WT Waggoner to Cary T. Grayson

Title

WT Waggoner to Cary T. Grayson

Creator

Waggoner, William Thomas (1852–1934)

Identifier

WWP16680

Date

1930 August 1

Description

W. T. Waggoner informs Cary Grayson of his successful surgery and slow recovery and advises him on the purchase if a horse named Press On.

Source

Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia

Language

English

Text

Dear Doctor

Your letter was forwarded me from my Fort Worth office which I am in receipt of and have read it over very carefully.

I was awful sorry to hear of your illness but am glad to hear of your speedy recovery and hope you are your goodself again. As for myself, I have been suffering for years with the nerves in my head. I went down to Philadelphia and went to a specialist and had six nerves taken out of my head which was a very painful operation, but I am slowly recovering. I don’t think that I ever will be like myself again, but it is better to be alive than dead. So I’ll go along and do the best I possibly can.

I have read with great interest the description of Press Gang, a cold by Hurry On. He seems to have plenty of speed, but I don’t exactly like the description of his feet and his hips and makeup, but as you say he is young and might grow out of that. Now I am going to be advised by you more than anyone else about the purchase of this horse. You say that you don’t think he could be delivered before racing season is over and that is quite a while yet. I would say not to turn the sale down but keep it on hand in a way that if we felt in the future that we would buy him or not buy him it will be all right. I want to deal fairly with the people over there and on this side too. That seems like a lot of money to pay out as I have understood from other breeders that Call Boy, a half brother to this colt was sold over there and went in the stud and never got but one colt so far. Probably you know more about this than I. Mr. Dale talked to me about this colt about a year a go but I have had such bad luck in dealing with him that I didn’t take the matter up with him at all.

I suppose I will be here till about the last of the month and I may send my trainer over to Saratoga Springs to buy two or three colts and in case I do I’ll have him to hunt you up and any assistance you can give him will be thankfully received. I’ll write him today and tell him all about Press Gang, sending him the copies and description of the colt. If I stay in the horse business I can’t afford to go backwards. Got to pull forward all the time and then it is a hard fight and a hard game. I have been selling off a few of my horses in training that couldn’t win nor haven’t for two years. I told my trainer that I did not want to keep a horse that couldn’t win so I believe I have answered your letter as fully as I can at this writing.

I will try to keep in correspondence with you and see what becomes of Press Gang.

Hoping that you have got your strength again and able to get around in your usual good way, I beg to remain, as ever

Your friend,

WT Waggoner

Original Format

Letter

To

Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/D00592.pdf

Citation

Waggoner, William Thomas (1852–1934), “WT Waggoner to Cary T. Grayson,” 1930 August 1, WWP16680, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.