subs. phr. (racing).—A ‘disease’ amongst racehorses, generally preceded by MILKING (q.v.). When a horse has been MILKED to the utmost, and can no longer, in spite of MARKETEERS (q.v.), be kept at a short price, his true condition gets known, PENCIL-FEVER sets in, and every layer is anxious to pencil his name in his betting-book, i.e., lay against him as a SAFE or STIFF-’UN (q.v.). Also MILK-FEVER and MARKET-FEVER. Whence PENCILLER = a bookmaker: also KNIGHT OF THE PENCIL; and PENCILLING FRATERNITY = the world of bookmakers.
1885. Punch, 7 March, 109. The KNIGHTS OF THE PENCIL, Sir, hold that backers, like pike, are more ravenous in keen weather, and consequently easier to land.
1886–96. MARSHALL, ‘Pomes’ from the Pink ’Un (‘The Merry Stumer’), 8. The KNIGHT OF THE PENCIL was wide awake.
1887. The Field, 31 Dec. The race proved a busy one for the PENCILLERS, the greater part of the runners being backed.
1888. Sporting Life, 13 Dec. The defeat of the favourite could not have brought much grist to the mill of the PENCILLERS.
1891. Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette, 20 March. Last year some of the shrewdest of the PENCILLING FRATERNITY were had over Theodolite when he won the Champion Hurdle-race at Sandown.
