176 THE MERRY GEE-GEE 



for a bit/* ** Giving it a rest," " Had a 

 good win over the National, and show- 

 ing 'em the art of gambling ; " or, " No, 

 that game's no good to me. I should 

 soon have had to put the shutters up." 

 Wait a while. You'll meet any of these 

 before long either going panting with a 

 sweet smiling face to a meeting, or they'll 

 come and buttonhole you to one side, 

 and tell you in a mysterious whisper 

 they know the biggest cert, they ever 

 knew in all their lives for the Hunt Cup 

 at Ascot. If it runs in a small race at 

 Epsom, don't back it, and don't get 

 stalled off if it runs badly. It's going 

 for the Hunt Cup, and you must get on 

 as soon as ever the betting opens. 



If one hasn't been racing for some 

 considerable time — a few months or a 

 season, maybe — it's quite striking to notice 

 all the old familiar faces and a few new 



