TURF TOUTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 898, 15 February 1930, Page 15

TURF TOUTS

Their Secluded Domain IDLE ASPIRATIONS Every racecourse and trotting ground can boast its share of “touts,” and the following remarks by “Ribbonwood,” of the Christchurch “Sun” on this phase of the racing business makes interesting reading. Just touts! . . . They sit, hidden from the view of trainers, in the darkest corner of the main stand at Addington—four or five of them, busy with stop-watch, pencil, and notebook. This is their domain, the secluded rendezvous of touts. They take a silent pride in their astuteness at summing up the prospects of the sport, or perhaps we should say industry in their case. “Monarchs of all they survey,” they have a cool reception waiting for those who trespass into their corner with some small query—perhaps of the identity of some horse. They would be considered from other aspects. They are “the public,” on whom the welfare of the sport depends. Officials, stewards, owners and trainers are out to cheat them at every turn; but they refuse to be hoodwinked, and find out for themselves. They harbour their individual knowledge as though it may be of great moment to them at such-and-such a meeting. This procedure goes on incessantly, yet they continue to believe that their big ship is due to arrive tomorrow. . . . Each and every horse in training is known to them, comes in for its turn of winding the clock, passes on, is backed and perhaps beaten. Who knows ? They opine various things: the control of the sport would be perfect were they placed at the helm; one would be a stipendiary steward, one a secretary, and so on—idle aspirations. Their associations are few and far between—they prefer it this way. Lone wolves, too clever for themselves sometimes. Just touts. . . .