202 THE RACING WORLD 



affected air of humility, as if he rather regrets 

 the shortness of the odds he had suggested and 

 wants to make amends. " I'll tell you what I'll 

 do ! I'll lay you 150 to 80." 



" Yes, that's much better. Very well, I'll have 

 that ! " and he books the bet, strolling off quite 

 convinced that he has done something clever, 

 and has undoubtedly taught the bookmaker a real 

 lesson in liberality. 



Here is another. There are only three runners. 



" What price Three Stars ? " asks the backer. 



" That's 6 to 4, sir," is the reply. 



" And what is the Blank filly ? " 



" That's 6 to 4, too, sir," the fielder answers. 



" But how much the other, then ? " the punter 

 continues 



" Well, sir, if you've got one to beat those 

 two it's odds on it." 



The punter takes 30 to 20, thinking, quite 

 correctly, that backing horses is a curious game, 

 hoping that he has got the best of it, but feel- 

 ing on the whole just a little doubtful. 



Slightly differing from, but nearly allied to, 

 the runner is the " tick-tack man." Why these 

 latter should nearly always come from Birming- 

 ham I do not in the least understand, and will 

 not profess to explain. I can trace no conjunc- 



