176 A MIRROR OF THE TURF. 



His next move was made in the disguise of 

 " Henry Buckstone, late valet to a sporting 

 nobleman, who, being in possession of several 

 important racing secrets, will send the winners of 

 Two Thousand Guineas and Chester Cup to a 

 select number of gentlemen on receiving a re- 

 mittance of five shillings." Communications were 

 to be addressed to a stationer's shop in Holborn, 

 and for a time letters came in abundance, as 

 many on some days as fifteen. Once again, as 

 may be said, the ex-publican " struck ile," and a 

 flow of fortune resulted which, happily for Win- 

 grave, was kept up by the consecutive selection 

 of some six or eight good winners. But in time 

 this tipster, like others before and after him, 

 dropped out of notice, although it is certain that 

 he flourished, like the proverbial green bay-tree, 

 for several years. 



During the period which Wingrave carried on 

 business, tipsters had much in their favour, 

 the big events of the season being betted upon for 

 months before the day set for their decision. 



Fifty years ago, for instance, quotations on the 

 Chester Cup were numerous in the December 

 of the year previous to its being run. Such 

 arrangements, of course, helped the tipsters of the 

 outer school, as people were early in the field 

 to back their fancies or the selections of the 

 adventurers who sent prophecies. For these men 

 the fact of being occasionally successful in naming 

 the winner of a great race, at what was thought a 

 " long price," was just so much capital gained. 

 Two or three successful tips enabled a man to 

 play " the game " to a remunerative tune for at 

 least six months ; every time he advertised he 



