My son, if you go to the races to battle with Ikey and Mo, <br />Remember, it's seldom the pigeon can pick out the eye of the crow; <br />Remember, they live by the business; remember, my son, and go slow. <br />If ever an owner should tell you, "Back mine" -- don't you be such a flat. <br />He knows his own cunning no doubt -- does he know what the others are at? <br />Find out what he's frightened of most, and invest a few dollars on that. <br /> <br />Walk not in the track of the trainer, nor hang round the rails at his stall. <br />His wisdom belongs to his patron -- shall he give it to one and to all? <br />When the stable is served he may tell you -- and his words are like jewels let fall. <br /> <br />Run wide of the tipster, who whispers that Borak is sure to be first, <br />He tells the next mug that he meets with a tale with the placings reversed; <br />And, remember, of judges of racing, the jockey's the absolute worst. <br /> <br />When they lay three to one on the field, and the runners are twenty-and-two, <br />Take a pull at yourself; take a pull -- it's a mighty big field to get through. <br />Is the club handicapper a fool? If a fool is about, p'raps it's you! <br /> <br />Beware of the critic who tells you the handicap's absolute rot, <br />For this is chucked in, and that's hopeless, and somebody ought to be shot. <br />How is it he can't make a fortune himself when he knows such a lot? <br /> <br />From tipsters, and jockeys, and trials, and gallops, the glory has gone, <br />For this is the wisdom of Hafiz that sages have pondered upon, <br />"The very best tip in the world is to see the commission go on!"<br /><br />Andrew Barton Paterson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/wisdom-of-hafiz-the-philosopher-takes-to-racing/
