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ASHGILL
OR
THE LIFE ANn TIMES OF
JOHN OSBORNE
o
JOHN OSBORNE in 1887.
ASHGILL
OR
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF
JOHN OSBORNE
WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY
J. B. RADOLIFFE
LONDON
SANDS & COMPANY
1900
^00
PRINTED BY
WILLIAM HOnUE AND COMPANY
GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH
BcDlcatlon
THIS WORK IS INSCRIBED
TO
WILLIAM DEWAR, Esq.
OF Edinburgh
IS THE
SACRED NAME OF FRIENDSHIP
" Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood'
Newcastle-on-Tyne
1900
PREFACE
Herein an attempt is made to concentrate into book
form some of the leading incidents associated with the
career of one who has been a picturesque, militant
figure in the multitudinous events of the British Turf
during a period of more than half a century. Of
necessit}^ the author has excerpted from various sources.
In thus borrowing from writers who were eye-witnesses
of the men, the horses, and the incidents that troop
forth as the tale is unfolded, it was deemed better to
reproduce their opinions and observations intact, with
the colouring fresh and vivid, than to resort to a dull,
lukewarm rechauffee from the compiler's pen.
Quite pardonably, John Osborne, as the central
figure, is allowed, in a large measure, to tell his own
story in his own words, the author occasionally intruding
upon the recital to point a moral, or to amplify the tale
by presenting corollaries to the hero. Thus actors are
brought into the caste who may be considered essential
to complete the embodiment of the play. Much help
in the task has been gained from Baily's Magazine, and
from the occasional writings of Mr. John Corlett; nor
has the " Druid," most vivid, picturesque, and elegant of
Turf chroniclers, been untapped. For permission to
Vlll PREFACE
make extracts from that distinguished writer's works,
the author has to tender grateful thanks to Mr. Tresham
Gilbey, whose re-issue of " The Druid " series, pubHshed
by Messrs. Vinton & Co., London, must be considered
a boon to sportsmen and the general reading public.
In other quarters where it was thought necessary, in
accord with the exigencies of the compiler or the auto-
biographer to make extracts, the source is invariably
acknowledged.
Even yet, in this closing year of the nineteenth
century, and with the hghtly-borne burden of sixty-
eight years on his shoulders, John Osborne is far from
being an extinct celebrity. Active, vigorous, and ever
industrious, he yet superintends the training of some
thirty thoroughbreds at Brecongill. If exception be
made of Campanajo and Laughing Girl (both bred by
himself), and Mr. Vyner's King Crow, whose career of
high promise was stopped by his breakdown in the
Cesarewitch, no animal of high class has been sent forth
from Brecongill since " Master John " made his " long
farewell " as a professional horseman on Baron Hirsch's
Watercress, who was third to his stable companion, La
rieche, in the St. Leger of 1892. That mount com-
pleted his public riding career, which began at Radcliffe
Bridge in 1846. Yet after that long lapse of years, the
veteran follows daily his occupation as a trainer,
plodding on hopefully, patiently from the earliest hours
of the morning till the evening brings his labours to a
close. His passion for riding is as strong as ever.
Though on the threshold of being a septuagenarian, he
PREFACE IX
yet can hold more than his own against the feathers and
middleweights of the stable, with a nerve as cool and
immffled as it was in the far-distant days of Vedette,
who gave him his first Two Thousand as far back as
1857. John Osborne is quite a parallel to the famous
Frank Buckle, whose career ended on 5th November,
1831, on the very corresponding day that he began as a
jockey fifty years before. Buckle's firmness of nerve and
great faith in his skill and resources as a horseman were
as unimpaired at the end as they were at the outset of '
his career. He remained four years longer before the
public as a jockey than did our hero, but as against that
John Osborne is yet actively pursuing his profession as
a trainer. In the quadruple capacities of jockey,
trainer, owner, and breeder of thoroughbreds, John
Osborne's record is unexampled in the history of the
Turf.
The main idea of this work has been to cast John
Osborne as the leading actor, connecting him more or
less with many figures, both human and equine, which
have moved along with him in the great Turf drama
played during the major part of this century.
J. B. RADCLIFFE
Newcastle-on-Tyne
Jxme 7, 1900
Xll SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
PAGE
hunter" — The second Earl of Durham and "Old John" —
A learned student of blood — Beginning of the Lambton
stud — A bunch of celebrities — The Wizard and Warlock —
Stark's great struggle with The Wizai'd — The Prussians
get the Wizard — Mr. Lambton 's school — "Old John," the
Dvike of Leeds, and Lord Chesterfield, "the magnificent" —
Octavian, Priam, and Zinganee at Bretby — The Chifneys
and " The Escape " affair — The Chifney rush — Zinganee
and the Chifneys — -Priam and the Chifneys — Priam's Derby
— After Priam's Derby ; decline of the Chifneys' star —
"Old John" quits Bretby; birth of "Our Johnnie"—
Ashgill tenanted by "Old John" in '37 — His first three
racers — Wrestler, Orcus, and Miss Bowe — The latter
bought by Lord Stanley for 400 guineas. — John Eobei't and
Sir James Boswell — Fobert and Murphy's rivalry — General
Chasse and Touchstone — The brothers Dawson at Brecon-
gill — Its rich turf history — Mat Dawson's first visit to
Middleham — The Dawsons in a rich winning vein — Some
of their aristocratic patrons and the clinkers they trained —
Lord Glasgow at Middleham — Career of the Dawsons at
Middleham — "Cocky little Mat's" first Derby nag — Tom
Dawson's first horse — His stud grows — Lord Glasgow and
his private trainers — The " classics " come to Middleham
and the Dawsons — Touchstone better than The Flving
Dutchman or West Australian — Ashgill in '41 — The Duke of
Westminster a patron — Prices of racers seventy years ago, - 20
CHAPTER IV
In the " forties " — Increase of the Ashgill haras — "Johnnie's" first
mount in '46 a failure — Miss Castling breaks down— An
industrious family — Mrs. Osborne and her broom — " Young
Johnnie " begins to work — -Purchase of Annette with Agnes
by Clarion — Her ti'ial with Cranbrook — " Old John " fancies
her — Produce of Agnes — Some account of her descendants —
Polly Agnes's produce — Lily Agnes, Ormonde, and Orme —
"Lily's" retirement to Eaton and death in '99— "Mr. John's"
recital of the " Agnes " family — " Lily's " performances —
Alice Hawthorn and her exploits — Death of Touchstone, the
"King of the Turf" — "Alice" one of the greatest mares
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS Xlll
PAGE
of the century — Story of her early life — Her owuer and
trahier — Produce of Alice Hawthorn — Caller Ou unlike
" Old Alice," - - 40
CHAPTER V
"Johnnie's" first visit to Catterick races — His first winning
mount on Billy from Brigg — The days of running in
"heats" — He wins the Newton and Liverpool cups in '49 —
Some Ashgill nags — Ada Mary — First year of the Eglinton
Stakes — Pity the Blind and Bon-Mot — " Mr. John's "
marvellous memory — Contemporary jockeys in the " fifties "
— Liverpool Cup of '49 — Bastilion and Hind of the Forest —
A peep into the Calendar of '49 — Voltigeur and " The
Dutchman's" match — The first Flying Dutchman's Handi-
cap at York — Fifty years ago — Some of the jockeys of the
day — Voltigeur and Russborough's dead heat — Members of
the Jockey Club in '50 — Some of the "Lords of the
Harem " half a century ago — Ashgill entering the " fifties "
— "Old John" misses Warlock and The Wizard and Mr.
Anthony Nichol the "lucky man "—The flighty " Agneses "
— Sale of Miss Agnes and "Old Agnes" — "Johnnie" meets
Palmer the Poisoner — His career as a racing man and a
recreant — The Chicken, Doubt and Nettle — Palmer "a nice
agreeable man to talk to" — "Jock o' Oran " — Manganese's
"One Thousand" — She upsets John Day's "good thing" —
Sketch of John Jackson's career — He buys Saunterer and
becomes "Emperor of the Ring" — His connection svith
northern stables — His winnings over Ellington and Blair
Athol — Nobbling Blair Athol — His lameness before the
Derby — Old James Colpitts discovers the cause — Wm.
I'Anson's rage and discomfiture of the stable lad, - - 56
CHAPTER VI
Still in the " fifties " — Saunterer and Augury — Blink Bonny 's
early efforts ; she is beaten by Augury, but Lady Hawthorn
beats both — Tom Chaloner at Ashgill as first jockey — Lady
Tatton, Fisherman, and Yorkshire Grey — Saunterer visits
XIV SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
PAGE
France — His failure in the Derby explained — His great race
in the Yorkshire Stakes and defeat in the Prix de I'Empereur —
" Johnnie " lost in Paris — His talents as a linguist — John
Jackson wins his bet — Admiral Rous's decision — Mr. Merry
buvs Saunterer and wins him races^" Old John " wins live
races at Eccles worth in all £104 — The Kace Committee at
Ashgill—" Johnnie's " first "Two Thousand" on Vedette-
Vedette and Skirmisher — Dispute between Lord Zetland
and Mr. Savile — George Abdale and Lord Zetland's horses —
Vedette's career ; he beats Saunterer easily and never runs
again — The Blacklock blood — Paternity of Galopin — Mr.
John's opinion — Dr. Shorthouse's antipathy to the "accux'sed
Blacklock blood "—Vedette's "Two Thousand " — " The
Druid" and Vedette— Death of Voltigeur— Bobby Hill's
confidence in him — Return of "Job" and " Volti." to
Richmond— "Volti." defeats "The Dutchman" in the
Doncaster Cup and they are matched — Galopin as a sire ;
winnings of his mares, -------85
CHAPTER VII
Some Ashgill jockeys — Harry Grimshaw's death — Old Middleham
trainers — Bob Johnson and (General Chasse — "Paddy"
Drislane deceiving the "touts" — "Old John's" visit to
Northampton — Mr. "John's" aversion to collars — Moral
and spiritual welfare at Ashgill — Mrs. Osborne drives the
lads to church — A school for " feathers," - - - . 106
CHAPTER VIII
Training grounds in the " sixties " — Richmond Moor— Triumphs
of the Osbornes — A strange weighing-room — Famous owners
and jockeys — An accident to the scales — " Old John " to
the rescue — Explosions between Lord Glasgow and Tom
Aldcroft — Goodwood Cup annals — Starke and The Wizard's
great struggle — The Yankees in ecstasies — The "Cup"
day — George Fordham : sketch of his characteristics and
style — Mr. Mellish and Fordham — A good year for the
Osbornes, - - - - - - - - - -115
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS XV
CHAPTER IX
PAGE
In the "sixties" — Two-year-old racing- — Sir Joseph Hawley and
Mr. Chaplin's views — Sketch of Lord Glasgow — His early
connection with Middleham — Dr. Shorthouse's tribute — Lord
Glasgow's temper and eccentricities — Disruptions with his
trainers — Ashgill rising to its zenith — Mr. "John" loquitur —
Blair Athol and The Miner — Their great race at York —
Defeat of Blair Athol not a surprise to the Osbornes —
Paternity of Controversy — Our hero's first St. Leger on
Lord Clifden— A bad beginner and a sensational victory —
Not like Kilwarline's "Leger" — A bad pace — ^Sketch of
Lord St. Vincent— The ill-starred KlarikofF— Lord St.
