Backing Horses 



They realise the difficulties of the situation. For 

 instance, if they had their riding fee of five 

 pounds on a horse and he lost, they would be 

 virtually " chancing " their neck for nothing ; and 

 a man foolish enough to do that does not deserve 

 to have a neck round which (if he is lucky) two 

 fair arms may be clasped at any time, especially 

 if he has been riding winners and has not ex- 

 pended the cash in other directions. Those fair 

 arms are not exploited (in the old sweet way) for 

 nothing. How much they cost, perhaps, depends 

 on how much we have and the intensity of our 

 devotion. But I don't know if it is not worse 

 than backing horses. 



Amusing stories are told in this connection. 

 A local tout once had the audacity to inform me 

 that all the runners are not necessarily " out " on 

 every occasion. He suspected mysteries. " All 

 that will be altered," he said, "when my new 

 Grseco-Roman rules come into force for the sup- 

 pression of tip, cat, and run — I mean in-and-out 

 running. Why, then, even we " — he squinted at 

 me luminously — "may blunder on to a winner 

 sometimes if we are exceptionally robust." He 

 shook his pencil despondently, however, as if to 

 indicate that was the source of mischief. His 

 aplomb is infinitesimal even when he is leaning 



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