TIPSTERS AND TIPPING 297 



Robinson, and Jones wins ; to-morrow one hear- 

 kens to Jones, and it is Robinson's turn. There 

 is absolutely no golden rule in betting, and I for 

 one am the strongest believer in fate and in the 

 inseparable grooves of luck which are found in 

 turn by a tipster, backer, owner, trainer, or jockey. 

 At times one can't do right ; at others — but how 

 far less frequently ! — everything falls out favour- 

 ably. 



Many people follow horses with more or less 

 success ; and here again it is a matter of luck, for 

 by no means need it be the highest-class horses 

 that pay best to support. Some people adhere to 

 the animal's chances on an increasing scale until 

 they win ; others only back penalised candidates, 

 particularly in the autumn. The " horses for 

 courses " theory is an old maxim in sport, and of 

 late years it really seems to be that " owners and 

 jockeys for courses " also needs consideration. All 

 owners specially delight in winning in their own 

 home districts, and lay themselves out so to do ; 

 for instance, it is a recognised thing to follow the 

 Rothschild blue and yellow at Northampton or 

 Lord Derby's colours at Liverpool. Most trainers, 

 too, have their " pet " meeting for some reason or 

 other, usually a superficial or superstitious one. 



Ignorant people not seldom win money for the 



