RACEGOERS AND RACEGOING 265 



or less (but more rather than less) regular contri- 

 butions from takers of the odds. In truth your 

 geography is wrong. Tommy Tiddler's ground is 

 in reality on the side of the rails where " the 

 talent " assemble, and the habitually successful 

 prospectors are members of the ring. 



Well, you and I, gentle reader — I like the old 

 phrase with its pleasant assumption — do not belong 

 to the sordid crew who come racing from motives 

 of greed, nor are we snobs in search of dubious 

 social recognition. We enjoy and appreciate the 

 sport, have a reasonable knowledge of horses and of 

 racing, and are fortunate enough to be on friendly 

 terms with a considerable number of patrons of the 

 Turf. We have a claim to regard ourselves as in 

 the ranks of the sportsmen aforesaid — but all the 

 same are not, you know, above backing a winner if 

 the chance occurs ! What will win the next race .? 

 that is the pressing question of the moment, and 

 here comes Captain Percival, who manages one of 

 the most dangerous of contemporary stables, that is 

 to say one of those in which fewest mistakes are 

 made : when their horses are " expected " they 

 seldom fail to fulfil expectations. Ask him what 

 he fancies ? I don't think I will. I know him 

 well, belong to several of the same clubs, meet him 

 shooting, have, as it happens, done him more than 



