and put me down sixes." 

 Under his breath he said : " Will you go away ? " And 

 I took the office. The filly was dead amiss that day, 

 and Dunn knew it. He was such a good fellow that 

 he wouldn't have me lose the fiver. There are so many 

 stories about him that chapters could be filled if they 

 were all dug up, but little instances are sufficient. 



There must be just one more of the man who I bet 

 with from the earliest days I went racing, over thirty- 

 five years ago. At one time, things had been going a bit 

 badly with Dick, and one or two cheques had been held 

 back by him just for an odd day or two until he could 

 collect at Epsom on the first day. One of his clients 

 came up to him and said rather pompously : " Mr 

 Dunn, I have not had my cheque for that eighty-five." 

 " That's the most extraordinary thing," Dunn replied ; 

 " for I remember quite distinctly asking my clerk 

 whether you spelt your name with a final ' e,' " and 

 turning round to the inevitable Lakey, who had been 

 looking round as if unconscious of the conversation, 



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