Vincent's pluck — He buys Lord Clifden — His terrific finish
with Macaroni in the Derby and race for the St. Leger —
The "sublime Edwin "—Sketch of Lord St. Vincent— His
indolence and irritability — His £11,000 to £1000 bet never
hedged — Anecdote of Lord St. Vincent and John Jackson —
The missing <£300 found in a waistcoat pocket, - - - 129
CHAPTER X
Midway through the "sixties" — Wild Agnes and Mr. Padwick —
Death of old John Osborne — Sale of the Ashgill stud —
"The Druid's" sketch of "Old John"— Quite an "Old Parr"—
The Eaton episode — Sweating them "for t' brass" — Old
patrons of Ashgill — ^A fresh start — -New nags and new
employers — "Mr. John" resumes the tale — Romping Girl
and the Oaks — " Careful John's " betting transactions — A
" pot " on the Cesarewitch — He backs four and stands to lose
nothing — His only " plunges " — Caller Ou — Cathedral and
Oppressor's dead heat — Regalia's race for the Oaks — Objec-
tion to Gladiateur — New patrons in Mr. R. Jardine and
Mr. A. Johnstone — Tupgill horses in '68 — Lord Hawthorn,
Thorwaldsen, and Pretender as two year olds, - - - 152
CHAPTER XI
Big events in '69— Death of "Jock o' Oran"— Sketch of
his career on the turf — Saunterer and Tim Whiffler —
Xvi SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
PAGE
"Never a horse foaled like Blair Athol'' — Saunterer's
Goodwood Cup— Death of Lord Glasgow, followed by Lord
Derby's — Death of John Stephenson, the leviathan — Dr.
Shorthouse's sketch— The "Two Thousand" of '69— Pre-
tender and " Johnnie's " triumph, : - - - - 173
CHAPTER XII
Pretender's Derby — Rivalry with Pero Gomez — John Day's
opinion of Belladrum— " All Yorkshire" on "Johnnie" and
Pretender — "Amphion's" prophecy — The day of battle
arrives — Mr. Graham and The Drummer — Belladrum the
idol of the multitude — John Porter and Wells fancy Pero
Gomez — The race : a jiggety jog pace and then a cracker —
Terrific finish between Pretender and Pero Gomez ; the
former and Osborne win the Derby by a head — Wells
surprised at the verdict — Description of the race — Sir Joseph
Hawley's objection to the winner — He loses popularity and
is stigmatised — The "Pretender" panic — Excitement at
Tattersall's — The interval between the Derby and St. Leger
— Triumph of Pero Gomez at Doncaster— The opening of
'69— Death of Johnny O'Brien— John Osborne's description
of the Two Thousand, Derby, and St. Leger, - - - 192
CHAPTER XIII
Pretender our hero's only Derby winner — The cause explained —
His riding for Tupgill — Sir Robert Jardine and Mr. A.
Johnstone's patronage— Present decay of Middleham— Lord
Eglinton, Lord Glasgow, and Admiral Harcourt its former
mainstays — Migration of owners and horses to the South —
"Money makes the mare to go"— "Old Croft," William
I' Anson, and Tom Dawson — Agility's career — A useful two-
year-old— Into the " seventies "—Thorn, Mendip, and Grand
Flaneur— Mr. R. N. Batt's patronage of Ashgill— Purchase
of Grand Flaneur— "A cheap lot "—Thorn, a handsome
generous horse — Some of his achievements — Mr. and Mrs,
R. N. Batt— A high-spirited dashing Irishwoman— Her
penchant for driving — Anecdote of Mr. Greer — "A bit up
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS XVll
PAGE
his sleeve" — Meta and Thorn at The Maze — Accident to
and death of Thorn — Bothwell tried : a good horse — He wins
the " Two Thousand " and fails in the Derby — Degrading
fate of Stockwell's son — Prince Charlie's " Two Thousand " —
The race — John recounts his experiences — Prince Charlie
the idol of the people— His wind infirmity — Attempt to
"nobble" him frustrated — His match with Peut-Etre —
Prince of the T.Y.C. — The kindest horse in the world —
Tom French's opinion on French and English horses — The
Eowley Mile match for £500 — Victory of Prince Charlie —
His stvid career and sale to the Americans — His death in
'90, 207'
CHAPTER XIV
Lily Agnes and Apology come to Ashgill — Lily's trial an eye-
opener — Her two-year-old career and subsequent perform-
ances — Organist as a two-year-old — Apology and Mr.
" Launde " — A good parson and a fine old gentleman —
Apology's trial — York August of '74 — A great time for
Ashgill and the Osbornes — Holy Friar — Trent defeats
Apology — Her Leger status affected — Lily Agues beats
Kaiser— Mr. Snarry's failure to sell her — Mr. "Launde"
and his Bishop — Admiral Rous's opinion of Lily Agnes —
Some Doncaster form — John wins the Champagne Stakes
on Camballo — Thorn beaten by Thunder — Holy Friar,
Grand Flaneur, and Lily Agnes wind up a good week for
the stable, 229
CHAPTER XV
The outset of '74 — Admiral Rous's manifesto — " The black cloud
on the horizon" — Strength and endurance — The summum
honum of breeders — He upholds the running of two-year-
olds — The horse with the best speed the finest animal —
Turf morality and excessive gambling — Apology's year at
Doncaster — The mare's month — Derby winners fail in the
"Leger" — Matthew Dawson's ill-fortune in the race —
Apology's Oaks and St. Leger — Apology's St. Leger described
a
XVlll SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
PAGE
by the "Van Driver" — Scratching of George Frederick —
Eeported scratching of Apology — She pulls up lame at
exercise, and retires in the prices cm-rent — Her ultimate
victory — John Osborne's return to scales — A triumphal pro-
cession — John loquitur — The telegram — "Let the mare run
on three legs" — A fiction — Mrs. King and Apology — Holy
Friar's Middle Park Plate— " No, he did not win"— The
Middle Park Plate — a great field — Admiral Rous's opinion —
Objection to Plebeian — Sir Frederick Johnstone's bet —
Lord Dupplin, Mr. Chaplin, Sir John Astley, Mr. Crawfurd,
and "The Admiral's" position — Opinions differ — John
Corlett's views — Mr. Chaplin's action — The Middle Park
Plate threatened — Mr. Blenkiron and Mr. Gee to the
rescue — Camballo's " Champagne " — A memorable Doncaster
— Thorn and Thunder — A tremendous race — John and Holy
Friar defeat Camballo — Camballo a real good horse — Cam-
ballo and Claremont — Camballo's "Two Thousand" —
"Johnnie" in the saddle — Death of "Parson" King — His
Bishop's remonstrance — A caustic, gentlemanly rejoinder —
Holy Friar disqualified for the Derby — Manganese and
Mincepie — " Cut her doon " — Her One Thousand Portland
Plate victories — Produce of Mandragora — Mandrake — York
August of '75 — Finish between Custance and Osborne — Sale
of "Parson" King's stud — The Newcastle Testimonial —
Glastonbury — Sir Amyas Leigh — Lartington — Castlereagh
— Palmbearer — A great coup nearly brought off — Chippen-
dale and Silvio — A great race — "The Pusher" as good as
" The Tinman " — Conceit of Archer — Fordham retaliates —
Death of Lord St. Vincent, - - - - - - 236
CHAPTER XVI
Embarking upon the " eighties " — John makes a good start on
Chippendale — Beaten by Isonomy — Victor Emanuel — Dr.
Trotter and Mr. Thomas Craggs — Dresden China and
Chippendale — Billy Piatt and Mr. " John " — Tragic end of
Grand Flaneur — Dr. Cook and the church service — Tom
Green and Harry Bragg — Soundness of Grand Flaneur —
Our hero and Lord Bradford warm friends — John's affection
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS XIX
PAGE
for Chippendale — Harry Hall and Dresden China — Her
liking for salt and jelly — " Old Harry's " resentment — He
keeps his secret — John gets a check for £10,000 from Mr.
Leyland — His mental aberration — Death of Old William
FAnson — Queen Mary — Caller Ou — Blink Bonny — Racers
and stud failures — Cantering through '81 and '82 — Pepper-
mint, Hesperian, and King Archebong — A fine finish
between Archer and Osborne — Victor Emanuel's " Ebor " —
He beats Baliol — One of Matthew Dawson's " morals " —
Prestonpans and Isonomy — Mr. Gretton's scratching propen-
sities — His death — Enormous losings and winnings — York
August '82 — A great meeting for the Osbornes — Peppermint
defeats Dutch Oven — " Plunger " Walton's adieu, - - 278
CHAPTER XVII
Wm. Osborne wins the Waterloo Cup — Wild Mint and Destruc-
tion's match for £1000 — Death of Mr. Harry Bragg — Prince
Batthyany dies suddenly on Newmarket Heath — His
consideration for his jockeys — Death of Tom Aldcroft —
Wrongful suspicion — General Peel's cowardice — Chas. Lund
and Lord Glasgow — The Aldcroft " rush " no more — John
Jackson and Lord Glasger — The Earl's retort — Mr. Petrie's
ride into Beverley — Barcaldine's Northumberland Plate —
Dead heats and some remarkable finishes — Theories of
"crosses" — Age-date of racehorses — ^"Mr. John's" views
on two-year-old racing — Long distance races — Sweating
horses — Wasting — How John brought down his weight —
" No forcing " — Speed of horses compared — Close finishes
with Archer — Archer and Fordham's styles — Some old
rivals — Ideas of riding a race — The best racer of his time —
Alice Hawthorn, Mahmia, and Coranna — Some of the best
horses — Van Tromp, The Flying Dutchman, Teddington — a
nailing good horse — Vedette, the second best John ever
rode — Exact the best two-year-old, ----- 304
CHAPTER XVIII
Thirsk — Archer's advent amongst the Tykes — Announced by
the bellman — "Billy" Piatt wins the Two Thousand on
XX SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Scot Free — Mr. Fry's belief in Osborne and his in Platt-
Jack Hammond and Charley Rayner — Some Richmond
finishes — Stone Clink and Selby — Archer and Osborne's two
struggles at Liverpool — "Jack as good as his master" — A
battle between North and South — A fine trial of jockeyship
— Chiselhurst and St. Simon — Courtier and Fraga's match at
York — A tussle between Jim Snowden and "Johnnie" —
Some Richmond tight-fits — Lawminster's Great Yorkshire —
Archer's wasting — Jack Kellet and Teddy Martin — George
Johnson and Chesterman — A reverie in Gosforth Park —
Symposium of trainers— John Henry Shepherd and Tom
Green— The "early bird "—" Brother William "—Tapping
his memory — Lord Glasgow's trainers — Some Middleham
jockeys — The Miner and Blair Athol — Lambton and Exact —
George Abdale — The "Pretender Ball" — Tom Dawson's
"Hoich, hoich" — A midnight conflagration — Stone Clink
and Nightcap — Midway through the "eighties" — The
Durham accident — Hairbreadth escapes of our hero —
First accident at Carlisle in '49, and others at Doncaster,
Chester — "Doctor" Hutton's skill — His treatnaent of Lady
Castlereagh — " Paddy " Drislane's opinion — The Hull and
Liverpool accidents — Stone Clink's Cesarewitch — St. Gatien
defeats her — Mr. Robert C. Vyner's patronage, - - - 331.
