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GAMES! OF FRENCH BOOKMAKERS. An Bnglhh writer tells how Henry Saffery, the French bookmaker, got his start in fortunes highway: •those vrbe get tl.e long prices do not always have ti;" l» si of the settling, as Baffery did in the old days, when he took ail the hundreds to one be could get about Moiitargis for the Cambridgeshire of 1s7:s. Henry SalTery or Marked as his real name was — at that time was a bookmaker in a small way of business. He was engaged during the week as a cutter in the tailoring business id" "Old Pag land." or "Pes Montagues dEcosse." in Paris, and on Sundays he used to stand up and bet from a pi quel at IiOngoharnps and Autciiil. The Comte de .Iiiigpo lad run .Moiitargis in the Derby won by DsU caster, and had entered him for the Cambridgeshire, in wdiich his weight was 111 pounds. SalTery thought the French punters would want their little bit on the French horse, and he took all the lung-priced bets he could get about him. and iu those days as much as UIMI to 1 was often offered agan.-l horses in such handicaps as the Cambridgeshire. "For some reason, however, the Frenchmen would not have Moiitargis at any price; the horse bad been beaten twice at Duncaster, and the great tip iu Paris was Mr. Foys Walnut, the winner of a handicap at Newmarket in the second October mooting, in which it was understood Mr. "F.illy" Wright was in some way interested. SalTery was left with all his bets on his hands. His brother kept an oyster bar iu the Place de la Medelciii. , and there Saflery went on the afternoon of the Cambridgeshire. He had laid heavily against Walnut, and the success of that horse meant ruin to him. thirty-six horses started for that memorable Cambridgeshire, in which the first four were Moiitargis. Walnut. Sterling and King laid, the first-named winning by a short head. When the telegram announcing the result arrived Baffery did not turn a hair, but remarked in the most casual way to the man behind the bar, "Open me another dozen natives. George." "The money he made over Moiitargis fairly started him. lie never returned to the tailors shop, and he ultimately became the biggest bookmaker in France. He occupied the No. 1 position at all the principal meetings, and I well remember seeing him lay the Duke of Hamilton in one bet "0.M0 pounds to 3,MK pounds against Jannock, when that horse won the big hurdle race at AutUUtL When the pari-mutuels were introduced into France Saffrey practically retired from the turf with several millions of francs owing to him. He died at Margate several years ago. He was certainly one of the gamest men, and the most impi i tail jk. able."
