THE BETTING COMMISSIONER. 347 



it with the performances and the breeding of the 

 starters. He is as familiar with their physical con- 

 dition as the trainer, and, in addition to that, knows 

 what each owner and trainer is going to do in the 

 race. A hint that you will put down fifty and declare 

 him in, should it win, makes him your boon com- 

 panion until after the race. Should it fail, and you 

 are not game enough to look for your money where 

 you lost it, the information bureau looks for another 

 "game sport," if he has not already touted a couple of 

 other horses in the same race to different parties. 



As soon as a new man pulls in with a couple of 

 horses, the tout, if he is inside a good suit of clothes, 

 interviews him. If down at the heel, he worms his 

 way into the good graces of the help, boards with 

 them, if they have a cook, and sleeps in the feed stall, 

 if they will let him. By doing odd jobs around the 

 stable he learns what is going on, while he is always 

 looking for some one who will pay for what informa- 

 tion he can glean. 



Touts have unlimited assurance, and to become 

 expert in their line of business they must also remem- 

 ber all of the fairy tales they weave during a meeting. 

 A gullible man will believe another without a 

 whimper, if he will stand pat even after a losing. He 

 figures that the man with the information has a key 

 to something which failed to connect, while he is con- 

 vinced that the tout, with his apparently flattering 

 connections, knows more than he does, or even 

 claims to. 



On all of the large tracks there is another class 

 termed "betting commissioners," or "gentlemen 

 touts." They have money. At the hotel they have 