CHAPTER XIX
Tragic end of Fred Archer — His retaining fees — His attributes
and characteristics as a horseman — Light-weight racing
system condemned — Archer's wealth — Archer's opinion on
betting — Some anecdotes — Pulling a tooth out — Dick
Marsh and "Mr. Manton"— "The Duchess" and "The
Major" — Old Harry Hall and "Mr. John" barter abovit Quar-
tus — " The Squire " buys him and " Old Harry " has a great
haul — "Johnnie" loses his temper and uses his whip —
Minting, Bendigo, and Ormonde at Ascot — A great race —
Gloriation's Cambridgeshire — Osborne and Bendigo — Ayr-
shire's " Two Thousand " — A chance mount for our hero —
Overthrow of Friar's Balsam — The Hull accident — " Paddy "
Drislane and Tom Spence — " Paddy " and the monkey —
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS XXI
PAGE
" Ton my word, there's my luck again " — " Not our Bessie's
form" — "Johnnie" asleep and awake, - . - . 366
CHAPTER XX
An old rival — Jim Snowden — His career and death — His belief
in Blair Athol — Getting " fit " — " Bleend horse and bleend
jockey winnet dee" — Jockey's pensions — The Pontefract
accident — An objection — Death of Mr. " Sandy " Young — A
grand sportsman — Morning gallops at Gosforth Park — Billy
Nichol's "five things to knaa" — Master "John" caught
napping — Objection to Gloriation, 390
CHAPTER XXI
A national testimonial to our hero — The Daily Telegraph^ s
tribute — High-minded — Courageous — Modest-mannered —
honest — The Liverpool accident of '91 — Ashgill inmates of
that season — Lodore and Dissenter's double dead -heat at
Carlisle — Two great struggles between "Mr. John" and
Seth Chandley — Fred Bates and Tom Holmes won't divide —
Mr. Ford as mediator — Figaro II. and Lily Agnes's dead-
heat at Lincoln — John and Parry's desperate struggle — Mr.
Ford's description and verdict — " The two finest races I
ever saw " — Some account of Robert Osborne — Early efforts
as a jockey — Gamelad's rehearsal with Wild Dayrell — How
the trial impressed Robert Osborne — Harking back — Tommy
Lye — The Deformed — Pretender and Pero Gomez — The
spur — Apology's lameness — About roaring in horses —
Upleathan, Moorcock, and Northallerton — Atmosphere a
cause of roaring — Conformation — Dip-backed ones — Fan-
dango's dam — Shoulder action — Arabian and English horses
— Training: past and present methods — Charles Lund
loquitur — John Scott — Sweating and blood-letting — Horses
heavier in old days — Tom Dawson's notes lost and found, - 409
CHAPTER XXII
Mr. "John" as a foxhunter — His falls in the field — Immunity
from savaging — Jockeys' earnings— Subtleties of jockeyship
XXll SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
PAGE
— " Butcher Boys " — How to make a jockey — Routine life at
Brecongill — Failures and successes — Tom Connor and the
"Parson's" tales, - 432
CHAPTER XXIII
Contemporaries compared — Parallel between John Day and John
Osborne — The best jockey he ever rode against — George
Fordham — Harry Custance's tribute to his old rival — Jim
Snowden and Archer — Lorette's luck — Double dead heat at
Carlisle — Visit to Middleham — Bad horses in the North —
Jockeys' nicknames — Stealing a march on Archer and
Constable — " Push and screw " — Some old jockeys : Frank
Buckle, Singleton, Jim Robinson, the Chifneys — Tom Heart-
field's opinion — Fordham in a " corner by himself " —
Presentation of the " Osborne Testimonial " — Frank Buckle
and John Osborne's career — Waiting tactics of Sam Chifney
— Mr. Smurthwaite's recollections, - - - - - 447
CHAPTER XXIV
Richmond and "Old Jim"Watson — Glory of the North departing —
Migration of owners to the South — Affluence of jockeys — A
long career — Old trainers and jockeys compared — Honesty
the best policy — King Crow's victories — Mr. " John " to the
fore — A happy vmion — The Vyners and Osborne — Judge
Johnson's "cracks" — His recollection of "Old John" — Lord
Clifden — Apology's year — Handicapping — Voltigeur and
Russborough's dead heat — Horses finer bred nowadays —
Vedette — Job Marson — Great horses — Increased value of
stakes — John Jackson and " Old John " — Lord Glasgow and
the handicapper — An unlucky fellow ; born with £120,000
a year — Bee's-wing, Bill Scott, and Jim Robinson — Fine
finishers — The Judge's opinion on jockeys past and present
— Epaminondas's Chester Cup, 474
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
John Osborne (Jockey Costume — Bust)
John Dawson and Thomas Dawson
Joseph, James, and George Dawson
Mr. and Mrs. John Osborne, Sen.
Lily Agnes -----
Alice Hawthorn - - - -
The Flying Dutchman -
SaUNTERER -----
John Osborne in the Sixties
George Fordham - - - -
Lord St. Vincent - - - -
Middleham -----
Sir Robert Jardine
Lord (jLasgow . - - -
Pretender -----
Sir Joseph Hawley
Thorn ------
Apology ------
Admiral Rous - . - -
Mr. Clare Vyner - - - -
Harry Hall -----
Matthew Dawson - - - -
Mrs. Aldcroft, James Dawson, Tom
Tommy Lye - . - .
John Osborne, jetat sixty-eight -
William Osborne, ^tat seventy-four
Mr. Robert Vynbr
J. B. Radcliffe . - - -
John Scott -----
Brecongill -----
The Osborne Family
Johnnie Osborne at Brecongill -
Bee's-WING -----
- Frontispiece
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Aldcroft, and
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ASHGILL
OR
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE
CHAPTER I
" High placed Middleham, marked with martial scars,
The fatal records of internal wars ;
A Neville's pile where Cromwell's rage we trace
In wondrous grandeur and expiring grace."
It Wcas on a dull, cold, cheerless day in the late
December of 1896 that the chronicler of these records
paid a flying visit to Middleham in quest of John
Osborne, jockey, owner, trainer, and breeder of
thoroughbreds. The task, or rather duty, of gaining
data which might form a permanent and trustworthy
account of John Osborne's achievements during a
militant connection with the Turf, extending upwards
of half a century, had long been contemplated.
On repeated occasions " Mr. John," an epithet which
attaches to him in the closing years of the nineteenth
century, had been approached and asked to " extend "
himself. But in his innate modesty he declined to
expose his " form," retaliating by suggesting, " Why not
write a ' Life ' of Matthew Dawson or old Mr.
Jennings ? "
p.
ASHGILL ; OR, THE LIFE
Never a man of many words, but rather of many-
deeds, which, indeed, are worth myriads of words, John
Osborne's reticence about himself personally, apart from
his deeds publicly, during an unexampled career, was
not encouraging to one disposed to undertake the
onerous, self-imposed task of the biographer, or even
to extract from so reserved a subject the material for
an autobiography. As a last resource the resolve was
made to pursue " The Wizard " to his Middleham
haunts, and there, exercising the Socratic method of
probing him with questions, induce him to break cover
from his monosyllabic reticence, which to him, who
knew all, was satisfactory, but to the would-be
chronicler, who knew little, far from illuminating.
En route to Brecongill, which had been the
dwelling-place of John Osborne since he quitted the
adjoining and paternal roof of Ashgill in 1869, the old-
world hamlet of Middleham is passed. A halt was made
at the old Swan Hotel, whose roof had sheltered many
turf celebrities of the past, of whom " The Flying
Dutchman " Earl of Eglinton, whose horses were trained
by John Fobert at the not far distant Spigot Lodge,
peered out in distinct prominence. Though brief was
the halt, one soon discovered at " The Swan " that he
was in a region where the jockey, the trainer, and the
" tout " had lived and had their being time out of mind.
Hardly had the wayfarer " discussed " a bottle of claret,
which'^ served to wash down the most wholesome of
Wensleydale bread and butter and the most dehcious
of Wensleydale cheese, ere a few "locals," who had
" touted " him into the hamlet, entered the apartment.
In a casual way the wayfarer asked if this was the
hostelry at which Lord Glasgow was wont to stop
when he paid his periodical visits to Middleham in the
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 3
" fifties " and " sixties." The mere mention of the name
caused one of the " locals " to overflow with memories
of that eccentric but kind-hearted nobleman.
" Naa, naa, Lord Glasgow when he cum to
Middleham wad never enter onybody's hoose at all.
Why, he used to drive frae Northallerton to Middleham
fower-in-hand often eneugh. He used to waak up an'
doon in front o' the hotel heer, sweerin' like a trooper,
and threetening to blaw oot the brains o' the coachman
if he didn't drive like blazes back to Northallerton..
He alius cum heer to tick o' the clock, ay, an' started
back agyen by 't. A reel queer 'un were Lord Glasgow
at shootin'. Lie had mony a shootin' day amang his
yearlin's. At end o' his time he used to breed 'em as
big as camels — far ower big to race. V\^hen he fund
they cudden't gan fast eneugh, he wad hev a shootin'
day amang 'em. Lord Glasgow ! he were a funny 'un !
