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j ORIGINAL ENGLISH TOUT WAS A POISONER. Although racing was well established in England late in the eighteenth century, it was not until some years later that the tipster or tout made his appearance. So far as turf history can be relied on, Daniel Dawson was the originator of tipping. He first came into prominence in and about the course at Newmarket during 1807. Although absolutely illiterate, he was a shrewd judge of a race horses ability and soon became known as a remarkable forecaster of winners. His fame spread rapidly and his tips were in great demand by those who desired to wager on the results of the various races. He profited exceedingly at his novel vocation until he fell in with several educated and clever rogues. His new companions hit upon the plan of using Dawsons fame as a means of executing sensational betting couns. He was influenced to name probable winners of big stakes a week or more in advance of the races, thus causing heavy play on the favorite, while other entries were neglected. Then Dawson was furnished with poison by which he eliminated the public choice, leaving the field clear for a clean-up by his backers. The scheme was exposed when Lord Foley lost three of his best racers at Newmarket in 1811. Dawson and a confederate named Bishop were arrested and the latter turned kings evidence. Dawson was convicted of this and similar charges under an act which made it capital offense to maliciously destroy horses and cattle. Dawson was hanged at the top of Cambridge castle in the autumn of 1812 before more than 10,000 spectators, many of whom had purchased his tips when he was a "touter" at Newmarket.
