192 THE RACING WORLD 



would freely support — among the best-known men 

 in the ring, though not, perhaps, as regards the 

 average amount of my bets, one of the magnates, 

 that is to say, big wagers are with me the excep- 

 tion, and if a man wanted the odds to a monkey it 

 is not to me that he would apply ; but I have, and 

 often study ruefully, a good-sized volume in which, 

 under every letter in the alphabet — and for some 

 reason chiefly under the S's and the W's — are lists 

 of bad debts, from small sums up to amounts of 

 three figures and often with something over a " i " 

 in front of them. 



Nearly all betting rules are in favour of the 

 backer of horses. Thus, for example, a fielder 

 who did not pay a bet lost recently at a meeting 

 near London was charged with welshing and 

 sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. Now, 

 many backers do not pay. Are they imprisoned .? 

 Not at all ! They run no risk of such a fate. I 

 am not, it will, I hope, be understood, complaining 

 that the welsher should suffer ; far from it, the 

 more so as such men do injury to bookmakers who 

 do pay by vaguely bringing discredit on the ring. 

 Serve him right ; only, the thing is not fair all 

 round. The bookmaker who does not pay gets 

 his twelve months ; the backer who owes money 

 stays away, perhaps, for a week or so, sometimes 