Whv, man, he had everv trainer in Middleham in his
time, and fell oot wi' 'em almost every month in the
year. Ay, theer's been lots o' ' swells ' here in my
time. They've all stayed in ' The Swan,' in days of
John Fobert, Tom Dawson, and old John Osborne.
There was Lord Eghnton, Lord Glasgow, Hamsay o'
Barnton, a grand sort; Sir Robert Jardine, before he
were Sir Robert — then plain Mister Jardine; lots o'
them sort stopped here. But Lord Glasgow w^ere a real
queer 'un. He wad never gan into the hooses o' any o'
his trainers. He always paced backward and forrard
ootside ' The Swan,' scrattin' back o' his head."
In brief, the above high-class intelligence fonned
the introduction to Middleham society. Supplemen-
tary tales were volunteered about " The Tub-thumper,"
" Paddy " Drislane, and Fred Bates, of whom more anon.
Of the old Middleham jockey. Tommy Lye — the proto-
4 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
type in his seat of the now popular American jockey,
J. T. Sloan — it was learnt that, after his retirement from
the pigskin, he affected a lugubrious mania for attending
every funeral in Wensleydale, presenting a quaint, if not
ludicrous figure in his natty bell-topper hat and
swallow-tailed coat.
Middleham, unHke its near and somnolent sister, the
market town of Leyburn, is a decaying place so far as
regards its population, which now is reduced to between
seven and eight hundred inhabitants. This decline is
partly explained by the gradually decreasing number of
patrician and wealthy owners who patronise the Moor
as a training ground. All the support which the to^\Ti
now depends upon is limited to a few owners, the
majority of whom have not the means, if they had the
disposition, to maintain so big a stud of horses as were
quartered in the place before the migration of noblemen
and gentlemen took place from Yorkshire to
Newmarket.
The town, which is snugly situated on the banks of
the meandering Yore, owes much of its importance to
the Turf and to racehorses. Antiquarian research tends
to show that horse races took place on Middleham
Moor in the days of King John. It is certain that the
Romans — that marvellous race whose vigour and spirit
and colonial enterprise approximate to those of Great
Britain in the closinc: vears of the Victorian era —
dominated this region of the proud North Riding of
Yorkshire in the early centuries of the Christian era,
a Roman camp in the neighbourhood affording evidence
of their location during the Latin conquest of the
district. It is not too curious to conjecture that the
swarthy and curled darlings of Caesar's legions would
AND TIIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 5
unite the instincts of the sportsman with the attributes
of the soldier, equally as much as do our own warriors
of the present da}^
Middleham Church is dedicated to the blessed and
virgin saint Akelda, who was immolated by the Danes
during their invasion. By far the most' interesting
ancient monument of the town is Middleham Castle,
which was one of the seats of the princely and powerful
line of Neville. The reader of archasological trend may
gather a fine description of this structure, now a grim,
decaying ruin, in Lytton's romance, " The Last of the
Barons." Quadrangular in form, the building of the
castle was begun in 1190. The thickness of the yet
existing walls testifies that, as a fortress in those distant
and troublous times, it must have been of enormous
strength. The tower and surrounding buildings were
completed by Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland,
in the reign of Richard 11. Within living memory the
interior of Middleham Castle was utilised by the
inhabitants of the town for workshops of various kinds,
and the structure stripped of stones to build yet
standing humble residences in its immediate vicinity.
This vandalism, happily, has been stopped; the
frowning ruin still defying, in gaunt, majestic silence,
the corroding hand of Time.
Bolton Castle, the famous stronghold of the Scropes,
is not far distant. In this fortress Mary Queen of Scots
spent a portion of her captivity in England; it was
also the favourite residence of the hunchback
Richard III. Some three miles from Middleham are
the ruins of the Cistercian monastery of YorevaUe, or,
as more modernly called, Jervaulx, which, with the
surrounding estate, passed from the late Lord
6
ashgill; or, the life
Ailesbur}''s family into the present ownership of Lord
Masham.
Still another abbey adjacent to the town is that of
Coverham, almost within rifle shot of the home of the
Osbornes, romantically situated on the bank of the
Cover, a stream which at times is flooded into a torrent.
This ecclesiastical ruin — an exquisite remnant of the
" Catholic clay " in England — has been subject to acts
of vandalism, even in modern times, revealing a dis-
regard to the architectural genius of the thirteenth and
fourteenth centuries, apart from any consideration of
Christian sentiment, pardonable only in a heathenish
country. Nay, the poor heathen could not be guilty of
like desecration, for he holds in religious avre his
shrines of worship.
Environed in a charming variety of scenery,
Middleham, apart from its rich historical interest, its
traces of decaying archaeological grandeur, and its Turf
associations, is, indeed, a favoured territory of the North
Eiding. Its surrounding hills, vestmented in purple
heather, form a habitat for the toothsome grouse,
many a crag harbours its tribute of black game.
Its vales, clad with verdant, luxuriant herbage,
continuously watered by the Yore or the Cover, yield
the richest of pasture for sheep and cattle, and
spread themselves in ample plenitude before the
eye, revealing a land veritably flowing with milk and
honey. Dull, indeed, Avould be the soul that did not
dehgiit itself on these fair mosaics, these fairy scenes,
teeming with hoary legends of Saxon and Danish rule
in bvp'one centuries, of manv acts of benevolence
emanating from the noble charities of Jervaulx and
Coverham long before the period of the Eeformation.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 7
In viewing the countrvside one almost imagines that
Burns had it in his mind's eye when he wrote —
" The partridge loves the fruitful fells ;
The plover loves the mouutains ;
The Avoodcock haunts the lonely dells ;
The soaring hern the fountains :
Thro' lofty groves the cushat roves,
The path of man to shun it ;
The hazel-bush o'erhangs the thrush,
The spreading thorn the linnet."
Quitting Middleham for the nonce, and its dim past,
let the wayfarer wend his way to the not far distant
" God's acre " at Coverham Church, and meditate
awhile amongst the tombs. The grey December day
adds to the solemn grace of the scene. Here, released
from the strife of the racecourse and the " damned
iteration " of the ring, lie some worthies who come
within the scope of this story. In a cjuiet corner of the
peaceful place a tombstone bearing the following
comes into view: —
IX AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
HARHY GRIMSHAW,
Who died 4th Octobee, 186G,
IN THE 2Gth YEAR OF HIS AGE.
" In the midst of Life \vc are in death."
After reading that simple epitaph one recalls that
poor Harry Grimshaw, cut off in the flower of his
manhood through a fatal trap accident at Newmarket,
was the " pilot " of the mighty Gladiateur. He had
not long become the devoted husband of Miss Osborne,
in accordance with whose wish the famous jockey's
o ashgill; or, the life
remains were laid at rest near the spot where he had
been tutored by the Osbornes in the rudiments of his
calling.
Deviating for a moment from the story, let one
intrude an anecdote about Harry Grimshaw which may
not be uninteresting to North-country folk, who are
second to none in their love of a good horse and a good
horseman. In Gladiateur's vear the late Col. J. A.
Cowen (brother of ]\ir. Joseph Cowen, of Stella Hall,
and of the late Mr. William Cowen, who in his day was
a keen patron of the Turf) had been in Paris exhibiting
some bloodhounds, of which, in the " sixties," he was a
great breeder, and most successful, having at the time
the grandest kennel of these noble animals in the world.
On the return voyage across the Channel to England
with his bloodhounds, it so happened — the time was a
few days before Gladiateur's Derby — that Harry
Grimshaw was a fellow-passenger on the steamer. He
was much fascinated by the grand proportions of the
hounds, and introducing himself, he asked:
"Are they quiet?"
"As gentle as lambs," was the Colonel's reply,
whereat Grimshaw mounted the back of the largest of
them, and suiting the action to the words, as he was
jocularly imitating a jockey riding in a race, he said :
" I'll ride Gladiateur home a winner in the Derby
hke this."
The prophecy, as history records, was a true one,
but Colonel Cowen, Avho never was much addicted to
speculation on horse flesh, did not profit to any great
extent by what he termed his "bloodhound tip" for
the Derby.
Still amongst the dead at Coverham, musing on the
vanity of all things mundane, we move a few steps away
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 9
from Grimshaw's grave, and admiration is excited by
an imposing monument of white marble. Figures of
three cherubs are grouped around the central, almost
hfe-size, statue, symbolic of " The Angel of Mercy."
On the stones grouped in rockery fashion are chiselled —
THOMAS DAWSON,
DIED ISth FEBRUARY, 18S0.
GEORGE L. DAWSON,
BORN OCTOBER 9, 1837,
DIED JUNE 17, 1895.
GRANT DAWSON,
DIED 12th NOVEMBER, 1S7S,
AGED 78.
This simple, unaffected record acts like a tahsman
in unlocking the cells of memory. Visions of the past,
the mighty horses trained by Tom Dawson, on the
adjacent Moor, crowd upon the mind. For fifty years
was " Old Tom " associated with Middleham, his
record as a trainer only being eclipsed by John Scott's,
though not surpassed by the deeds of the Crofts, the
Foberts, the Osbornes, or any of the trainers who
reigned here since the present centur}^ was young.
Spectres of Ellington, Blue Bonnet, both Derby
winners; of Our Nell, an Oaks victress; and of
Pretender, involuntarily flit in procession before the
mental eye as one gazes on the cold marble that covers
all that was mortal of the great master; then the sad
reflection that the skilled hand which brought these
freux chevaliers to the field of strife is now but
mere dust. Sic transit gloria mundil
10 ashgill; or, the life
Only a few yards away from " The Angel of Mercy,"
a granite cross rears itself, bearing the legend: —
IN MEMORY OF
GEOKGE ABDALE,
LATE OF ASKE, RICHMOND, YORKSHIRE,
WHO DIED llTH JULY, 1859;
ALSO OF
SAHAH, His Wife,
ELDEST DAUGHTER OF THE LATE
JOHN HOWE OSBORNE,
OF ASHGILL,
WHO DIED 2STn MARCH, 1895,
AGED 64.
Again the Past is stirred up. Giant figures of
Fandango, of Vedette, trained by Abdale, peer through
the camera ohscura of memory. And what a kind, good
soul was Mrs. Abdale ! In the long years of her widow-
hood her strong, ineradicable instinct of sport was
evinced by her presence at York, Doncaster, Richmond,
Northallerton, nay, at almost every race gathering in
the Northern circuit. One wots of the good, kind soul —
peace to her ashes! — tendering a hint that Gloriation,
then trained by her brothers for Mr. E. C. Vyner, would
win the Cambridgeshire. She proved a prophetess of
verity. Nor was the tip without good results to the
chronicler's needy and impoverished exchequer at the
time. That was a memorable Cambridgeshire indeed!
