MY MARY. 219 



small filly, and known to possess speed, I got her 

 ready to run early in the spring, and tried her 

 half a mile twice before Northampton Races. On 

 each occasion she won, and it did not upset her in 

 the least. I then tried her three-quarters of a 

 mile, and she won again. Presently I asked her 

 to go a mile, and she proved herself equal to the 

 task by winning easily. It struck me that, being 

 by Bran, she might, if trained for it, " get a 

 distance," and in that case I felt persuaded that 

 she would win a good race. Accordingly I gave 

 her a stronger preparation, which she stood well, 

 feeding capitally all the time, and when ridden in 

 a snaffle going as quietly as a pony. When the 

 Goodwood Stakes trial came off, I put her in it, 

 with the result recorded above. She was struck 

 out of the Goodwood Stakes, which she would 

 easily have won with Miss Elis out of the way. 

 Lord George then made up his mind to put her 

 into the Great Yorkshire Handicap, as it was just 

 the right distance for her, and in those days a 

 very heavy betting race. Six or seven other horses 

 from the Goodwood stable were entered along 

 with My Mary, and when she was handicapped at 

 5 stone Lord George rubbed his hands, exclaiming, 

 " What a good thing ! " On the day when the 5 

 forfeit was to be declared, nominations had also to 

 be made for some other stakes, and I came up to 

 London to submit a list of entries to his Lordship, 

 whom I accompanied to Messrs Weatherby's office. 



