SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



Mock Doctor In the French farce when his patient 

 suggested, because he was examining the right, that 

 the heart was on the left side. Such a striking 

 physical revolution has yet to occur. But in a way 

 the change that has come over the system of betting 

 is no less startling than would be counted the trans- 

 position of the cardiac organ. There is perhaps as 

 much gambling as of yore in bulk. But it is spread 

 over a wider surface, and the serious operations in 

 the majority of cases scarcely commence till the 

 numbers of the runners for a particular race are 

 hoisted. Nor by many is the Ring ever affected, for 

 there has grown up a species of speculation generi- 

 cally known as the " s.-p. " (starting-price) business, 

 that extends from, so to say, Land's End to John 

 o' Groats. And the purpose of the operators is that 

 not only shall the horse win, but that, by the absence 

 of money for him at the post, with victory shall be 

 associated long odds. The practice has certainly not 

 added to the gaiety of the Turf, and by reason of 

 the need of secrecy many friendships have been 

 sundered. That man with a large number is hero 

 who can " place " a thousand pounds without any 

 coming back to the Ring, and against such the 

 travelling layers, who also have, in most cases, 

 their *'s.-p. joints," fight tooth and nail. In their 

 day the patrons of Highfield House, Malton, have 



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