304 EACECOUESE AND COVERT SIDE. 



money " is judicious. The searcher for winners 

 will also probably have found that one or two of 

 the sporting ''prophets " write with knowledge 

 and judgment. Some of them, on the other 

 hand, do not ; but he must take pains to find 

 those who do, and note their advice. It will be 

 well for him, perhaps, furthermore, to study 

 " the book," and make himself acquainted with 

 the form of the horse he is inclined to fancy. 

 He should also consider whether it belongs to a 

 stable that is worthy of confidence, presided 

 over by an efficient trainer, and whether the 

 jockey is a master of his craft. If he knows 

 anything of horses, he should then carefully 

 look it over in the paddock and during its 

 preliminary canter, noting also how it goes in 

 the market. 



Having done all this, and convinced himself 

 that the horse is likely to win, he will be in a 

 position to advise his friends — men on a race- 

 course usually take any advice that is confidently 

 offered from any quarter — to back the animal. 

 He had better not do so himself, as there are 

 numerous chances against him of which he 

 knows nothing. Should they take his advice, 

 and win, he can congratulate himself on the 

 benefit he has conferred ; should they not show 

 faith pecuniarily, he can reproach them with 



