sentences:  The race was a head-to-head match at Newmarket between Strickland's horse, called Merlin (or possibly Old Merlin or Ancaster Merlin or Little Merlin) and a horse belonging to Tregonwell Frampton the Royal trainer; it was seen as being a symbolic race between the champions of North and South, or of the Provinces and the racing establishment, and attracted widespread interest and heavy betting.According to the accepted legend, shortly before the race was due to take place Strickland's groom, one Hesseltine, was approached by Frampton's groom, who proposed a secret trial of the horses over the full distance, to give them both inside information and ensure they could bet wisely.Hesseltine agreed and the trial was run, Merlin winning narrowly; but Frampton and Strickland each had instructed their groom to double-cross the other by secretly adding extra weight to their own horse, and both therefore believed they would win the race easily!