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J P. A An Cl ri n I: tl rj f S s S 11 c f to . 1 t t v , t 1 O Q r c a s t j rj 1 r t , i I j . 1 a I , 1 1 j i , 1 1 ; ! i 1 . : 1 . . i ; 1 1 r r , r OF LETTERS TO A TRAINER P. Gilpin Continues Discussion of His Strange Correspondents. t Irish Woman Invokes the Saints to Help Him Win the Cambridgeshire One Man 3Ialcs a Generous Offer of Help. P. P. Gilpin, the noted English trainer, continues his discussion o his unknown correspondents in the followinfr article, which is reprinted from the London AVeekly Dispatch : I set quite a larce number of letters from Ireland, probably because of my connection therewith. One before me is quite amusing. The writer is generously sympathetic over my ill luck in this years Derby and hopes for my success in the Cambridgeshire. He feels sure of seeing me win, and proceeds: "My Avife is more sure of this than I am. She proposes calling for the intercession of the saints by offering an occasional Ave Maria, in order, as she puts it, to save a man a lifelong disappointment. All my persuasive powers will not convince her that she should invoke the aid of tho lower powers. " Another Irishman, "exiled from the old country." has an artful method of trying extract "tips" or information. He Avrites from a Sussex address and concludes a flattering letter Avith : "It has occurred to me that you have much trouble in making investments at a remunerative price, for Avhen you show your hand the market dries up. I thought if you allowed me to execute part of your commission business I could do so quietly, and therefore show a astly better return than if done by yourself personally on the course. VO CASH TS ADVANCE. "I Avould not require any cash at all in advance. So if you requested me to invest, say, ,200, I would dispatch twenty-five telegrams to bookmakers in Scotland and Ireland Avithin one hour of time of race. Then the transaction could not return to the course and cramp the starting price. I am not a gambler far from it. My maximum stake is 0 which I seldom reach but this business if you permit me Avould break the monotony in this dull little place." I hope am not unkind in thinking that he was a little more ingenious than ingenuous. Picking up a few letters at random, I find that one is from a Nottinghamshire collier asking for a "pointer" for the Cesarewitch, second from an admirality official commiserating Avith me on some recent stroke of ill luck; a third from a Scottish correspondent Avho says he backed Town Guard for the Derby, but that his luck this year is so atrocious that any bet of his would "stop an express train let alone a race horse," and a fourth from an Irish priest in the north marked "strictly private," Avhoso communication shows alike a compassionate heart and a most absorbing interest in racing. There is a touch of piety also in a letter from a Midland tailor Avho naively says: "You are as good a journalist as a race horse trainer, unless the editor puts the finishing touches on your writings," and who, after describing several big bets that Avent astray, proceeds: "We all have our ups and downs, but we must not lie down to them, but keep toiling to overcome our difficulties, which I had one when Farrows bank went smash with ,225 of my hard earned money. But I always believe that God is above the devil, and I haA-e succeeded well since then." And he proceeds to tell of the many winners of big races he has since backed at remunerative prices. ASK FOR INFORMATION. Many correspondents ask for information through the medium of my articles in the AVeekly Dispatch, but the majority of such Avriters expect replies by post, and some of them not by any means most enclose stamped, addressed envelopes. I think I need hardly say appeal for "tips" and information are never answered. There is often much that is amusing about the letters I get from disgruntled backers of horses that have failed, but one that I received after Spion Kop had Avon the Derby was a classic of its kind. The upset in that race I have already referred to in a previous article ; how the more fancied horse of our stable, Sarchedon, Avas beaten by his stable companion Spion Kop. Of course, every such happening leaves behind it a host of irritated backers, and many of them wrote to me in quit uncomplimentary terms. The particular communication I refer to was such a gem of its kind that I read it to the guests at a dinner Avhich Major Loder gave shortly afterward to celebrate his Derby A-ictory. The letter Avas not of such a nature that one would care to preserve it. but the reading of it, I dare assert, was one of the most successful features of the evening.- The fame of the letter ran through the Avest end of London, and for a week or two afterward I was being buttonholed by friends Avho had heard of it, and who Avished for more precise particulars. Another rjentleman Avrote to tell me I Avas the best hated man in the British Empire he evidently had lost his money also. ANOTHER CLASS. Another class, Avho presumably have been more fortunate in their turf speculation, write to tell you that they are naming their children or their houses after your horse, and sometimes my correspondents break out into poetry at least the matter is set forth in lines and there is some attempt at rhyme. AVhether these are abusive or complimentary and they are both they are taken as read. As I ha-e said before, I suppose all men whose names are coming frequently before the public are -subject to this nuisance of the unknown or anonymous letter writer, but owing to the wide appeal which racing makes to all classes it may be that my correspon-, deuce is more copious and diversified than that of many other public men. One gets used to it in time and accepts all that comes philosophically. It is seldom now that any of these letters gets more than a casual glance. I hope a brother trainer Avill forgive me for recounting a little episode in connection with, -the running of two horses in his stable. He had tried Xapoleon a certainty, and the stable proposed ha-ing a dash. Another owner in the stable had what at the time was believed to be a backward animal, and he was told" it would probably only get in the way at the gate or elsewhere in the race, and Avas consequently requested not to run it. He, however, insisted on running his colt. Together with the rest of the owners, however, he heavily supported Napoleon, only to see, with the greatest chagrin, his own colt come and defeat the heavily supported candidate by a head. Here Avas food for disap-j pointmcnt enough Avith a Aengeance, but the ; trainer Avas not to be let off. Among other I letters he received after the event was one ! couched in scathing terms, calling him every kind of rascal, and finally Avinding up by saying : "And if I was Uie king Id cut your damned head off."
