388 RACING CAREER OF SIR W. H. GREGORY. 



Leger in 1824. The horse was trained at Middle- 

 ham by Croft, the most famous trainer of that 

 day, from whom John and Bill Scott learnt the 

 rudiments of what they knew (and no men knew 

 more) about the management of thoroughbreds. 

 Jerry had been tried so highly that Croft thought 

 it impossible for him to be defeated for the St 

 Leger. Nevertheless, the market showed clearly 

 that there was a screw loose somewhere. Despite 

 the thousands upon thousands of pounds for which 

 he was backed, he kept continually receding in 

 the betting. In those days the St Leger fa- 

 vourites arrived at Doncaster three or four weeks 

 before the greatest of Yorkshire races came off', 

 and Croft was distracted with anxiety to account 

 for the hostility to his horse which prevailed 

 universally. As the race drew near his anxiety 

 increased, and one night he found himself unable 

 to sleep, and walked out shortly before midnight 

 along the Great North Road in the direction of 

 York. As he approached the turnpike-gate which 

 lies a short distance to the north of Doncaster, a 

 post-chaise drawn by four horses drew near from 

 the other side. Ensconcing himself within the 

 shadow of a stable doorway, Croft awaited the 

 chaise, taking stock eagerly of its occupants. Two 

 men were seated inside, the first being Bob Rids- 

 dale, then the confederate of John Gully, and 

 the second Harry Edwards, the jockey who was 

 engaged to ride Jerry. " I have it now," ejacu- 



