RACING ROGUERIES. 283 



begins on any particular race and secure the 

 cream, leaving the skimmed milk to those who 

 have to pay the training bills. 



In order, then, to do the best they can for 

 themselves, the three gentlemen named above 

 resolve to call to their aid a well-known turf 

 commissioner, one Mr. Dudley Smooth. That 

 gentleman, who is the hero of a hundred "arrange- 

 ments," takes the case in hand. He is well 

 known on the turf and hates verbosity, but he 

 thinks a great deal, if he says little ; his leading 

 idea is, " Only one can win, you know ; how to get 

 at it is the problem." 



What usually takes place when Mr. Smooth 

 has been prevailed upon to put a finger in the 

 pie — he is, however, rather chary of doing so — is 

 first of all a consultation over a chop and a 

 bottle — champagne, of course. The number of 

 stables represented in the handicap and the horses 

 entered are considered, and those known or thought 

 to have no chance are summarily scored out of the 

 list. Each trainer and owner of the stables con- 

 taining likely horses are well weighed up, con- 

 sidered, and intelligently discussed, after which it 

 will probably be found that, leaving out the owners 

 present and half-a-dozen others they will be able 

 to influence, four stables would be seen to have 

 a really good chance, whilst other three might 

 possess something decidedly dangerous. 



" What we want, you know. Smooth, is a 

 certainty." 



" Quite so, Sir Richard ; and as only one, you 

 know, can win, the thing is to discover it." 



What was generally resolved upon to begin 

 with was, that each of those present should, a 



