view raw text
ANCIENT AND MODERN ENGLISH BETTING Not a tithe of tlie betting takes place on the turf nowadays that existed in what is known as the Hastings era The plunging that took place on Hermits Derby has never been equalled in the annals of the race The Marquis of Hastings lost over 000000 and Lord Stamford almost as much Sir Joseph Hawley lost over 230000 on one bet through backing his horse The Palmer against Hermit for that amount with the owner of the latter When Hermit was knocked down to Mr Chaplin as a yearling at the Eltham Stud auction for 5000 Mr O J Merry bought the very next lot led into the ring for a similar sum This horse he christened Marksman He backed his purchase against that of Mr Chaplin with that gentleman for 50000 in the Blue Ribbon of 1867 and he lost his wager by the narrow margin of a neck neckAs As proof of the paucity of presentday betting it may he mentioned that when the owner of the Lincolnshire Handicap winner of 1906 Ob won a bet of 50000 to 2500 it was extensively chron ¬ icled as a very notable bet Ob again won the same race the following year strange to relate and his French owners sole wager was 50000 to 2000 London Sportsman