For did not Walter Glover, then one of the Ashgill
"feathers," beat "Mr. John" himself on the mighty
Bendigo — a case of the apprentice bettering the
master ?
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE H
Another tombstone record runs : — ■
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
PHILIP,
SON OF JOHN AND MARY OSBORNE,
WHO DIED IsT JUNE, 1863,
AGED 27 YEARS.
Yet one more slab rises over the dust of " Old John."
The inscription reads : —
IN MEMORY OF
JOHN HOWE OSBORNE, OF ASHGILL,
WHO DIED 3 1st JULY, 1865,
AGED 63 YEARS.
A loving husband, tender father, and sincei-e friend,
A generous and an lionest man to the end,
Always inclined to serve a fiiend when in trouble,
Doubtless by the Lord will be rewarded double.
Also of MARY, His Wife,
WHO DIED 24th NOVEMBER, 1883,
AGED 79 YEARS.
If one be inclined to smile at the halting numbers
of the homely verse, the levity is quickly changed into
a feeling of admiration for the stout-hearted, brave old
fellow whose dust now^ mingles with the mother clay
below. He had been thrilled by the earthquake voice
of " king-making victory " ; he had passed through the
turmoil and the vanity of the strife. In reverential
memory one uncovers to the departed worthy, whose
life labours had been spent on the near and famous
Moor, rearing and training mth watchful care the
i2 ashgill; or, the life
racers that brought renown not only to this country,
but to foreign lands.
And now, quitting the precincts of the churchyard,
and having gratified a little weakness to be a sort of
understudy to " Old Mortality " on paper, we, in musing
mood, take the path leading by the " Lady Bab," an
old wayside inn, where many a rousing night has been
spent by old Middleham trainers. Brecongill, nesthng
under the trees, soon presents its modest stone front
and its trellised garden gate. This is the house of the
" Wizard of Middleham " — John Howe Osborne, who
is destined to be a conspicuous figure in this history.
r.
m
5
7-
<
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 13
CHAPTER II
"Time hath, my Lord, a wallet on liis back wherein he
carries alms for Oblivion."
Brecongill, the abode of John Osborne (the second
Christian name of Howe is now omitted for bre\dty's
sake), is an unpretentious, old-fashioned two-storeyed
house, substantially built of stone, with the stables,
whence " Master John " has sent many a good horse,
and the stone-paved courtyard forming the immediately
adjoining premises. AshgiU, a similar type of residence
with its range of stables in propinquity, is about a
quarter of a mile distant from Brecongill. For many
a long year Ashgill was the paternal household of the
Osbornes. Almost within voice call of the two places,
nestling under the tree-clad hill, lies Spigot Lodge,
another famous home of the thoroughbred, sacred to
the memor)^ of The Flying Dutchman, who was trained
there by John Fobert. The hardly less celebrated
Tupgill, long the residence of Tom Dawson, and
Thorngill where he died, are also within easy hail of
Ashgill and Brecongill. At the period of writing,
Ashgill, then tenanted by Seth Chandley, the North-
country jockey, had lost the halo of its glory, for the
stalls which once had sheltered a Saunterer, an
Apology, and a Lily Agnes, the last-named destined
14 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
to immortalise herself as the dam of Ormonde, were
now unoccupied by a racer of any note. Comparative
decay marked the old place. Its old master's remains
had now mixed with the churchyard mould of Coverham
for upwards of a third of a century. Fred Bates, a
w^hilom Middleham featherweight, afterwards a trainer
for Sir Robert Jardine, was now " master " of
Tupgill, with an attenuated string of horses under his
care. How changed from the days of old Tom Dawson,
when Tupgill could boast a Pretender and other
celebrities of the Turf, attesting to the dead
master's skill! Thorngill, in the occupation of Tom
Connor, had only a few " platers " in its keeping.
Harry Hall is a dying man at Spigot Lodge in these
closing days of December, 1896; he expired on the
28th of that month in that year. The old man yet
glibly talked of his prospects for the ensuing spring
campaign, prospects never, alas ! to be realised.
But while it is a case of " Ichabod " in regard to
Spigot Lodge, Tupgill, and Thorngill, it must be con-
fessed, as showing what a grand stayer " Master John "
is, that his place at Brecongill was full of horses — fuller,
indeed, than it had been for several seasons past. Of
its master one may exclaim —
"Men may come, and men may go,
But he trains on for ever."
At length the wayfarer from Coverham hits the
line of " The Wizard," and finds himself at the trellised
porchway of Brecongill. A hearty welcome from the
dapper John Osborne himseK, attired in the familiar
drab knee-breeches, and an introduction to his channins:
wife and to those members of the family who had not
as yet quitted the parental roof to fight their way in
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 15
the Yv^orld's battle, follow in quick succession. No
ostentatious ceremony is displayed, for the host, if any-
thing, is direct and brief of speech. Hospitality of
the best is tendered, " Master John " taking the seat
of honour at the head of the table, and with the
" guid wife " and the family assembled in the well-
furnished dining-room, Avhose sideboard and walls bear
many emblems of famous victories, the tout ensemble
embodies a well-ordered family circle. A God-fearing
man — can the " unco guid " believe it compatible with a
horse-trainer or a jockey to hold a reverence of his-
Creator ? — the host earnestly says " grace " before
partaking of the repast. This little act gives an insight
into one of the traits of his character from which has
sprung, no doubt, that sense of high rectitude and due
proportion of conduct to all men that have gained him,
after years of trial, the enviable epithet of " Honest
John," a tribute which no man in the same profession
ever better deserved.
There are household gods at Brecongill. Let one
intrude upon the privacy of the sequestered Yorkshire
home and begin with the objects in the drawing-room
and on its walls. First and foremost on the crowded
sideboard is the Manor Cup, a magnificent design in
silver, won by Pity the Bhnd, so named through having
lost an eye, as far back as 1849. Then the eye lights
on the Newcastle Cup, won by Eomping Girl in 1867 ;
also a magnificent bowl, presented to " Mr. John " by
Mr. Robertson Gladstone in 1889 to commemorate the
victory of Redsand in the £1000 stake at Manchester.
The walls are profusely adorned with paintings and
steel plates of celebrities. Mr. George Payne has a
prominent place; portraits of "Parson" King, Dr.
Trotter, a patron of the old stable; a photograph of
IC ashgill; or, the life
John's father and mother, the latter, as he observes,
" a Yorkshire woman, born at Brompton-on-Swale, near
Catterick " ; a Harry Hall, in oils, of Pretender, with
John himself up in the Castlemilk " blue and silver "
livery, together with capital drawings of Bon Mot and
The Doctor, by Black Doctor, recall old-time triumphs
of the master of Brecongill, achieved before any present-
day jockeys were dreamt of. Apology, the heroine of
the most sensational St. Leger on record, naturally
occupies a place of honour in the gallery. In regard
to this picture the host remarks :
" I ordered Harry Hall to paint a portrait of the
old mare, but he never fulfilled his promise, and I am
sorry he did not."
Such a collection would be incomplete without Lily
Agnes, who brought lasting renown to Ashgill in its
palmy days. This grand mare has her niche in the
company of Dr. Syntax, the sire of Bee's-wing (famed
for pith and speed), about whose ovvuer, the kindly
squire Wm. Orde, of Nunnykirk, and his eccentric old
jockey. Bob Johnson, " The Druid " relates some
humorous tales. Other notable pictures, including
those of Thorn, Grand Flaneur, Bothwell, Organist,
Prince Charlie, and Cathedral, with all of whom, more
or less, John was brilliantly identified as a horseman,
crowd the walls. A clever miniature of the famed Jim
Robinson, in oils, and a representation of the finish
between Holy Friar and Camballo are interesting
mementoes. Modest to the last, John never mentions
the illuminated address presented to him at Newcastle-
on-Tyne, a quarter of a century back. This testimonial
extolling his virtues is relegated to a dark corner of
the room against the light, and only by chance comes
under observation.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE IT
The walls of the adjoining smoke-room are also
embellished with portraits of notable horses with which
his father, John, and his brothers Robert and William
were associated for long years during their reign at
Ashgill. There is Priam, pronounced by the still-living
John Kent to be the grandest type of a thoroughbred
he ever saw. Lord Chesterfield bought Priam from the
celebrated Chifneys for 3000 guineas, and he won that
great sportsman the Derby of 1830. The same noble-
man's Zinganee, w^hich old John Osborne, as well as
Priam, had under his charge for a time when first he
went to Bretby to look after Lord Chesterfield's stud
for a l^rief period in his younger days, is also pictorially
illustrated. The old Ashgill mare. Lady Trespass (dam
of Cathedral), who was the joint property of Mr.
William Hudson and old John Osborne, also has her
space. Mr. R. N. Batts' grand old horse. Thorn, a great
favourite of " Mr. John's," with him in the saddle,
could UQt but be included in the gallery. Portraits of
George Fordham and General Peel, with old prints
of Hambletonian and Diamond and Haphazard, suggest
many a story. Excellent photos of old John Osborne
and his son Robert; of Mr. John Johnstone, the
master of the Dumfriesshire hounds ; an oil painting of
Ringlet (foaled in 1829), by Whisker, the property of
Mr. Jacques, of Easby Abbey; of Bendigo, with Tom
Cannon up ; of Bloomsbury, winner of the Derby in
1839, Templeman up; and a print of Pretender are
prominent amongst other subjects on the walls. John's
sympathy wdth the " leash " is shown in the drawing-
room by a fine steel engraving of the celebrated picture
of Ashdown Coursing Meeting. Portraits of that good
mare. Stone Clink (who won for Mr. R. C. Vyner and
Ashgill a Northumberland Plate and the Cesarewitch
c
18 ashgill; or, the life
in one year, proving herself a stayer of the first water),
with a foal at foot, and of Esterling, also adorn the
room ; and as showing his loyalty to a true gentleman
and illustrious sportsman, a photo of the Prince of
Wales occupies the place of honour over the mantel-
piece. The table in the corner groans under the weight
of the colossal Warwick Cup, won by Rapparee, and
which was presented to John by his father. This
splendid silver trophy is of exquisite design, and
represents, in a group of figures. Sir Thomas Lee
receiving Charles I. at Stoneleigh Abbey.
Amongst otlier treasures is a gold box, the gift of
Mr. R. Gladstone, and fashioned out of the hoof of
Beauty, a winner of the Chester Cup. Much prized is
the illuminated testimonial presented to him, together
with a dessert service of gold and silver, in 1876 at
York, on which occasion Judge Johnson, exceeding his
brevity in giving a verdict, " Won by a head," said in
his speech, " Won by a head and honest heart " — a fine
epigram from one who had up to then been identified
with him for more than a third of a century.
