THE NOBLE ART OF BACKING WINNERS 1 79 



practicable, whether you are at the post 

 or betting starting-price away from it. If 

 a man is betting at the post, and there 

 are, for instance, three runners, and they 

 take six to four each of two, the other 

 works out at four to one, but the book- 

 maker would not be laying more than 

 three to one, which leaves a certain profit, 

 though small. In fields of sixteen runners 

 or so, a bookmaker can often bet or 

 make a round book on about ten or 

 twelve horses, and have the others run- 

 ning for him clear if he has a good 

 connection ; and should one of those he 

 has not laid at all roll home, he has a 

 good haul, and can stand a few favourites 

 winning later on. 



Bet as you may, however, the book 

 will go wrong when a long sequence of 

 favourites get home. Bookmakers, as a 

 class, are most good-hearted, generous 



