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UNKNOWN PUNSTER WINS BIG BET On the day of the running of the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, before the late Curefoot won, a man went to Richard Fry, the biggest English bookmaker of the day, according to a London Express story, and asked the price of Common for the St. Leger. Mr. Fry, with his peculiar air of making a bit of a concession, replied: "Well, sir, Ill take 6 to 5." "Very well," the stranger answered, "Ill lay you 0,000 to 5,000." Mr. Fry was a trifle staggered, the more so as he did not know his customer, and observed, "Youll excuse me asking, sir, but are you accustomed to bet such sums?" "No," the stranger answered, "I cant say I am, but " he paused for a moment and then added, "Perhaps I had better post the money," saying which he pulled out his pocketbook and handed over the amount. Fry, somewhat astonished, inquired, "What name, sir?" "Oh, never mind the name. I know you very well. It will be all right." On the night before the St. Leger Mr. Frys clerk met the unknown in the street at Doncaster and said to him, "Youll be up to see your horse win tomorrow, I suppose?" "I expect I shall. I am not quite certain yet," was the reply. He was there, however, and after the race presented himself to Mr. Fry with the remark, "I think you owo me 3,000." "Quite right, sir," the well-known bookmaker answered. "I have not the money with me, but if you will give me. your name a check shall be posted tonight." "Very well," the winner replied. "Send it to such and such an address, and please send an open check." This was the biggest ready-money bet Mr. Fry ever made, aud he never learned the ideiiti- ty of his customer. " , . . t , 1
