2o6 THE TURF 



does bet, It Is true, but only In small sums, usually 

 five or ten pounds. One year, I recollect his telling- 

 me, he thrice had ^loo on animals he thought could 

 by no possibility lose ; one of them was beaten, and 

 the other two started at such long odds on that he 

 was rather a loser by the transactions, John Osborne, 

 a singularly shrewd judge, told me when I discussed 

 the matter with him that he betted a little, and as 

 a result just about held his own from year to year. 

 How often trainers are completely mistaken about 

 the horses under their charge those who know most 

 of them are best aware. A few "professional backers," 

 as they are called, make money until they are warned 

 off the Turf, and ao-ain when the warnlno^ is with- 

 drawn and they are allowed to come back again ; 

 but they win by roguery, with the connivance of 

 dishonest jockeys and trainers, who are ready to run 

 risks ; for though there is much less rascality on the 

 Turf than outsiders usually suppose, there is some, 

 and the professional backers with their allies are 

 responsible for most of It. 



From what has been said, It will be perceived that 

 I most cordially agree with Archer's remark just 

 quoted. Backing horses is a very poor game, and 

 this is the more so because of the short prices one 

 usually has to take. In an article on the subject 

 of betting some years ago, I described the bookmaker 

 as "a man who lays you 6 to 4 against a 3 to i 

 chance," and subsequent observation has not enabled 



