Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-08-27
A TELEPATHIC TIP.
A telegram for you, sir.

1t was the morning of the Derby day,
and / had just looked into the office
before starting for EPSON. l was at
the time on the staff of the Sporting
Courier, and besides giving what is
known in the sporting world, as mid
day finals" l usually did, the home
meetings.
took the telegram and tore it open.
The message surprised me, for it ran:
'Don Pero is bound to win.-DiXey."
l read it again and again. Don Pero
was a rank outsider, and had been
looked upon by everybody as not hav-
ing the slightest chance of place. For
confirmation one had only to look at the
--latest London betting" to find that the
horse stood at fifty to one. Yet DiNey,
the trainer, had never before misled
me, and | could not help feeling that
there must be something in it. DiNey
knew what he was doing, and, as he was
always counted as one Of the smart
men, | determined to do what in an
other case would have been ridiculous
on the face of it.
/ sat down at my desk and wrote out
my copy. 1t ran as follows:
There is no denying the fact that
the favorIte is in excellent condition,
but l think that he will be just beaten
by a horse whose qualifications have
hitherto been completely overlooked.
Ny final selection is one that perhaps
will not be acceptable to the majority
OF my readers, but as am in posses
sion of the most exclusive information,
have no hesitation in placing the
three horses in this order:
Don Pero.
2-Windemere.
3-Nervine.
I was just thinking about starting
when the chief sent for me.
what does this mean, Mr.. Good
man." he said, as l entered the room.
"'This," evidently referring to my MS,
(which he held in his hand.
"Are you referring to my Derby tip,
sir?" 1 asked.
Eyes, l am. Surely you can find
better horse than Don Pero?"
Not to beat it," l said.
"But it's fifty to one chance!"
81 can't help that" replied, rather
haughtily, perhaps; "but l am assured
that he is bound to win"
Assured! BY whom, pray?"
"Pardon me-" l answered, but my
information is obtained from a strictly
private source. | alter the wording
Of the paragraph, if you like, but I
should prefer that it goes in as it is
81 have no wish to interfere in your
department" replied the chief. Let it
stand, if you are sweet upon it. If he
comes off, it will be all right. If not,
well, we shall be the laughing-stock of
everybody, from the Jockey club down
TO the youngest Newmarket tout"
1 did not think that it was worth
while having an argument about the
matter, so took the opportunity of clos
ing the interview and took cab to
Waterloo. When l reached the course
I made the best of my way to the pad
dock in the hope of seeing DiXey and
having talk with him before racing
began, but he was nowhere to be seen.
l soon found out that some of my col
leagues wanted to have a chat with me,
for the Sporting Courier. My final in
had created quite sensation.
Jimmy Berners, the starter" was
very forcible in his language and said
some very nasty things about my in
ability to provide the racing world with
information that was of any value.
I really begun to feel bit nervous
about the matter myself, for it seemed
50 absurd that a horse of Don Pero's
caliber should have any chance of win
ming the classic event.
Then the horrible thought rushed
through my mind that the telegram was
q hoax, and I felt cold perspiration
break out all over me. AS a matter Of
fact, did not care a brass farthing
which horse won, but knew that my
reputation as a tipster was at stake. II