300 ATTACKS ON THE TURF. 



withstand these terrible losses, coming as they would with 

 each revolving year; whilst we should see trainers and jockeys 

 the possessors of the ancestral estates of their victims. It is 

 difficult to say which of the two results is the more im- 

 probable. As a matter of fact, there are on the turf, owners 

 who make money and owners who lose it ; and a similar 

 experience awaits the adventurous jockey or the speculative 

 trainer. It is a game of hazard to a certain extent, and has 

 its lucky and unlucky followers. 



If we turn once more to the book, we shall find that the 

 professor has little good to say even of the unfortunate (as 

 he would make him) owner. 



" It is seen," he says, " that the owner of a horse may, 

 by betting against his own horse, gain by his losing the 

 race : and by having his own horse largely backed, and then 

 running to lose, pocket enormous sums." 



The merest tyro will be here inclined to remind our critic 

 of the sound advice of Mrs. Glasse : "Before cooking, first 

 catch your hare." First then, let it be shown who are the 

 people who will back the horse, that the owner may win 

 enormous sums by betting against him, and the matter may 

 be worth discussion. As things are — and this is all that need 

 trouble us, we do not wish to start from hypothesis : as 

 things are, then, owners of other horses will not back our 

 hypothetical owner's horse, nor will the bookmakers whose 

 business it is to lay ; whilst the little staked by the public, 

 naturally limited if the owner do not essay to lead the way, 

 when sifted by the commissioner, will leave but a meagre 

 nucleus for the "enormous sums for the owner's pocket." 

 The fallacy of the argument requires no demonstration. 



But let us hear the writer further on betting. 



" One of the practices pursued," he goes on to say, " is to get 



