SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



Leviathan," *' Tubby " Morris, and myself had not 

 then or at any time much chance of laying the 

 " dead 'uns," and usually on the morning of a classic 

 race found ourselves full against the genuine candi- 

 dates, the "safe" sort falling to Harry Hill, 

 Hargreaves, Jackson, and company, who were the 

 better positioned for, and the more affected, the 

 peculiar business. I do not claim an extravagant 

 delicacy of sentiment. But I will say I never cared 

 for the practice of daylight robbery, while Davies, 

 big as were his transactions, scorned the proceeding, 

 and was rarely approached by the engineers of 

 " dirty work." I once did, for an owner, lay a horse 

 to lose five thousand pounds for the Great Ebor. 

 He was a good favourite, and, in all, I booked the 

 odds to eighteen hundred pounds. At times, so 

 persistent were the inquiries, I thought that the 

 owner was " doing the double " on me. But no ! 

 when the last penny had been garnered the pen was 

 put at work. Without explanation the horse was 

 scratched. 



" I've done this for you," I said, at settling time. 

 *' But no more, either for you or anybody else. 

 Why, I'm ashamed to say I've taken a deal of 

 this money off my friends." 



That was a true bill ; though it was not my fault 

 they lost, as I warned them not to back the horse. 



£2 



