CHAPTER III 



SOME LATTER-DAY PENCILLERS 



I COME now to the " pencillers " of a time within the 

 recollection of many living veterans of sport. And I give 

 the first place to Harry Hill, who has recently received a 

 high tribute to his memory from Sir Henry Hawkins 

 (Baron Brampton) in his entertaining Reminiscc7ices. 

 The famous judge had a great regard for Harry Hill, to 

 whom he refers as " my genial friend," and whom he 

 describes as " deservedly respected by all who had the 

 pleasure of his acquaintance." Harry had also an old and 

 much-respected friend in Baron Martin, and it speaks 

 well for his good qualities that two eminent judges should 

 have been proud of his friendship. 



Harry Hill had a most remarkable and indeed romantic 

 career. From "boots" at a Manchester hotel he rose to 

 the highest position on the Turf as a commissioner — a man 

 who made his ten-thousand-pound book regularly on every 

 big event during the year. There is a tradition that he 

 made his first appearance on the race-course in the not 

 very honourable role of thimble-rigger, and that he was so 

 clever with the pea and thimble that he soon amassed a 

 little pile which enabled him to start as a bookmaker. 

 But his own story of his first slice of luck was the 

 following. 



He attended Doncaster to see the Cup run for one year, 

 and without much trouble got rid of all his cash except 

 about five shillings, which, though not enough to pay his 

 tare by coach back to Manchester, was still enough to 

 take him there by more humble conveyance, namely, the 

 waggon and walking. While on " Shank's pony," by which 

 he meant to go as far as Thurlstone, he missed his road, 



25 



