Page:London spy, or, The frauds of London described (2).pdf/8

(8) The ſhame of being thought a bubble, and expoſed to the town, frequently prevents gentlemen from making uſe of the ſtatute provided in ſuch caſes; rather than their reputation ſhould ſuffer, they tamely ſubmit to be pandered as aforesaid.

AT Horſe-races the countryman may be aſſured of meeting with gamblers, who make a practice of going from one race to another all over the kingdom; and, notwithſtanding the country farmer, and breeder of horſes, may, in reality, be a better judge of theſe cattle than the gameſter, yet I would caution him againſt wagering with theſe gentry, as they, becoming parties in many matches, get information from different hands which horſe is, and which is not to win and by that means generally take you in, as they call it, and laugh at your fully.—They often make bets among themſelves, merely to deceive you, and give a preference to the horſe they know muſt loſe, in order to draw you in to lay money upon it.—If it happens (which is ſeldom the caſe) that an honeſt match is to be run, of which they are unacquainted, then they make uſe of the following or like ſtratagem, to inſure their pockets; that is, they lay you a bet, and put the money into the