A LOSING DOUBLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 54

A LOSING DOUBLE.

A holiday-making snort who was present at the Southland Racing Club's meeting, landed a double, which yielded nothing but the profit of the experience which is so Gainfully plentiful on the turf. .^He had been" present at Wyndham, and was impressed by the form shown by a winner during the day. Naturally, when the same horse was running at Invercargill on the folowing day in the same class, his modest investment went, on without any great misgivings, but' lo and behold when the ■harrier flew up the steed, after moving out with " the others, dallied a bit, and thereafter the rider' acted as if his instructions were "three-quarter pace, with a good hold." The result was the neddy finished " down the course," whilst the easjr winner proved to be a "down the course finisher of the previous day. However, faint heart never struck a big dividend, and another try was made en the following race, but this time the fight was lost be--fore it began, as when the punter was taking up a coign of vantage (dropping tone coin and taking up another, as it were) |he was casually informed by a friend who ihad questioned him as to what he^ had Sbaeked that his choice was not "working" on that particular occasion. So it proved. The rider hid Ms horse on the outside of *he- field, ran over as much ground as possible, and when the' race wa6 practically pver rode a very strenuous, wouldn't-Heceive-arblind-man finish. It was a case of whoa to the horse, and woe to the ipunter. Tt was indeed too great a blow — for a small bank, — and the- punter, who had commenced the new year with a low purse but high hope went behind tie grandstand and gave himself a severe talkIng to, but the officials never as aiuch.as sara^ Peep-no! I saw you that time, to the riders. " And there were others."