HUMAN NATURE

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 42, 12 November 1921, Page 5

HUMAN NATURE

AND THE CLASSIC RACE

(By

F.E.B.)

Human naturo is a peculiar thing. They say that it is part and parcel of tho world at large, and it is always held up aa an excuse for many things. . . .

Withal, they wonder whether the word "nature” should bo deleted, and in its place "eccentricity” substituted. I suggest "simplicity."

Jones and Brown were members of the great common people, and to them race meetings were things highly diverting and wonderful. '’Jones was a clerk in a warehouse, with A 6 a week and responsibilities;*'Brown was a commercial traveller and man of the world, who smiled vaguely when you asked him how business was, and generally gave the impression of having a pay-roll that provided, him with two .figures worth of livelihood each week. Neither of them would have been conspicuous at a racecourse, for they did not carry empty binoculars eases, neither did they wear spats nor striped starched collars. They dressed in conformity with the rules of their stamp, and their ties were black, their boots standardised. But they entered the lawn with a wise look that caused Chinamen to look up and fatalists to stand behind them at the "chaffcutter” window. iFor they talked of such things as "books,” and chaffcutters, and doubles . . . but it has been said in Gath that there are no more bookmakers. . . . They each took A 3 10s. to tho races with them on race days. And every race day the same things would happen. The wise look would grow more wise before the totalisator closed, and as tho friends rushed to the window queue, inquisitive, punters would listen for the number which they would give the girl behind the window, and women would remark to each other, watching the pair coming away that there were two owners who know what was going to win.

So Jones and Brown would bet JU on that first rgee. And they would lose it. and would spend their Jl3 10s., refusing to back the favourite. And as the last train left, the pair would count the odd sixpences in their pockets, and would look around the carriage with such an ineffable air of misery that before tho train reached Kaiwarra, where they alighted, the prettiest girl in the carriage would sigh, and imagine that the two quiet <youpg men had Jost all their wraith on that filly that they had paid J5OOO for only a week previously. Bor Jones and Brown would talk in subdued tones of Life, and its mysteries; of the great sadness that always came when the oil in the cruse of Good Fortune burrn-d low. .And by tho time ’Kaiwarra was reached gloom had descended on the carriage, a/id the occupants, read The Dominion next morning to see if any .suicides had been reported from Kaiwarra or Thorndon.

But let sadness away! See the amateur punters at work. Smith and White always took five pounds to the races, and always backed ,one horse in one race. “Wo know,” they tell an admiring croiVd near the saddling paddock (for Smith knows th;- man who passes the members end the Tress through to their stand), "that Nozzle is going, t'o win.” When they say that. Nozzle has loft the saddling paddock, and is parading up and down the straight looking very, sad. "Yes." says White, f'Nozzle is a moral. Wo saw the trainer this morning. Ho sari the others training, and ho thinks that his b.g.. by Guzzle—Nobble, aged, Set 61b., Finnerty, will win in a, earner, two lengths. . .” “Five lengths ahead of Gazcok,” chipped in Smith. '‘They say that Gaznok will win at • Christchurch, and that his rider will save him. Gazook is a bl.h., aged, by Spook—Gazob, AfcCutt. but I don’t like his pedigree. Back'Nozzls for all sho is worth/ ’ z So the crowd leave the two "amateurs and tell their friends, and those friends tell other friends, and so it goes on, until Nozzle is made a hot favourite, paying about JM Is., and still climbing Practically every man who goes Io the window backs Nozzle, and tho outsiders pay a big nrice, and all the people, are very grateful indeed to have met Smith and White. » - “I was going t.‘. back Gazump remarks an elderly gentleman, but I met a chap who told me to go on Nozzle. ±lO is going to put his boots on it“lie too.” sai'i his SQJI ’ White knows all the. drainers.” So the game goes on, and nil the people think of fortunes. Meanwhile Smith and White have been busy telling people to back nozzle, emphasising that they are putting all their money on it. Then Isaacs, a friend of White, whispers something in his ear. “G'O on!” says White. Is that a. , e. .£1 He whispers something to Smith. "Don’t ho a damn fool.’ snarls Smith. But he thinks and the result is that he puts,his five on Hickle, the outsider. Five minutes "They re off . The hum increases to a roar from io backers of the favourite. ' Nozzle. Oh you Nozzle. ■ • • N-o-z-z-l-e. &he = walking home.” Smith grabs Whites arm. . . "Well,” ho begins, "you’re a nno bir't. putting me off Nozzle. I knew he would win, and you must listen to that Irish friend odours. . . ’ you owe me-o'mv • Oh, look at _ ■ Striding it out! You b»auty H-ekle Keep it up. Hickle, Hickle. ITICKLJ-! Smith puts his arm round Wh'te s neck, and the pair dance a fling- Hickle ha. beaten the favourite by a length, and will pay if she pays a penny, to the great discomfiture of a good many P<? "Now,” says Smith, “I 1 -‘knew sho would win.” White glares at him. It has been said in the classics, not once, blit mai’v times, that, fools rush in where wise men fear to tread. But ingratitude is one of tho seven deadly sins! So the game goes on. How many people are there like Smith and White who know nothing about horses, but whom Dame Fortune rewards for their very child-liko innocence. Human nature is easy to understand You will understand it at race meetings. But, if I am any judge at al/., you will back Nozzle because you were told to.