HOW I WON MY HANDICAP 189 



got the little pock-marked man I had met, and said 

 he was commissioned to take 60 to 1 to £5, just 

 for a " fancy " bet. A big Sheffielder opened his 

 book and said he might as well have the " fiver " as 

 not, and there I was backed to win £300 already. 

 Locker and I went away to bed about nine o'clock, 

 and next morning in came the little 'un at six to 

 tell us he'd ta'en five fifties more, then five forties, 

 ten thirties, and ten twenties, and I was now in the 

 market at 12 to 1 taken and offered. My heat 

 was the sixth, and there were five starters marked. 

 First came " old Scratch " of Pendleton at 5 9 yards, 

 then Eoundtree of Huddersfield at 62, and myself 

 at 67 ; the other didn't turn up. The pistol was 

 fired and away we went, and, as Locker had started 

 me hundreds of times, so that I could " get off the 

 mark " well, I don't think I lost any ground. At 

 about half way I could hear somebody on my left, 

 but I daren't look round. Afterwards I found 

 " Scratch " had tried to " cut me down," but it was 

 all no use, and I took away the tape by two yards 

 good. Everybody cheered, for betting on the heat 

 had been 7 to 4 on " Scratch " and 8 to 2 against 

 me. At the close of the day there were ten run- 

 ners left in for the final heat, and " my price " was 

 4 to 1 , Eoper of Staley bridge being the favourite at 

 6 to 4 against him. Locker said he had laid off 