Like the great majority of John Osborne's old
friends. Judge Johnson has been called away to the
silent land. Now approaching the allotted span of
human existence, the old-time jockey, the hero of
hundreds of fights, must have many sad, yet pleasant,
memories of departed associates, who admired his
qualities of head and heart as much in the far distant
days as does every man directly or indirectly connected
with the Turf in the present. " Time tries all " is an
ancient adage, but its truth was never more fully
emphasised than in the career of John Osborne, who
comes out of the alembic as true as refined gold. In
the foregoing pages a faint effort has been made to
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AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 19
afford the reader a glimpse of the home life itself of
a man whose name, since he rode his first winner as
far back as 1846 at Radcliffe races, has often resounded,
like a clarion, in the great strife of the racecourse.
However bald the limning, the opinion is ventured that
it mav reveal a condition of affairs that his modem
confreres in the pigskin and in the training of horses
might copy, with the most beneficial results to them-
selves as individuals, and, collectively, to the great
national sport which has done so much to give vigour,
courage, and character to the Anglo-Saxon race.
21) ashgill; or, the life
CHAPTER III
" When Time, who steals our hours away,
Shall steal our pleas ares too ;
The memory of the Past -will stay,
And half our joys renew."
Linked as it has been for three-quarters of a century
with the Turf history of the United Kingdom generally,
and for upwards of sixty years with the isolated
Yorkshire hamlet of Middleham in particular, the name
of Osborne has become as familiar as a household word
throughout the length and breadth of the land. Its
connection with the county of broad acres has led the
" Tykes," at least that portion of them unacquainted
with the facts, to claim the family as indigenous to a
soil that has yielded owners, trainers, jockeys, and
stablemen who, from time immemorial, have been
conspicuous actors in the great drama of the Turf.
When an illusion is innocent 'twere pity, almost, to
dispel it. But in the interests of veracity the fact must
be stated that Yorkshire is not the natal soil of the
Osbornes, or, at least, that part of the family, viz.,
the father and three sons— William, John, and Robert
— who form central figures in these pages, and to whom
the horse-loving county owes much of its history and
renown in the present century.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 21
It is a fact that great trainers of the past like John
Scott, the Dawsons, and John Fobert, with others of
celebrity, were not " Yorkshire bred." Death, who, in
the long run, always triumphs, has long since claimed
for his own most, if not all, of these worthies who were
contemporary with the Osbornes from the very outset.
Which was the greatest Roman of them all it is not the
present task to unfold, for there are many circumstances
and conditions and environments to consider in such a
problem. Their names are merely recalled incidentally,
alongside of the Osbornes, to prove that Yorksire owes
a great deal of her Turf greatness and her character
to men born outside of her own wide acreasje.
John Howe Osborne, the founder of the family so
far as concerns its Turf historv, was born at Wetherden,
Suffolk, in the year 1801. His third and most
celebrated son — also named John Howe Osborne, the
central figure of this book — first saw the light at Gorey
House, Bretby, on the 7th of January, 1833. For the
sake of brevitv and distinctness, the " Howe " in the
two names will hereafter be discarded; indeed, to
retain it would be confusing to the reader, for when
the son first grew into notice as a jockey in 1846 he
became known gradually by the diminutives of
" Johnnie," " The Pusher," " Mr. John," the " Bank of
England Jockey," and other endearing descriptive
epithets; while from that period until his death in
1865 the father is spoken of as " Old John Osborne,"
a name thereafter to be applied to the son.
Of John Osborne the elder's early life little is known
up to youthful manhood, but of this assurance is given
that he was " among horses " in his native county from
the time he was the size of a bucket. That he was not
endowed at the outset of his career with worldlv riches
22 ashgill; or, the life
is equally certain. We shall soon see that life to him
was real and earnest, and that the speculative traits
which marked his pilgrimage from the beginning of
the century to his death were early developed. He
quitted Wetherden in the early " twenties " to fulfil a
responsible post in the haras, at Fence Houses, Co.
Durham, of Mr. Halph Lambton, who afterwards was
created first Earl of Durham.
Apart from being a mighty hunter and master of
hounds, Mr. Ralph Lambton was a breeder of
thoroughbreds, and like the second Earl and the third,
who is the present holder of the title, rendered good
service to the State in those capacities. Chiefly with
the second Earl of Durham, who succeeded to the title
in 1840, was old John Osborne connected in business
affairs, frequently buying yearlings from the Fence
Houses stud. The second Earl of Durham at an early
age became a learned student of strains of blood, and
was well posted in Weatherby. He began with a
Cure mare, which he had out of Elphine, that bred
him Eickledon, Harriton, The Wizard, The Nymph,
Hecate, Michael Scott, Ariel, Giralda, and Alumna, the
last named a winner of the Ham Stakes. All of these
could win races, but the best of the bunch without
doubt was The Wizard, whom his lordship disposed
of to Mr. Anthony Nichol, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, as a
foal, for 200 guineas. He was a lucky purchase for Mr.
Nichol (who also owned Warlock and Newminster), as
he won him the Two Thousand Guineas, and was after-
wards placed for the Derby and St. Leger. John Scott
entertained the highest opinion of The Wizard's speed,
and was much disappointed at him not following up
the Two Thousand victory with the Derby and St.
Leger. That The Wizard could stay he proved at
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 23
Stockbridge, when he was magnificently ridden by Sam
Rogers, and at Goodwood, where he was only beaten
a head for the Cup by our John Osborne on the
American horse Starke, after a terrific struggle. The
Wizard always had a weak spot, however, and this
would not admit of him keeping advantage of a race
when he had gained it. He was sold at the end of
his career to the Prussians for 4000 guineas.
No better school than Mr. Lambton's for ripening
horse knowledge and experience could have been found
by the then young Osborne, and it served to lay a solid
foundation for his subsequent career as a breeder,
owner, and racer of thoroughbreds. In the year 1825
he left Mr. Lambton's service to become head man for
the Duke of Leeds, in w^hose employment he remained
until 1831. The Duke of Leeds died on 10th July,
1838. His name will ever be associated with Octavian's
St. Leger of 1810. Princely in his support of the Turf,
he bore a character for uprightness that differed from
many of his contemporaries : " he could bear to be
beaten, and invariably sent his horses to the post, win
or lose, with a most generous and noble spirit."
While under the ducal banner at Hornby Castle,
Mr. Scaife then being the presiding genius of the
establishment, John Osborne enriched his experience
to so great a degree that he attracted the notice of
Lord Chesterfield, surnamed " The Magnificent " for the
costly and princely manner in which he upheld his
stud and regulated his movements in the highest walks
of society. Bretby was then Lord Chesterfield's head-
quarters, and here John Osborne acted in the double
capacity of stud groom and trainer to a few of his
lordship's horses, the principal lot of them being
schooled by John Scott at White wall and Pigburn.
24 ashgill; or, the life
At Bretby " Old John " had Octavian, then at the
stud, under his charge ; also Priam, winner of the Derby
of 1830 ; Zinganee, winner of the Two Thousand ; and
Moonbeam, a Champagne winner. Mention of these
equine celebrities brings to the recollection a crowd of
the most stirring episodes in the history of the Turf,
many of which are unknown to the present generation.
The celebrated brothers Chifney were then at the apex
of their fame. At the commencement of the last decade
in the eighteenth centun' the Prince of Wales retained
the elder Chifney for life as his jockey at a salary of
!200 guineas per annum, which appears an insignificant
sum compared with the £5000 a year that the late
" Squire " Abington gave for the first call on the services
of John Watts. Yet at the close of the last century
200 guineas a year was a very considerable retainer
for even the greatest jockey of the day. A book might
be written about the Chifneys, of whom old Sam, the
father, was the most notorious, if not celebrated, jockey
of his period. " The Druid " relates how, perhaps with
the exception of Frank Buckle, no man was so exactly
built for his profession as the elder Chifney. About
5 feet 5 inches in height, weighing 9 stones 5 lbs. in
the winter months, he could ride, if required, 7 stones
12 lbs. to the last. He unremittingly trained his son
Sam in the art of race riding, and evinced a rare industry
in teaching the elder brother, William, the minutiae of
training and stable practice. But old Sam Chifney *s
fortunes decayed with " the Escape afi'air," which so
sickened the Prince of Wales that it caused him to
retire from the Turf a second time. Sam went from
bad to worse, and in 1805 was arrested for debt and
sent into the Fleet. He remained in " durance vile "
for two vears and a half, breathing his last in his den
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 25
in 1807, and being buried at St. Sepulchre's, Holborn.
Thus, as is recorded by the Turf historian, ended in
misery, poverty, and disgrace the career of one of the
greatest jockeys that ever bestrode a horse.
The younger Sam Chifney and the elder brother,
William, benefited by the tuition of old Sam, and the
" Chifney rush " in the first half of the present century
was the forerunner of the finest efforts of Fordham,
Archer, and John Osborne in our time.
At the period John Osborne, senior, joined Lord.
Chesterfield's stud at Bretbv, the brothers Chifnev were
the foremost men in their profession, and became
associated with his lordshij) in racing matters.
" Helvellyn," in the defunct Sjmrtiitg Mirror, gives an
interesting rechauffee of their connection with Lord
Chesterfield, from which the following is excerpted: —
" The brothers Chifney were at the zenith of their
career about the year 1830. Up to that time they had
no horses of their own of any great merit, but in 1828
they brought out Zinganee, in 1830 Priam, and in 1831
Emiliana. With Zinganee they got third in the Derby
to those memorable dead-heaters, Cadland and the
Colonel, but he was far from well when the race was
decided. Zinganee had barely reached Epsom,
previously to the Derby, when his throat swelled, and
he ran profusely at the nose almost up to the time of
starting. To get even third, and a fair third too, in
such a condition, was no mean performance. The
following spring Zinganee beat Cadland easily by two
lengths at Newmarket, but after this race he had a
cough for nearly five weeks, and only had sixteen days
of good work before his victory for the Ascot Gold Cup.
Although the Chifneys were offered 3000 guineas for
Zinganee the day before the race, they preferred to sell
26 ashgill; or, the life
the horse to Lord Chesterfield for £500 less on the
evening before, as they had doubts about the straight-
forwardness of the intentions of the other people.
Zinganee won the Trial Stakes earlier at the meeting,
and the seven that opposed him for the Cup were
about the best animals in training. There was Mr.
Gully's Mameluke, the Derby winner of 1827; the
Colonel and Cadland, the dead-heaters for the same
race the year after; Green Mantle, the Oaks winner
of 1829 ; Lamplighter, Bobadilla, etc. The Chifneys
won about £1200 on the race, and took £500 of it at
2^ to 1 through Mr. Greville just before starting.
