SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



will lay you Woodlands for the Cesarewitch. You 

 should get forties." 



That was the price Bush offered, but Bob, remind- 

 ing him it was to be a " ready " transaction, asked 

 for a little more, and obtained 4200 to 100. 



" Twice ? " he queried. 



" No. Once is enough." 



I had made an appointment for Reece to meet 

 me at the " Two Brewers," in Jermyn Street, to 

 "report progress." "Now," I said to him, "about 

 half-past two or three o'clock take that other 

 hundred-pound note and back the horse with the 

 little men." He returned me forty fifties and forty 

 ponies twice — so my bets in all about Woodlands 

 were 8200 to 200. The weights came out that 

 evening, and a glance at the Calendar showed 

 the Admiral had " stuck to his guns" — there was 

 Woodlands, 4 years, 7 st. 2 lb. I backed the horse 

 again, and stood, at long odds, to wdn, in round 

 figures, £12,000. On the morning of the race 

 Woodlands was favourite, and I laid off 2000 to 400. 

 Mr. James Smith came to me, and said, " Hodgman, 

 how do you stand about my horse ? " — that being 

 Rosebery. 



"Well, Jim," I answered, " I'm against him." 



" Do as you like," he remarked, " but I'm sure to 

 win. You can have what you like at 9 to 1." 



233 



