178 THE RACING WORLD 



tinues to study the card, having previously seen 

 what the various sporting writers in whom one 

 has chief confidence have to say about the various 

 events ; or perhaps the prospective backer makes 

 up his own mind first of all about what appears 

 likely to win, and then looks to see whether or not 

 his favourite prophet agrees with him. Then, the 

 course being reached, one is sure to meet a number 

 of more or less knowledgable friends with whom 

 one exchanges opinions, and here a vast deal 

 depends upon whom that " half merry, half mis- 

 chievous little sprite called Luck," to whom refer- 

 ence was made in the first article of this series, 

 sends in one's way. I well remember one melan- 

 choly occasion when I had determined to have no 

 bet on the Cesarewitch until the day of the race ; 

 having that year, in previous handicaps, backed 

 what seemed to be promising animals that for one 

 reason or another were struck out, or after figuring 

 as warm favourites in the early betting had retired 

 to odds that looked hopeless. In spite of his 

 weight I had made up my mind to back Sheen ; 

 but on my way across the Jockey Club Stand I 

 met the owner of another horse in the race, who 

 asked me what I was going to do, shook his head 

 when I told him, and with the kindest intentions 

 in the world assured me that Sheen could not 



