RACE “ URGING.”

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1933, Page 8

RACE “ URGING.”

AN OLD DOUBTFUL PROFESSION

MELBOURNE, January 25,

Many and varied are the occupation's in connection with racing, but not'until last week at the City Court was a clairrr made for the addition of “urging” - to' the list. “Urging” is one of tho oldest of the doubtful professions. No record can be found >of J the first, racecourse “urger” and his methods,' but the methods have not changed greatly., and, although the regular' racegoer is fully aware of them, there are still many men and women among the casual racegoers sufficiently trusting to keep the “urgers” well supplied with ’the nec- 1 essaries of life.

Usually the “urgers” work in pairs. The method 'of approaching the victim is simple'. *' The first -'man' asks for- a match, -I a cigarette, or the loan c f a pencil. Then thanking the victim he advises him to back “my horse.” He leaves, arid the accomplice approaches. Excitedly- he whispers: “What did he tell yon? He is Mr —owrier' of —.” The innocent racegoer is impressed. ' He makes an investment on the horse, and if it wins he finds the firs of the pair at bis elbow when collecting. “What about a few pounds for the jockey?” is the request, and sometimes the victim pays. He continues to pay for similar information until lie -realises that be has entered tliQ “one born a minute” class. A man 'wlio bccariic one of Australeading' owners entered racing through an ‘‘urger,” who posed as a brother 1 of a leading trainer. This “urger” was exceptionally fortunate in Iris selection of winners for the “victim,” whose bets gradually increased 5 from' single pounds to hundreds of pounds'. When at last he discovered what his informant was he had become 'an enthusiastic racegoer, and had begun to purchase the horses with which" he scored many important wins. '