SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



found descendants of the tribe of thieves. But the 

 plucking of the pigeons has to be done in furtive 

 fashion, whereas in the days to which I refer the 

 supposed protectors of the pubHc indulged in a 

 flutter themselves, theirs generally being a winning 

 " hand." 



Shortly beyond the minor incident related I was 

 put to trade, in the way of assisting my uncle, who 

 lived at Ramsgate, in his furniture business. The 

 work was none too congenial, and I relieved its 

 tediousness by copious studies of Bell's Life, the 

 backing of my fancy, and the making of a little 

 book at the " Shipwright's Arms," situated at the 

 back of the pier. These mixed extra occupations, 

 varied with visits to London, by the steamer 

 Duchess of Kent, in order to back one " bad for 

 the book " at the lists, or invest for other reasons, 

 gave me considerable insight into the financial side 

 of the Turf, and, inevitably, a longing for permanent 

 residence in the metropolis, then the Mecca of the 

 sporting operator. How long I might have remained 

 at Ramsgate, or whether indeed I should ever have 

 deserted the rather hum-drum paths of trade, except 

 for one incident, I cannot say. Probably I should 

 have followed furniture to my grave, and made 

 racing the pastime, instead of the pursuit, of my 

 life. The incident referred to was the arrival, in 



11 



