MODERN BETTING ILLUSTRATED, ETC. 219 



to ^1,000 that Bend Or would win the Derby, 

 and every person knows what a very narrow- 

 squeak he had for his money. The same person, 

 incited by his success in backing the winner of 

 the Blue Ribbon of the Turf, backed Versigny to 

 win him ^^2,000, and by doing so required to 

 risk about ^1,200, so that he had only ^800 

 of his Derby gains left, a portion of which was 

 lost over Master Kildare in the Gold Cup. 



The person here alluded to, who is well 

 known by his nickname of " Public Form," * is 

 a very heavy bettor, putting down at three out 

 of every four of the race meetings which are 

 held stakes of from ^50 to ^200 on even the 

 smaller races, whenever in fact he thinks he 

 has got hold of what is called " a good thing." 

 In some seasons "Public Form" has been very 

 successful, although from the state of the odds 

 against the horses which he backs he seldom 

 " lands " a big win ; but if he thinks the chance an 

 extra good one he will not scruple to give odds, 

 but will put down ^700 to win ^400, or he will 

 take even money against the chance. 



It will be obvious enough that a person 

 betting such large sums runs heavy risks, more 

 especially as he so seldom goes for big odds. 

 Risks, however, are comparative, and it should 

 be easier, therefore, to realise a 7 to 4 chance 

 than to obtain a win when the odds are at the 

 rate of 66 to i ; in the latter case the bettor only 

 requires to risk ^15 to win ;^ 1,000, while in the 

 former case to win a similar amount a sum of 

 nearly ^600 will require to be risked. Some 



* *' Public Form," I regret to learn, died in the autumn of 

 1 89 1, at his residence near Glasgow. 



