SUGGESTED PROTECTIGN FOR THE SMALL BETTOR. 283 
in defiance of the law ; nor should any betting-man be allowed 
to leave until he had paid after every race, nor any one else 
till all just:claims on him had been settled. A small distinctive 
badge might be worn on the arm, with his name legibly 
written on it, to denote that the wearer was a bookmaker ; 
and there should be persons appointed to hear any complaints, 
and the offender should be at once expelled and proclaimed 
a defaulter, and not allowed again to enter until he had satis- 
fied all just demands upon him. The fantastic garments now 
often worn for the sake of attracting the attention of investors 
should be forbidden. 
Such a provision would put an effectual stop to ready- 
money betting, which, although proscribed by the law, is 
still practised to an alarming extent, and winked at by the 
authorities. A few policemen at each gate, and a small reserve 
force at command to take into custody offenders against this 
salutary rule, would soon enforce it. The transgressors, like 
those of the other ring, should be taken at once before the 
magistrate and relegated to the police-station until the 
charge of taking money for bets before the race could 
conveniently be preferred. A few convictions would soon 
convince the delinquents that though they might not admire 
the law, they must, like other people, obey it. The same 
sharp measure would put an end to the other illegal prac- 
tices, such as the exhibition of lists, of any structure, an 
umbrella, stool, or bag to.mark a fixed spot ; and the result 
would be, one and all would be compelled to resort to 
the appointed spot prepared for their reception and for the 
protection of others. That pest of the turf, the welsher, 
would be done away with, and the poor man would be able, 
as he is entitled to be, to bet his shilling or two with the 
same amount of protection as the larger bettor who lays 
