WINS THE LAVA NT STAKES. 303 



during the process of breaking. Afterwards a child 

 might have ridden him. Being a light shelly sort of 

 horse, he gave earl}' promise of his latent powers ; 

 and, after trying him successfully before Ascot, I 

 communicated the result to Mr. Merry at that 

 meeting, where I met him for the first time after 

 parting at Doncaster. I preferred to tell him by word 

 of mouth rather than in writing; for letters of this 

 nature, as I know to my sorrow, are often intercepted, 

 their contents ransacked, and then resealed and de- 

 spatched to their destination. After giving Mr. 

 Merry my reasons for preferring a personal interview, 

 and consulting Avith hini, we decided to keep the 

 horse for his Goodwood engagements. Both of these 

 he won in a rather remarkable way. As the events 

 formed the subject of much gossip amongst the 

 quidnuncs during the week, I may briefly relate the 

 particulars. 



In the first race, the Lavant Stakes, I rode the 

 horse myself, as I did other of Mr. Merry's horses 

 at the time, and, after a close race, won by a head ; 

 Mr. Merry and the stable gaining a large stake, which 

 was probably doubled by his second victory later in 

 the week. The remarks made on my riding in the 

 first event were anything but complimentary to 

 myself, or, indeed, creditable to the good taste of those 

 who made them. ' I had come too late,' as many of 

 Mr. Merry's friends confidently assured him; or 'I 

 could have won k ' a street." : Whilst others, and a 



