JAMES MERRY 



strongly inclined to trust to Sunlight for the Two 

 Thousand Guineas, and let Macgregor make his 

 first public appearance on a racecourse at Epsom. 

 From this course James Waugh dissented strongly, 

 thinking that the pohcy of " masterly inaction " 

 had already been carried too far, and, owing to 

 his urgent representations on the subject, the pair 

 were again tried together before a decision was 

 finally arrived at. Once more JNIacgregor made a 

 hopeless example of his stable companion, and JNlr. 

 JNIerry gave way, and decided that both should run. 

 It is difficult to understand his reluctance in the 

 matter, it being evident that, to put it mildly, 

 Macgregor possessed a healthy even money chance, 

 whereas 40 to 1 was then his quotation in the 

 market ! A difficulty about the jockey now arose. 

 John Daley, who is a big-framed man with great 

 length of leg, and built very much after the style 

 of the late F. Archer, had for some time past 

 found great trouble in keeping down his weight, 

 and it seemed exceedingly doubtful whether he 

 would manage to get to the requisite 8 st. 10 lb. 

 Waugh was very anxious that he should ride, and, 

 knowing well how much Macgregor had in hand, 

 was quite ready to allow him to declare a little 

 overweight, but, for some reason or another, Mr. 

 INIerry was resolutely determined not to give away 

 an ounce. Poor Daley walked and sweated as 

 hard as it was possible for a man to do, but, in 

 spite of the most desperate exertions, when the 

 morning of the race arrived, it was evident that 

 8 St. 11 lb. was the lowest that he could possibly 

 ride. This put Waugh in an awkward position, 

 for he had no mind to have to look about for a 

 fresh jockey at the last moment, whilst, on the 

 other hand, Mr. JNIerry 's orders were so peremptory 

 on the point that he dare not allow Daley to 



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