RACING ROGUERIES. 293 



he would be written down a blackguard. On the 

 turf, however, morals are not quite so severely- 

 measured. 



Not a few men are unfortunately compelled to 

 the exercise of such chicanery by the " force of 

 circumstances." There are men now on the turf 

 who, while they are nominally the owners of a 

 stud of race-horses, are in reality slaves of book- 

 makers. They have at some meeting extended 

 their arm too far, and have been unable in con- 

 sequence to respond to the call of time. In other 

 words, in expectation of some of the horses they 

 had backed winning, they betted to a greater 

 amount than they found themselves able to pay. 

 In such an ignominious position they frequently 

 become tools of the bookmakers, and run or do 

 not run their horses as they are told by their 

 master, who, although imperative enough in his 

 demands, may be a pleasant fellow withal. 



Bookmakers are fond of doing business with 

 those they call "the swells." Although gentle- 

 Tnen may get into their books, and be due them 

 considerable sums of money, there is always the 

 chance of some day being paid, while they are 

 able in the meantime to turn them and their 

 misfortunes to good account. There are men 

 now on the turf who, it is said, owe thousands 

 of pounds to bookmakers, and even, it is said, 

 to their jockeys. 



To those to whom the turf and its surround- 

 ings are as a sealed book, such a statement may 

 appear like an outrageous calumny ; but it is true, 

 nevertheless, there are dozens of " swells " at the 

 present moment who are under the thumbs of the 

 bookmakers. If the Honourable Tom Twinkleton 



