Our backer is shrewd enough to understand that this is a case for the maximum stake. Strong in his faith in my principle he sees Likely Case win with little surprise.
Returning to Town that evening he records his day's dealings in this manner:
| Lost. | Won. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | ||
| Breathing Time | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | |||
| Taddenham | 1 | 10 | 0 | — | |||
| Aminta I. | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | |||
| Giddy Gertie | — | — | |||||
| Transformation | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | |||
| Likely Case | — | 1,000 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Expenses: Return ticket, entrances, three double b. & s., etc. | 2 | 0 | 4 | — | |||
| _____________ | ____________ | ||||||
| 10 | 0 | 4 | 1,000 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 10 | 0 | 4 | |||||
| ____________ | |||||||
| Balance | £989 | 19 | 8 | ||||
I may mention that the official s.p. of 20 to 1 on Likely Case is distinctly cramped. On the course it was possible to obtain more generous terms and lay only 19 to 1 on.
Thus one sportsman by careful observance of my principle has stacked up a goodly array of chips towards his winter's keep. All this goes to show that if a man will bet sanely and avoid "going for the gloves" he can make a modest competence on the Turf.
This afternoon the Vale Selling Plate of 300 sovs. is down for decision. To fill my space I cannot do better than give a list of
Probable Starters and Jockeys.
| st. | lb. | ||
| Mayana | 9 | 7 | Digby. |
| Avignon | 9 | 3 | Harris. |
| Wise Uncle | 8 | 7 | Holmes (O.) |
| Periwig | 7 | 7 | Benny. |
| Beatus | 7 | 0 | Peters. |
In Nurseries, Weight-for-age races and so on I make it a rule to give only one selection, but in a struggle of this importance I expect to receive a little more latitude. Of these, then, I take Mayana and Periwig to beat the field. At the same time I feel strongly that Wise Uncle's form at Kempton was not correct, and that he will nearly win, if he can beat Beatus, who seems to be let in nicely at 7 st. All the above will be triers, but it is doubtful whether any amount of trying will enable them to beat Avignon, whose chances I am content to support. I conclude by wishing my readers a good time over this race.