RACING ADVENTURERS. 231 



in a Derby or some other sweepstake, of which 

 a great number, at prices ranging from pence to 

 pounds, were drawn in London and the provinces, 

 but more especially in London, where there were 

 then thousands organised, embracing most of the 

 popular handicaps, as well as the classic races — 

 so called. 



It was calculated that at one time more 

 than seven hundred lists were open in the great 

 metropolis, most of them being " placed " in the 

 public-houses of the period. Betting on horse- 

 racing by means of lists became in time so 

 popular and extensive as to attract the indignant 

 attention of many people, who conceived it to 

 be a cause of degradation and deep demorali- 

 sation. Lotteries of all kinds, big and little, 

 had been effectually suppressed by the strong 

 arm of the law, but list betting took the place 

 of the lottery tickets with a vengeance. 



The " Leviathan," although not himself the 

 originator of the list system of betting, was not 

 long in seeing — being a ready money system — 

 that good fortune awaited that plan of turf specu- 

 lation, and he accordingly commenced business 

 at a public-house in Serle Street, in the Strand, 

 known as the " Durham Arms," at which in the 

 course of time so great a trade was done (in 

 liquor) as to enable the landlady to retire from 

 business within the course of two or three years. 

 Davis was proprietor of two or three lists, as 

 also the originator of three or four for which 

 other persons ultimately became responsible. 

 Publicans were well pleased to allow betting lists 

 to be shown in their houses — it was a source of 

 revenue to them, as few bets were made over 



