Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus.) a racecourse tout who aggressively pursues potential customers.

1996

J. Byrell Lairs, Urgers & Coat-Tuggers xxi: [T]he ‘lapel-tugger’ who would not wait for prospective clients to approach and instead would indicate that he was privy to ‘inside oil’ by signalling said ‘mark’ with a little tug on his own coat lapel.