2 30 A MIRROR OF THE TURF. 



occasions he bagged ^40,000 over a race ; had 

 that not been so, he would have been unable 

 to battle with the wholesale losses he had some- 

 times to encounter. His business at one time 

 was quite remarkable in its extent ; often in the 

 ring he was mobbed by people desirous of betting 

 with him, from whom, on the days of popular 

 races, he received hatfuls of money. No matter 

 what race-meeting he might be attending, if the 

 place where it was held was within a few hours' 

 reach of London, he made it his business to 

 return, to ascertain what was doing at his 

 various lists, and to draw a cheque for the next 

 day's settlement ; punctual payment was with 

 him a rule from which he never deviated. 



As to the betting lists which were ultimately 

 put down by the strong hand of Parliament, 

 Davis was not, as many have supposed, the origi- 

 nator of them. They were " invented," if such 

 a word may be used, by Messrs. Drummond and 

 Greville, who took care to let it be known they 

 kept a big balance at their bankers'. By the 

 persistent display of " the lists " (which were 

 exhibited by many licensed victuallers in their 

 houses), betting, especially in London, extended 

 among all classes, as at some of the lists as little 

 as sixpence was accepted. For the benefit of 

 those who do not know any better, it may be as 

 well to explain here that a " list " was a written 

 or printed document containing the names of the 

 horses engaged in the particular race to be betted 

 upon, with a price affixed against the chance 

 possessed by each animal. Previous to the 

 institution of the lists, the great body of the 

 people were pretty well contented with a ticket 



