260 BETTING AS IT MIGHT BF, 
a tule; what I propose is that it should be thoroughly 
known that they have the power to do so should they 
choose. The plan if adopted would give owners a fair 
chance of being able to back their nominations, because 
it would check forestallers who would probably wait until 
the day of nomination rather than invest their cash in 
the dark. It would admirably meet the spirit of one 
pertinent remark of the late Admiral Rous, who said, 
“Fle would be insane to sacrifice the interest of the horse- 
owner for the benefit of men with a monomania for gam- 
bling.’ And it would do away with the heartburning and 
the grumbling of the fraternity who insinuate favouritism 
in the adjustment of the weights ; for the handicapper would 
not know which horse would represent Lord Southdown’s 
nomination or indeed any other; and knowledge of owner- 
ship would be profitless to him. 
By this method, too, every one that made an entry would 
be sure to get his horse fairly weighted, as no possible mo- 
tive could be assigned for his being otherwise treated: 
and this may help the entries and increase the number of 
starters. I do not mean to imply for a moment that the 
weights now are improperly or unfairly adjusted; in most 
cases handicaps are most admirably done, although, as is 
inevitable, discrepancies will now and then appear. But the 
plan would deprive the grumblers who find fault where none 
exists, of the last peg on which to hang a complaint. 
T shall be told, I daresay, that the system if adopted will 
restrict betting and so spoil sport. In answer, I can point 
to the large sums betted months and months before the 
“draw” for the Waterloo Cup takes place; and ask: If the 
principle is found to answer so well with greyhounds, what 
is to prevent its being carried out on a more extensive 
