BETTING "ON THE NOD"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 1, 1 July 1938, Page 13

BETTING "ON THE NOD"

Betting on the nod Is something that would puzzle novices* on a racecourse. For instance, a bookmaker might be calling, "I'll lay £400 to £100 the field." He catches the eye of a punter on the fringe- of the crowd who nods his head. Those in close vicinity wonder why the bookmaker suddenly ceases in his efforts to lay the favourite. The fact is that Eric Connolly, Sol Green, Darcy Eccles, Jack Heeney, or some other big punter has nodded his head and is down to collect £500 or pay £100. The code between bookmaker and punter is not always clearly understood. Recently world's champion billiardist, Walter Lindrum, heard a bookmaker calling "10 to 1 Leaomus." He put up his index finger and was booked with £10, to £1 the steeples winner. On settling day when being paid £10, Lindrum handed the bookmaker back a "fiver." "But you had £10 to £1: I distinctly saw you put up one finger," said the bookmaker. Holding up his finger, Lindrum said, "That's only half a finger, and signified the odds to half a 'sov'." When a nipper Walter Lindrum lost part of his index finger in a mangle.