PEOPLE STILL FALL

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 105, 27 January 1933, Page 15

PEOPLE STILL FALL

An Elderly Industry

Many and varied are the occupations in connection with racing, but not until last week at the City Court was a claim made for the addition of "urging’’ to the list (says the "Melbourne Argus” of January 16). "Urging” is one of the oldest of the doubtful professions. No record can be found of the first racecourse "urger” and his methods, but the methods have not changed greatly, and, although the regular racegoer is fully aware of them, there are still many men and women among the casual racegoers sufficiently trusting to keep the "urger” well supplied with Hie necessaries of life. Usually the "urgers” work in pairs. The method of approaching the victim is simple. The first man asks I'or a match, a cigarette, or the loan of a pencil. When thanking the victim he advises him to back “my horse.” He leaves, and the accomplice approaches. Excitedly he whispers: “What did he tell you? He is Mr. . owner of .” Tlie innocent racegoer is impressed. He makes an investment on the horse, and if it wins he finds the first of the pair at his elbow when collecting. "What about a few pounds for the jockey?” is the request, and sometimes the victim pays. He continues to pay for similar information until he realises that he has entered the "one born a minute” class.. A man who became one of Australia's leading owners entered racing through an "urger” who posed as a brother of a leading trainer. The “urger” was exceptionally fortunate in his selection of winners for the "victim,” whose bets gradually increased from single pounds to hundreds of pounds. When at last he discovered what his informant was he had become an enthusiastic racegoer, and had begun to purchase the horses with which he scored many important wins.