BOOKMAKERS AND BOOKMAKING 195 



extending over a full week in probably two or 

 three — or four — counties, trains, cabs, hotel, 

 carriages to the course, rings, collections for 

 poor people — no one will deny that my brethren 

 subscribe liberally to relieve distress — clerk, " run- 

 ner," etc., will come to not short of some sixty 

 pounds ; and after a busy week, if he hails from 

 the " reserved enclosure," most of the Sunday 

 following will find him and his staff hard at 

 work getting the accounts posted for Monday's 

 settling. 



Curiosity exists as to how bookmakers know 

 what prices to lay, and with all the will in the 

 world to explain I find myself really unable to 

 do so. Of course the bookmaker reads the 

 sporting papers and is to a greater or less extent 

 acquainted with the form of horses. He usually 

 keeps his eyes open, too, remembers what 

 animals have been backed, and perhaps failed 

 on previous occasions, and what sort of people 

 have backed them — people, it may be, who, as 

 the saying goes, do not throw their money away ; 

 and then again he hears a good deal from one 

 quarter or another as to horses that are expected 

 to win races. Sometimes an owner with whom 

 he is on good terms will give him a useful hint. 

 The prices seem to be, if I may say so, " in 



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