128 FLAT-RAGING EXPLAINED, 1 



registered at Weatherby's. Then, the "staff of 

 watchers" they employ at every training place in 

 the country, and the "large sums" they pay for ex- 

 clusive information, derived from sources, accord- 

 ing to them, to be "truly astonishing." Their pa- 

 trons, of course, are among the "highest in the 

 land;" and when asked for their names, those most 

 honored on the turf and society are readily given, 

 with an assurance that baffles belief. 



It is no use to warn the "Illegitimate bacl^er" of 

 his danger; if it be possible, the danger should" be 

 removed, rather, from him. There is no justifica- 

 tion for persons, however weak and foolish they 

 may be, being permitted to be led into evil by decep- 

 tion and trickery. If persons must needs bet, let 

 them do so by their own initiation. The law should 

 rigorously intervene to stop the promulgation of 

 inducement, whether put forward in a form to be 

 specious or otherwise; that avowedly intends to 

 urge, or even to recomme?id persons to risk money 

 by way of backing horses in races. Should the law 

 as it stands not be sufficient or wide enough in its 

 interpretation to make penal a class of offence such 

 as I have pointed out, as daily growing upon us, 

 and encroaching upon the best interests of the turf, 

 then it obviously becomes the duty of the Legisla- 

 ture to extend the law for that purpose by passing 

 a short act of Parliament, and that without delay. 



