CHASING AND RACING 205 



jumper, and has been tried to have a couple of stone 

 and the length of Wigmore Street in hand." 



" Well, Bob, you're very optimistic. Why the 

 good thing is sure to be blown. It will be a case of 

 laying long odds on, won't it ? '* 



" Oh no, my Cockie ! Trust your Uncle Bob. 

 He knows something, and will engineer it for all it's 

 worth." 



I was left guessing — as usual. 



Now there were two days' racing at the pitch in 

 question, and Bob's wonderful " cinch " was entered 

 on each of these. When the betting opened The 

 Ploughman, as the horse was not called, was a hot 

 favourite, but no one would invest a penny on him. 

 The owner was looked upon as *' hot stuff," and those 

 who were ** in the know " always sat tight until they 

 sensed that the stable money was on. 



On this occasion nothing could be traced to the 

 right source. The consequence was that the lads with 

 the pencil began to open out, and soon "5-1 The 

 Ploughman " was offered. All of a sudden two quiet 

 individuals, unknown to local talent, began snapping 

 up the price, and again the " tiller of the soil " hardened 

 in price. Meanwhile Bob had weighed out and was 

 mounting, when the owner approached and addressed 

 him in an undertone. 



" Look 'ee 'ere, Muster Clarsper, just canter down 

 until ye gits tu the end of the enclosure rails. Oi'll 

 be standin' 'undred yards further down ter give 'ee 



