I got this from an ultra-reliable source - some character on an online punting forum. Its been in my files. Found it today.

I don't know the name of the maths teacher but whoever he was he lost out because Benford's name is given to this phenomenon. A bit like Tesla and Edison.

It is an interesting correlation. The online source used Don Begg's 'Walk Away a Winner', p. 25 for the favourites stats. Begg has them:

1st Fave = 32.3%
2nd Fave = 18.3%
3rd Fave = 12.4#
Fourth Fave = 11.5%

This compares to Benford's results:

Digit 1 = 30.1%
Digit 2 = 17.6%
Digit 3 = 12.5%
Digit 4 = 9.7%

A striking correlation.

Hermes