Hanover and Hindoo prices

[George Thompson]

Hindoo was foaled in 1878; as a 2-year old he won his first 7 races, and then was bought by the Dwyer brothers (good Brooklyn boys, the both of them).  As a 3-year old he won 18 straight.  Robertson's History of Thoroughbred Racing in America says the consequence of these streaks was not entirely positive: "The Dwyers (especially Mike) were notorious bettors, and in every one of these races Hindoo was less than even money -- in fact, the 1 to 2 against him in his first start of the season was the most generous price offered all year."  He gives examples of races in Hindoo's 3-year old season when he paid $1 for every $8 bet on him, and $1 to $10.  (pp. 131-32)
Hanover was a son of Hindoo, but is not discussed in any detail in this book.

Bibliographic details upon request.

GAT

George A. Thompson
Author of A Documentary History of "The African Theatre", Northwestern Univ. Pr., 1998.

----- Original Message -----
From: Jonathon Green <slang at ABECEDARY.NET>
Date: Monday, March 8, 2004 9:24 am
Subject: Hanover and Hindoo prices

> Can any racing man or woman help?
>
> I quote from Clarence Cullen _Tales of the Ex-Tanks_ (1899-1900) 364:
>
> "Somehow or another," went on Ex-Tank No. 27, irrelevantly and
> dreamily, "
> I could n-o-t, not, get 'em right that winter. They may have been
> runningfor Hogan, but they weren't running for me. When I'd dig a
> sleeper up, and
> get it right, and lose rest waiting for the day to go down the
> line on it,
> confidently expecting it 'ud be 30 to 1 or better, the word got
> out every
> time, by the under-ground, or some way or another, and the skate 'ud
> prance to the post with 1 to 3 on chalked in front of his name
> [...] Every
> one that I looked over and saw worked at grey dawn and salted down
> as the
> right goods the next time he went to the pump for long money had a
> Hanoveror a Hindoo price tacked to him when the slates went up.
>
> So what is a 'Hanover' or Hindoo' price. I can see what it means:
> shortodds, but why? Something to do with the 'H'? No sign in OED,
> HDAS,Mathews' Americanisms etc.
>
> Jonathon Green
>