I40 THE BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF. 



Bouncing tipstors who so confidently and loudly 

 assert that they do not follow the money manage matters 

 in this way: When the weights for a popular handicap 

 are published, they preliminarily select ten or a dozen 

 horses in stables which are sure to be followed, and in 

 due course backed by the public ; then when the time 

 comes at which they must bind themselves down to a 

 specific selection, they name three out of the lot they 

 had previously fixed upon, probably stating at the same 

 time, ' In selecting these three for win and places, we 

 cannot be accused of following the money, because, as 

 our readers will probably remember, we took them on 

 our side immediately the weights were published, and 

 before there was any betting on the race.' 



Weak-kneed bettors, with more money than brains, 

 lean on certain tipsters with a surprising degree of 

 reliance, considering how often they must be dis- 

 appointed. As already stated, many of the principal 

 newspapers of the day keep a tipster for the benefit of 

 tlieir sporting readers, and pay a large sum of money 

 annually for racing information. The business of 

 supplying the London and provincial journals with 

 these tips and that kind of information is mainly at 

 present in the hands of one gentleman, who, after pay- 

 ing his assistants, must derive from his labours a 

 very handsome income indeed, as matter of the kind 

 is paid for at a high rate. 



Ne¥/ modes of distributing tips are every now and 

 again adopted ; in several cities and towns the selec- 

 tions of men who are supposed to be able to 'spot' 

 three or four winners every day will be found on sale 

 at places appointed about noon. These are largely ia 



