i68 THE BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF. 



ledge before investing his cash on any particular 

 horse; but if he did so, he is certainly by no means 

 the first turf-gambler Avho has done so ; and Avhy 

 English turf-writers should have worked themselves 

 into such a state of misery about a matter that has 

 been carried on for years, and is practised every day 

 by Englishmen, is one of those things that no fellow 

 can imderstand. 



The 7norale of such procedure is the same whether 

 the sums expended in bribes or rewards be large or 

 small. Here, however, is 'the American plunger's' 

 own view of the matter : ' The man who starts specu- 

 latinGf on horse-racin'^ with the idea that his unaided 

 judgment is going to lead him on to fortune will soon 

 find himself at the end of his financial tether, no 

 matter how big a bank account he may start operat- 

 ing with. Now, I have been bitterly attacked by 

 certain sporting papers for giving jocke3's money and 

 paying for any information legitimately obtainable 

 that I thought worth having, but in so doing I claim 

 that I am only protecting my interests in a manner 

 that I have a perfect right to do. Do you suppose 

 that a bookmaker has never given a jockey mone}^ to 

 lose a race ? Well, when I back a horse to win me, 

 say, £5,000 or £10,000, I can afford to insure myself 

 by promising the jocke}" £1,000 if he wins. Now, the 

 bookmaker cannot afford to give him any such sum, 

 even if he were willing to be bought, as often I have 

 only £1,000 or so at stake, while I stand to win £10,000. 

 Don't run away with the idea that I wish to imply that 

 all the bookmakers and jockeys are in a conspiracy to 

 rob the backers. There are plenty of jockeys like 



