TOUTS AND TOUTING 247 



went amiss he substituted another horse for him, 

 keeping the favourite in the stable the whole time, 

 and galloping a horse of very much the same build 

 and colour, which completely deceived me and 

 several other touts who were down there. The 

 secret was also well kept by his three helpmates, 

 who had been sworn to silence, and it never 

 bubbled out until the owner and his trainer had got 

 back all their money out of the favourite, and had 

 backed the second and third favourites to win a 

 huge stake. When they had transacted this 

 business to their satisfaction they gave out that the 

 horse had broken down, and scratched it, and the 

 second and third favourites went to very short 

 prices. The bookmaker I was working for was 

 badly hit over the affair, as also were several 

 others, and I had to find other employment. 



I shall never forget the advice that I once 

 received from a bookmaker for whom I was 

 touting. I had watched a horse who had done 

 a good preparation for a certain race. I knew 

 he was going to be backed and I wrote to 

 one of my employers to give him the inform- 

 ation, at the same time advising him to back 

 the animal. I received a quaint letter in reply, 

 to say that he was much obliged for the tip, 

 as it would prevent him from being " hit " for 



