betting before all weather racing

my dad always told a tale from 50s ,about a landlord of his local,who when racing was snowed or iced off used to open a book on what hat the next customer would be wearing as they came through main doors
being yorkshire it was
1/2 no cap
4/5 a flat cap
evens a trilby
10/1 a panama
16/1 a bowler
20/1 a top hat
50/1 a turban

my dad always tells the tale of a work colleague of his , who worked at the textile mill he worked in being used as a ringer and
Mr Singh romped in at 50/s with my dad and a few of his m8s on at small stakes to make sure they got paid out