This was Zinganee's best performance, as after leaving
the Chifneys' stable he lost his form, as he was a
dehcately constitutioned horse, and required a lot of
understanding.
"Perhaps the horse of all others that the name
of Chifney is most closely identified with was
Priam. The brothers took such a fancy to him when
he was a yearling, described as the colt by Emilius
out of Cressida, and sent up to Newmarket for sale,
that they determined to have him at any price. Their
fancy cost them 1000 guineas before Mr. Tattersall's
hammer fell, a rattling big price, remembering that
fashionable yearlings did not fetch the money half a
century ago\hat they do at the present time. Martin
Starling broke the colt in, and during his young days
opinions were greatly divided regarding his merits.
Lord Darlington took a violent dislike to him and
vowed he would never stay the Derby course ; but Lord
Chesterfield declared that he could look at him all day,
and that he was 'the only blood horse he had ever
seen.' Priam did not run during his two-year-old days,
and he made his first appearance in public at the New-
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 27
market Craven Meeting. He was not qnite wound up
to the mark as he had cau^-ht a severe cold in the earlv
spring, and the Chifneys could not hurry him in his
preparation. There was some difficulty to get a jockey
for Priam for the Derby, as Lord Darlington, who had
Sam Chifney's first services, claimed him for Sheldrake,
and Mr. Rush insisted on his first call on Robinson for
Ivanhoe, so that at last S. Day was entrusted with the
Chifney ' green and black cap ' on Priam. There vras
no ' Newmarket Special ' travelling from headquarters
to Epsom in a few hours in those days, and horses had
to finish their preparation on the Surrey Hills. Will
Chifney and Priam started for Epsom on the Friday
week before the Derby, and it is reported that ' Brother
Will ' walked all the way from Cambridgeshire into
Surrey by the side of his Derby nag. The Chifneys
backed Priam to win a lot of money, but even yet he
did not start favourite. Like Lord Clifden in the St.
Leger thirty-three years later, Priam was the last off,
and Sam Chifney, who with Sheldrake was then in the
first flight, had, in turning round to discover where
Priam was, the satisfaction of seeing him still careering
at the post on his hind legs. However, when Day did
get him down he went after the others like a steam
engine and quickly caught Chifney's mount, who on
that day could not have won an ordinary plating
contest. Eventuallv Priam mowed down his field, and
quickly settling Little Red Rover won by two lengths.
After this easy Derby victory the Leger was thought to
be merely a question of health for him, but the going
was so bad on the day that it suited better the great-
striding Birmingham, who won by half a length. Next
spring Lord Chesterfield bought Priam for 3000 guineas
from the Chifneys, and he won for his lordship the Good-
28 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
wood Cup, shortly after which he was sold to the
Americans for 4000 guineas, Mr. Tattersall at the sale
describing the plucky purchasers as ' noble buyers.'
" After Priam's Derby victory the star of the Chifneys
descended, and their stud was soon brought to the
hammer. Once after 1834 was the Chifney ' green and
black ' seen at Epsom, and this was when their nephew,
the accomplished and honest Frank Butler, had his
maiden mount in 1836 on The Athenian. Finally, Sam
Chifnev retired from the saddle in 1844. He saw his
last Derby when ' The Flying West ' passed the post
in 1853, and died, after a month's illness, in August,
1854, at Brighton, where he is buried in Hove
Churchyard."
It will be gathered from the foregoing borrowed
sketch that John Osborne, senior, from the period he
was associated with Lord Chesterfield at Bretby, up to
1837, had lived in stirring times. Yet all his knowledge
and lore of those days were never committed to paper
in after life, and now, upwards of sixty years afterwards,
the compiler has to depend upon the most trivial data
supplied from sources outside the battle.
On severing his connection with Lord Chesterfield,
John Osborne, senior— he had then been married a few
years, his third son, our John Osborne, becoming a
hostage to fortune on 7th January, 1833, as already
mentioned— aspired to wider scope for the development
of his talents as a trainer and breeder of the high-
mettled racer. Up to the end of 1836, Ashgill, the
destined future quarters of the family, had been
tenanted by George Oates, who trained Lottery there
for Mr. Whittaker and Longwaist for Mr. Nowell. His
son, George Oates, who died a few years ago, followed
in his footsteps as a trainer at Eichmond, Yorkshire.
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AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 29
111 the spring of 1837 John Osbonie, senior, entered
upon the occupation of iVshgill, and remained its tenant
until his death, from cancer, in 1865. The first three
animals he owned were Wrestler and Orcus, whom he
bought from the Duke of Leeds, and Miss Bowe, the
dam of Longbow, sire of Toxophilite. Orcus proved a
useful but unlucky purchase, for after winning three
races in 1837, he fell in a race at Manchester and
succumbed to the accident soon afterwards. Miss Bowe
also distinguished herself that year by beating General ^
Chasse by a head, weight for age, at Manchester, after
which performance Lord Stanley, subsequently the
great Lord Derby — " the Rupert of debate '' — then a
young man, and who was the life-long friend of the
choleric but eccentric Lord Kelburne (who in turn
assumed the higher title of Lord Glasgow), purchased
Miss Bowe for 400 guineas. At this period John Fobert
at Spigot Lodge was the neighbour of old John Osborne,
and making his mark as a trainer. Fobert's great patron
was Sir James Boswell, of Auchinleck, N.B., where it
was customary for his horses to be quartered in the
winter, then to be travelled south to Middleham in
the spring to be prepared for their engagements.
General Chassd stood at Ashgill when he was trained
for the St. Leger, and so did Lord Sligo's Bran, the
latter being trained by Murphy. Between Fobert and
Murphy there existed a deep-rooted rivalry arising from
Bran beating General Chass^ in the St. Leger. That
" The General " was a nailing good horse at the time
was proved by his victory over Touchstone in the
Liverpool St. Leger, the horse further confirming his
excellence when he vanquished Camel's illustrious son
as a four-vear-old over the same course. So it may be
gathered that old John Osborne began his career at
30 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
Ashgill in a promising manner by having a flier like
Miss Bowe at the very outset in his own hands.
It is interesting to note that at the time the Osbornes
first became associated with Ashgill two members of
the Dawson family were already located at the adjoining
Brecongill, in the very house and stables now occupied
by the present John Osborne. The history of this
remarkable family of trainers is largely bound up with
Middleham. The father of the Dawsons was flourishing
at Gullane, N.B., as a trainer, numbering amongst his
employers Lord Montgomery, Lord Kelburne, Mr. W.
Baird, Mr. Meiklam, and Sir T. Moncrieffe — the latter
a man noted for unprepossessing appearance ; and yet a
member of the family destined to be the future
charming Countess of Dudley, in her prime would have
been " accorded the golden apple for her loveliness."
The eldest of a numerous family of Dawsons was named
Thomas, after the father. He was born in 1809, lived
at home across the Borders till he was twenty-one,
when, accompanied by his younger brother, John, the
eminent Newmarket trainer, he came to Middleham,
the brothers taking up quarters at Brecongill to train
on their own account in 1830. Around Brecongill there
hangs a rich record of stirring turf history in connection
with Thomas and John Dawson. Another distinguished
member of the family w^as the late Matthew Dawson,
who, on his father's death, succeeded to the responsi-
bilities of the establishment at Gullane that had been
carried on there for many years. It would have revived
in the late venerable Matthew Dawson's memory a
world, of old-time associations when he was told, as was
the case just before his death, that Jolin Osborne of
the present day could remember his first visit to
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 31
Middleham in 1840, when he travelled afoot from
Scotland to run Pathfinder in the Derby of that year.
The Dawsons soon got into a rich winning vein at
Brecongill, Tupgill, and Thorngill, for they were in
turn occasional tenants of these well-known Middleham
training establishments. The patrons of their father
supported the sons in their adopted Yorkshire home,
for amongst the latter who sent their horses to be
trained were Lord Eglinton, Sir James Boswell, Major
Paul, Admiral Harcourt, Sir J. Gerrard, Mr. A. John-
stone, Mr. G. Hope-Johnstone, Mr. Ramsay, and Mr."
O'Brien. A long and illustrious roll of winners were
trained by the Dawson family. Not the least noteworthy
was Ardrossan, the sire of Jack Spigot, the St. Leger
winner of 1821, and of the dam of the peerless Bee's-
wing. The brothers Tom and John at Brecongill had
Charles XII. under their care, though he did not reach
them until after his dead heat and subsequent triumph
over Euclid in the St. Leger of 1839, when he was
bought by Mr. Johnstone. But they trained him the
next year, when he won several important races,
including the Goodwood Cup, the Doncaster Cup, and
a match for £1000 against Mr. Lightwald's Hyllus
over the Cup course, giving him 5 lb. Job Marson
rode Charles XII., and the famous Jim Robinson was
on Hyllus, who was defeated by a neck. Our Nell, a
filly belonging to George Dawson, won the Oaks in
1842, and they took the St. Leger with Blue Bonnet
for Lord Eglinton. They trained Van Tromp when he
won the St. Leger in 1847, but his defeat in the Derby
by The Cossack sent dismay into the heart of York-
shire. John Dawson was the first to bring word of the
defeat to Middleham, where the fate of the Derby was
expected with all the anxiety of the news of a great
32 ashgill; or, the life
battle. Lanercost was at Brecongill as a three-year-old,
but was transferred to the care of " Brother Mat " just
before the St. Leger of 1838.
In rapid succession the brothers Tom and John
Dawson trained such clinkers as Priestess, Rowena,
Fair Helen, Malcolm, Lady Masham, Traverser,
Lightwing, Mentor, Ellerdale, EUermire, Inheritress,
Ellington (winner of the Derby), Mark Tapley, Fancy
Boy, Chief Justice, Jonathan Wild, St. Bennett,
Grimston, St. Martin, Abraham, Newland, Modesty,
and Dr. Caius. Grimston won them the Goodwood Cup
and Jonathan Wild the Stakes for Mr. O'Brien the same
year. St. Bennett took the Northumberland Plate — a
great event in those days — in 1838 and 1839, and
Inheritress in 1845, Ellerdale capturing the Yorkshire
Oaks and Raby the Cambridgeshire in 1849.
Lord Glasgow had horses in training at Middleham
about 1849, and after John Dawson had failed, as many
others of his craft had done, to please that nobleman,
he left Thomas by himself at Brecongill and went to
Compton in Berkshire, there establishing himself in
a career which, like that of his brother Mat, subse-
quently culminated at Newmarket in a record of brilliant
successes that rival even those of John Scott himself
in the pahniest days of Whitewall and Pigburn.
