Evening star., 1908-12-13
BIG BETTING ON
ENGLISH TRACKS
Some Tremendous Coups
Were Pulled Off in the
Old Days.

There is no such. bettingi now on the
English turf as was transacted in the fiji
ties. sixties and early seventies, says Lon
don Truth. The last really great coup
which was landed over this race-the
Csarewitch--wan won by Rosebery, and
two years carrier F. Swindell had backed
the Truth gelding to win $5O0,O00 by a
long course of deXterous but inscriptions
maneuverng. Mr.. Swindell won a huge
stake over Dulcibella, which had been
trained to a certainty, and she came home
alone.
There was an immense win over Lee
turer, Lord Hastings himself clearing
100000. while the total winnings of "the
party were not less than $65O,OOO. When
the weights for the Cesarewitch of 1866
were published Lord Hastings considered
that his horses had been unfairly treated
by Admiral Rous. and they were all
struck out Lecturer was not Included In
the lot, as he had been nominated for
some reason or other by the we'll known
Peter Wilkinson. Everything in those
days was utterly chaotic and huggermug-
ger in the department of ownership and
partnership, but under the present rules
Lecturer would surely have been disquali-
fed.
The most sensational race was that won
by Lioness. 1t led to unpleasant devel-
opmentS which had far-reaching results
Col. Ouse.ey Higgins, who was one of the
most popular members OF the Jockey Club
set. had been for some time on intimate
terms with James Merry.
He was consulted as to the running of
Mr.. Merry'S horses and was quite behind
the scenes in the stable tactics. IIionesS
was systematica ly "steaded'' with view
to her winning the Cesarewitch, the coup
having been for several months in con-
temptation. but on this occasion not only
was Col. Higgins kept in the dark, but he
maintained that he had been deliberately
misled and that not only had he been put
off backing the mare himself, but he had
prevented many of his acquaintance from
supporting her.
Plunge on Lioness.
Mr.. Merry, as was said of a celebrated
turf tactician had been ''as s'y as q fox
and as mute as mackerei.'' The fact
was that he gave his commission to a.
shrewd man who undertook it only on
receiving a most solemn promise that not
a word should be uttered in recommends
ton Of Lioness until the numbers were
up. Mr.. Merry carefully held his tongue.
and although Lioness was obviously being
backed for great deal of money, neither
Col Higgins nor any one else received a
particle of encouragement from the owner.
When the numbers were hoisted Mr..
Merry looked out for Col. Higgins, but
in those days 1t was easy for men to miss
each other at Newmarket just before
such a big race One would be in the bird
cage and the other might be at the ring
or in the crowd of horsemen or in car
riage by the ropes. Mr.. Merry met Lord
Stamford. who was gallOping to the ring.
and begged him if he saw Col. Hig-
gins to tell him to be sure to make Lion
esS winner.
However, the tin did not arrive in time
and directly after Lioness had won easily
Col Higgins galloped UP to Mr. Mer-
rvs carriage almost speechless with fury
and assailed him publicly with rich flow
Of invective. including such epithets as
are commonly associated with Ananias
and Barabbas. Lord Stamford. who came
up during the attack, vainly attempted
to explain away matters, but Col Hig-
gins was implacab,e, and vowed that only
'satisfaction' would compensate for his
grievances.
Mr. Merry did not relish he prospect Of
standing opposite boodthirsty Irshman
who was known to be a sure shot and
later In the day Lord Stamford was sent
to confer with Col. Higgins with much
the same secret instructions as were given
by Lord Steyne to Mr.. Wenham when
he deputed him to meet Col Rawdon
Crawley. Happily the offer was referred
for final decision to Admiral Rous and
George Payne whose strong common
sense and fine tact enabled them to patch
up what Lord Beaconsf1eld has defined as
"a bad-tempered understanding
The episode caused a great fuss at New
market. but 1t was kept very quiet, as
people were not in those days so fond OF
proclaiming quarrels and scandals as
they are now. 1t was this unfortunate
affair which prevented Mr.. Merry f.om
being elected member of the Jockey
Club.