RACEGOERS AND RACEGOING 281 



third. You'll laugh at me, of course, but he is a 

 real ripper ! " 



" It's very good of you to tell me," I said. 

 " Very short price, I'm afraid ? " 



" No, old boy, that's just it," he rejoined. 

 " Not a creature has an idea of it. You'll get 20 

 to I, at least you ought to ; 100 to 6 certainly — 

 say 100 to 7. It can't be less than that ! What 

 are you out ? A monkey ? Well, old boy, 1,000 

 to 60 — 1,000 to 70 perhaps — will leave you a nice 

 v^inner. 2,000 to 140 — sure to get it, old boy ! 

 I should back it to win ^(^4,000 if I were you — I 

 shall have a dash myself — you won't have to risk 

 ^300 to do it, though really there is no risk. 

 You will be a nice winner on the week, can keep 

 a thousand to play with, buy those two colts we 

 liked that didn't fetch their reserve, and have a 

 ripping time next year. They are sure to win 

 good races." 



" Who rides ? " I inquired. " Not Matthew, I 

 hope. It's wonderful how he muddles races away, 

 if you won't mind my criticising your jockey ? " 



" I agree with you, dear old boy, he is very 

 bad," my friend replied ; " but they won't put 

 him up — they'll run no risks, I assure you. 

 Though anyone could win on this colt. The 

 jockey might get into a tangle, but there would be 



