A BETTING PROBLEM

Evening Star, Issue 19699, 28 October 1927, Page 7

A BETTING PROBLEM

WATERLOO CUR STORY. Fact is often stranger than fiction* If I had road in a, novel that at one stage of a big coursing event like the Victorian Waterloo Cup, the owners of tho winning dog could not lay off any part of the £1,300 they had taken on the puppy at the call of the card I. would have laughed at the idea, writes an Australian. But thereby hangs a tale of tho experiences of Jew’s Harp* tho winner of the Waterloo Cup at Geelong. It happened this way. At the call of the card Jew’s Harp, who was at a very Jong price, was supported by the owners (Messrs J. Baker and E. K. Ridley) for £I,OOO. This was laid against £7, and later they took an additional £3OO to 3. “ Wo have our dog well backed, and wo want to lie sure to win at least £SO. Can you lay off some of the £I,OOO wagej; we took? ” Mr Ridley said to me.

“You will bavo no opportunity till you win another course,” I answered, “ I will bo able to do something foK you when you reach the last four.” Alter Jew’s Harp had defeated Coak, and ho was in the semi-finals, I approached Mr Harry Mnrt, who had laid the £I,OOO to £7 wager, and offered bo lay him £250 to £SO on Terminus defeating Jew’s Harp. ” Thanks very much, but T* won’t take it.” said Harry. “I don’t think Jew’s Harp has a ghost of a chance.’’ “ I can’t lay it off,” I said when telling the owners what had happened. “ Oh, well, there’s nothing doing,' We’ll havo to rely on the dog beating Terminus,” Mr Ridley remarked. Terminus was defeated, and when it was known that Orion would meet Jew’s Harp m tV final I explained the position to the Herbert brothers (owners of Orion), who had backed the dog to win £1,400. The best 1 could do with them was to arrange to save £260, though tho owners of Jeiv’s Harp wanted to save £4OO

Messrs Baker and Ridley were still keen to lay off more of the money, and before the final I tried again with Mr Mort. I wanted him' to take £l2O to £BO (Orion was 6 to 4 on) about Orion’s chance, but he would not take that. At last one fielder took £6O to £4O Orion, and he duly won tho bet, a? Jew’s Harp, who started even moneji in the final, won the great event. Messrs Baker and Ridley won about £990 by the victory. Only £3lO went out in money laid off, and yet they would have laid off as much as £SOO had the fielders been prepared to tak* it I. . /