TOUTS AND TIPSTERS. 125 



probably bred to it, indeed — at least, in the sense of 

 having been in some way or other connected from an 

 early period of their lives Avith the 'noble animal.' 

 Some touts have in their day been themselves owners 

 of race-horses; others have been trainers; three or four 

 have been jockeys. Many persons take to touting 

 simply from love of the work ; one industrious horse- 

 watcher tells of himself that he was brought up to 

 factory life ; another, as may be gathered from his 

 communications, carries on a tailoring business, whilst 

 some are petty shopkeepers as well as touts. 



At Newmarket a large number, probably half a 

 hundred, of such persons find the business remunera- 

 tive ; one of the community boasts of the comfortable 

 cottaGres he has been able to build from his y-ains as a 

 horse-watcher. Another is reputed to earn quite 

 £1,000 per annum at the work! As there are some- 

 times 1,000 horses training at 'headquarters,' it is 

 suthciently obvious that the touts at that great centime 

 of the 'sport of kings' have their work cut out for them. 

 There are probably about fifty training-stables situated 

 in other parts of the country, the horses trained in 

 each of which are watched perhaps by a couple of 

 capable touts, who will report to their employers 

 every day by telegraph as to the work done by the 

 animals at exercise. As in other occupations, so in 

 touting there are degrees of celebrity — there are touts 

 and touts. Newmarket horse- watchers have before 

 now become famous in their sphere of labour by their 

 industry and success, undergoing day by day a great 

 amount of personal trouble and fatigue in order to 

 obtain information. 



