248 THE RACING WORLD 



long shots about the animal ; but as for backing 

 him, he would not think of doing such a thing. 

 " My business," he said, " is to lay horses, and 

 not to back them. My idea is that to mix the 

 two games is not profitable. I always like to 

 know about a horse that will be fancied to win, 

 but the most valuable information you can send 

 me is not the horse that will win, but the one 

 that will lose, particularly if that one happens to 

 have a good chance on form." 



Sometimes you hear of some peculiar doings 

 of the fraternity, and I remember being told a 

 funny story about a couple of touts who gambled 

 their money away on horses, as they usually do 

 when they get any. They had been at a race 

 meeting with the horses which had been sent 

 from the respective training quarters they watched. 

 They met in the paddock ; one had an idea that 

 he could borrow a bit from the other, and their 

 sore straits were soon explained to each other. In 

 the next race there was a fancied candidate from 

 each of the training quarters from which these 

 men came. There were only three starters, and 

 one of these had, on the book at all events, but 

 little chance. 



" I must get a bit somehow ! " said one of 

 the touts. 



