1 88 A MIRROR OF THE TURF. 



year remain in the field — the others having either 

 retired or changed their names and addresses. 



The class of tipsters of whom I have been 

 writing earn a great deal of money, but many of 

 them spend it recklessly, never thinking that they 

 may be overtaken by the proverbial rainy day. 

 Judging from the vast number of telegrams 

 which are despatched on busy race-days, two or 

 three thousand pounds a week must reach these 

 tipsters, the majority of whom make it a rule, I 

 fancy, to incur no expense for information, although 

 some among them are always boasting of their 

 staff of highly-paid assistants. These men take 

 the tips given in the morning newspapers and re- 

 tail them to the fools who trust them for a shilling, 

 or perhaps half-a-crown, whilst the simpletons 

 who purchase the information could obtain it for 

 one penny, and all the news, political and social, 

 as well ! 



Of the fools who are born in every minute of 

 the day and night, a very great number deal with 

 the advertising tipsters to their ultimate loss. It 

 is only right, however, to let it be known that 

 there are a few honourable men among the black- 

 legs who take much personal trouble and incur 

 considerable expense in obtaining information of 

 a reliable kind for those who trust them. But 

 these men fail to make backing pay ; they no doubt 

 experience runs of luck, but even with runs of 

 luck the balance at the close of the year is sure 

 to be on the wrong side of the account. 



The proprietors of several weekly racing 

 periodicals at present published, not satisfied 

 seemingly with the sales of fifty or sixty thousand 

 copies which they say their papers attain, send 



