TYPES ON A RACECOURSE 



matical observation which causes him to read a market 

 and the " average of odds " much more quickly than 

 many of those with whom he fences for odds. 



When a boy Mr Hannam w^as a junior clerk in a 

 railway company, and started a small book with his 

 colleagues as punters. Later he betted in silver in 

 the ring, and when his operations became bigger, 

 with his brother as clerk he moved into Tattersalls, 

 but he soon got tired of this and became a backer, 

 as his instincts had always been to support a horse 

 instead of laying against him. By degrees he built 

 up his fortune. Of course he has not always been on 

 the smooth rail of success as regards speculation, and 

 many know the story of one week how he lost vast 

 sums at Ascot. To many this would have been a 

 strong temptation to have " taken the knock," as his 

 wealth was sufficient to do himself well all his life, but 

 there was only a few hours' delay until securities could 

 be realised and over fifty thousand pounds paid out. 

 He told me the other day that he had lost in eight 

 years out of the last ten, and yet " they won't believe 

 me," he added. 



It has always been to many a wonderful thing how 

 backers can pay the big racing expenses and yet 

 come out making a living year after year. Various 

 people are pointed out, such as Charles Hannam 

 and Fred Parker — the latter is a big gambler and 

 sound judge ; it would not be surprising to see him 

 M.P. for Northampton som.e day : he is a strong 

 local man — and many others larger or smaller; but 

 believe me, as many fall by the wayside. I have told 

 you of those who have their pet system and get 

 financed, others come into a little bit of money and 

 immediately go racing in the fond belief that they can 

 hold their own. To begin with they have a totally 



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