Travels in Town Volume 1; By the Author of "Random Recollections of the Lords and Commons," "The Great Metropolis," &C. &C (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1839 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER III. Tattersall's And The Turf. Situation and description of Tattersall's--The Yard--The Betting Room--History of Tattersall's--Sketch of Mr. Tattersall--Horse Races--Their origin and history--Newmarket Races--Doncaster Races--Ascot Races--Epsom Races--Miscellaneous remarks--Settling day at Tattersall's--Betting--Making a Book--General observations--The evils of the Turf. Tattersall's Who has not heard of the name? And yet how few can associate any thing definite with it? It is true, that most people have a faint notion that it has something to do with horses; but beyond that their knowledge does not extend. In the ear of the sportsman and of the votary of the turf, the very sound of "Tattersall's" has a charm of which none but themselves can have any idea. An illustrative chapter on "Tattersall's and the Turf," will, therefore, I am sure, prove highly interesting to the general reader. Tattersall's is a large house on the righthand side of Hyde Park Corner, as you enter London from Knightsbridge. It is a place which answers the double purpose of an auctionmart for horses, carriages, gigs, &c., and for all descriptions of betting on the result of the leading horse-races which take place; not to mention various other modes of gambling. To the betting feature of the establishment, I shall refer more particularly hereafter. In going into Tattersall's, you pass down from Hyde Park Corner, about forty yards, and enter a narrow way, very mews-like in appearance, which you proceed along until you come to a folding door, on your right hand, of considerable dimensions. This door opens into the yard, as it is called, which is about sixty or seventy feet in length, and fifty in breadth, and which, on great days, is so densely populated by the admirers of hors...