RACING ROGUERIES. 275 



Negotiations for its purchase were entered into by 

 an agent of the syndicate — and terms being agreed 

 upon, the horse was quietly transferred to another 

 stable — the dealers having forgotten, in their 

 anxiety to conclude the business, that the vendor 

 of the animal had another and, as it proved, a 

 better horse entered for the same race, quite 

 capable of winning it ! As it came out in the 

 sequel, the gentleman had backed his "lot "to 

 win a considerable sum, whilst a confederate had 

 taken some "long shots" about the other one, 

 so that the seller had all the best of the deal, the 

 horse purchased by the bookmakers proving in 

 the end worthless. In reality the owner was 

 delighted to sell nwnber'' one, because he had 

 planned to win the race if he could with number 

 two, and that being so, he began business by 

 backing his " lot." 



Instances of another kind of deal might be 

 cited. On one occasion a man who had been so 

 clever as to back a horse to win him ^12,000 

 before its owner had backed it for a single 

 sovereign, had the alternatives placed before him 

 of seeing the animal " scratched," or of buying 

 it, or of allowing his owner to share his bet. He 

 preferred to purchase, but before the day of the 

 race the horse had gone off its feed, and when 

 called upon to make an effort was easily beaten. 



Many good and honestly trained horses un- 

 expectedly suffer defeat, a result which on some 

 occasions is difficult to account for. When such 

 an event takes place, " would-be wise persons" 

 shake their heads in the " I told you so" style, 

 and hint at foul play. It frequently happens, 

 however, that horses which run well at home are 



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