THE NOBLE ART OF BACKING WINNERS 1 8/ 



bobs with Benson, the Jubilee Plunger, 

 within a short time of his betting in tens 

 of thousands. No suppers at St. James's 

 then, you know — ^just a bun and a cup of 

 cocoa at a penny, and walk up and down 

 the streets to kill time and misery till bed- 

 time. 



Some backers of a very even tem- 

 perament plod on, just living at it for 

 years ; but if you want to live at backing 

 horses you must take the money for your 

 guide, and back sometimes three or four 

 in a race to make your money pretty level. 

 I've run guide-books through without end, 

 and studied all systems. There are lots more 

 favourites win than anything else. The 

 fact that when favourites win bookmakers 

 lose speaks for itself. If there is a hot 

 favourite, and the price is six to four on 

 the field before flag-fall, and four, five, or 

 six to one bar one, you should back the 