In 1838-39 Polydorus did not do much good for
John Osborne; he only began to really pay his way
three seasons after ; but Skipton, by Stockport, proved
a useful introduction to the strugghng stud. He was
never beaten while at Ashgill, winning four times, when
" Old John," always ready to turn over at a profit, sold
him to Squire Osbaldeston. Then there was another
useful inmate of the stable in Ararat, who won a
handicap in the "Potteries" and several other races
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 33
before Bee's-wing beat him a head for the Cup at
Stockton. Gipsy Queen, by Dr. Syntax, ran five times
as a two-year-old, and was second on each occasion,
one of her victors being Attila, who won the Derby the
following year, a fact which goes to prove that the
then young trainer was tackling good class horses.
The following version of the Dawsons' career at
Middleham is given from the present John Osborne's
lips in 1897: —
" In 1840, Matthew Dawson travelled a
three-year-old of Lord Eglinton's, called Path-
finder, from Gullane in Scotland to Catterick
Bridge, and won a match with him there against
Mr, Meiklam's Remedy. After that race
Matthew Dawson came on to Middleham, stayed
with his brother Thomas Dawson, then training
at Brecongill, for a short time, and took Path-
finder on to Epsom to run for the Derby won
by Little Wonder. Matthew Dawson had an
idea of winning the Derby with Pathfinder, but
Thomas told him he would have to find some-
thing better, adding, as Matthew took the colt
from Middleham, so the story is told, ' There
goes cocky little Mat to win the Derby.'
Thomas Dawson came to Middleham about 1831
or 1832. He was certainly training at Brecongill
in 1832, succeeding Mr. Mangles in the occu-
pation of the place. One of the first horses Mr.
Dawson trained here was Orangeman, half
owned by my father. The horse was bred by
my grandfather, Mr. Arrowsmith of Brompton-
on-Swale. ' Mr. Thomas ' soon had a big stud
at Brecongill, Lord Eghnton being one of the
first patrons, along with Mr. Meiklam and Mr.
D
4 ashgill; or, the life
O'Fairlie. From 1843 he had both Brecongill
and Tupgill for his horses, but he left Brecongill
in 1849 and went to live at Tupgill. Mr. George
Dawson and Mr. John Dawson, brothers of
Thomas, lived in Middleham when I first
remember and had some horses, but they both
left Brecongill to become private trainers for
Lord Glasgow at different times. Mr. John
Dawson did not succeed with Lord Glasgow,
who failed to keep his trainers for long,
particularly his private trainers. Thomas
Dawson gave up Tupgill and went to Thorngill,
and died there in 1880. He was a great trainer.
I think he had a good mare called Fairy while
he was here at Brecongill, and she ran for the
Oaks in 1834. After that he had St. Bennett,
St. Martin, and Bellona, a good mare. He
had Lanercost at Brecongill as a three-year-old.
Then there were also Aristides, Our Nell
(winner of the Oaks in 1842), Blue Bonnet
(winner of the St. Leger the same year). These
Vv^ere the first races that Our Nell and Blue
Bonnet ran for, and neither of them won a race
afterwards. That is a remarkable thing, without
any parallel in the history of racing I should
fancy. Other good winners at Brecongill trained
by Thomas Dawson were Potentate, Zohrab, and
Jamie Forrest.
" After 1843, Lord Eglinton left Mr. Thomas
Dawson and engaged John Fobert as private
trainer at Spigot Lodge. Still, Thomas Dawson
had plenty of horses to train, and continuing
the list there were Godfrey, iVUendale, Mentor,
Traverser, and Jonathan Wild. Inheritress, too.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 35
was a good mare he trained; then there were
True Boy and Fancy Boy, two good useful
horses. Grimston was a good mare and won
him the Goodwood Cup in 1846 ; and Allendale
was another high-class animal. Maid of Masham
he had at Brecongill in 1848 and 1849, but before
that there was Pointon in 1846. He beat lago
for the great Yorkshire Stakes. We must not
forget Ellington who W'On the Derby, and
Gildermire who ran a dead heat for the Oaks
and then w^as beaten. He also trained Tunstall
Maid, Early Bird, Sprig o' Shillelagh, and Water-
marske. His son Thomas trained Tim Whiffler
as a three-year-old, and ' Mr. Thomas ' also acted
as one of Lord Blythsw^ood's private trainers
while he was here. In regard to his opinion of
' best horses,' Mr. Thomas Dawson expressed to
me that the best he ever knew was Touchstone,
and regarded his wdn in the Doncaster Cup of
1836, when he beat a large field in a trot, as a
really great performance. He even thought
Touchstone a better horse than The Flying
Dutchman or West Australian."
Ashgill, as a training stable, had already asserted
itself as a power to be reckoned with in the early forties.
Old John Osborne, assisted by his ever-faithful,
industrious, homely wife, was " feeling his feet." With
his stud of racers largely increasing, fortune was
beginning to smile upon his efforts. In the autumn of
1841 he attracted the patronage of the Marquis of
Westminster, who engaged him to train his horses at
Delamere Forest, but by mutual arrangement " Old
John " w^as allow^ed to carry on the business at AshgiU
at the same time.
36 ashgill; or, the life
"Amongst the Ashgill inmates in 1841 was
Auckland, of whom an idea was entertained
that he had a chance of winning the Derby, but
his leg gave way before the race after he got
to the scene of action. William de Fortibus was
another that paid his way. It was in 1841 that
Maria Day came to Ashgill. She had been
bought by my father at Mr. Nowell's sale at
Underley, Westmorland, that gentleman having
bred her. She came in November, and to test
the mettle of the newcomer all the yearlings were
roughed up to ascertain if they could ' go.'
Maria Day was well tried with a mare called
Ten Pound Note, and from what she told my
father he advised the Marquis of Westminster
to buy her. She wintered at Ashgill, the
Marquis getting her for 100 guineas. Amongst
her performances as a two-year-old in 1842 were
a double win at Catterick and a third in the
Doncaster Champagne. She succumbed after a
desperate race in the Tvv^o- Year- Old Stakes at
Doncaster by a short lead, it being recorded in
the papers at the time that it was ' the largest
and severest race ever seen at Doncaster.' In
fact, it is so chronicled in Robert Johnson's
and Mr. Michael Benson's old Calendars, in
which descriptions of the races were given as
well as the returns, it being Mr. Johnson's
custom to cut out the reports from BeWs Life
and fix them to each race. The Weatherbys
of the present day might well imitate the example
of the old-time chronicler.
" The Marquis of Westminster's connection
lasted twelve months only, and John Osborne
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 37
returned to Ashgill in 1842, thereafter devoting
his sole attention to his own stud, which had
been looked after in his absence by William
Marson, a brother of Job Marson, who trained
the celebrated ' Beverley ' Nancy and a number
of other good animals. Nothing of note came out
of the stable in 1843-44 beyond Ladv Milton,
Sloane by Slane, Brandy Face (winner of a few
races), and Betsy Bird (a useful plater). In 1844
Staley gained a few brackets to help to pay the
corn bills, only to break down in the Chester
Cup so badly that great difficulty was experi-
enced in getting him home again. The Irish-
bred Cranbrook was the pick of the stable in
1845 and 1846. Owned by an Irish sportsman
named Mr. Stewart, Cranbrook won the Great
Yorkshire Handicap, and was fifth in the Cesare-
witch. Dialect beating him in a handicap across
the flat the same week, a large field starting.
In 1846 Comme il Faut proved herself a smart
little 'un for the rising stable."
High prices for young stock are by no means a trust-
worthy guide to the winning post or to success in
breeding. " Old " Agnes and her foal, as we shall see,
cost old John Osborne but 20 guineas. An instance
of a cheap purchase and good results was that of Little
Wonder, winner of the Derby of 1840. This extra-
ordinary " httle pony," bred in 1837 by Mr. Nowell of
XJnderley, got by Muley out of Lacerta by Zodiac, was
purchased by Mr. Robertson of Ladybank, near
Ber^vick-on-Tweed, out of the Underley yearlings for
65 guineas. One more case of a cheap Derby winner was
that of Spaniel, who won in 1831. It is related of this
stout son of Whalebone, from a Canopus mare, that one
88
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
evening in the spring of 1828 a small but merry party
sat around the dinner table of that fine old English
gentleman, Lord Egremont. " The bottle was in active
circulation and the good old peer in merry glee — his
friends around him, and his racehorses the theme.
'What will you do now, my lord, with that young
Whalebone weed in the further paddock ? ' quoth one of
the guests. 'Sell him,' w^as the reply. 'The price?'
'A hundred and fifty.' 'He is mine.' That 'weed'
was Spaniel, whose rivals on the turf at that period were
mighty racers like Priam, Camerine, Lucetta, Tranby,
Cetus, and Fleur de Lis."
In the spring of 1837, at Lord Chesterfield's sale,
one lot comprised an old mare tw^enty-one years of age
and a lanky looking foal at her foot. This couple excited
the laughter rather than the competition of the
bystanders, insomuch that they w^ere knocked down to
Lord George Bentinck for the sum of 54 guineas,
even he buying them at the earnest solicitation of a
pretty good judge in these matters as a " spec." That
old mare's foal was Crucifix, by Priam out of
Octaviana by Octavian. Crucifix won the Chesterfield
Stakes, the Lavant Stakes, the Molecombe Stakes, the
Hopeful Stakes at New^market, the Clearwell, the
Criterion, and other events of importance as a two-year-
old, her total winnings for the season being a clear £4587
of public money, a most remarkable sum in those distant
times when the stakes w^ere small as compared to what
obtains in the present day. As a three-year she won
the One Thousand, the Tw^o Thousand Guineas, and
the Oaks. Crucifix up to that time did more on the
Turf than any other English horse that had yet
appeared, having w-on twelve races wdthin as many
months without having been once beaten, winning
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 39
£10,287 in stakes alone. She went to the stud a
" cripple," " sacrificed ere she reached the zenith of her
age by premature abuse of her great powers." Yet
she became the dam of a Derby winner in Surplice.
Mr. Orde bought the dam of Bee's-wing at Mr. Riddell's
sale for 22 guineas. A list of the prices given for Derby,
Oaks, and Leger " cracks " of 1831 during eighteen
months is interesting reading at the present day.
Riddlesworth sold for 3000 guineas, after running second
for the Derby; Black Daphne for 1500 guineas;
Trustee, third for the Derby, for 2000 guineas; Non
Compos for 2000 guineas; Fairy sold at two years old
for 3300 guineas; Ludlow for 5000 guineas; Ladyfly
for 1000 guineas; and Gratis for 1000 guineas — eight
horses, and nearly £20,000 in all.
40 ashgill; or, the life
CHAPTER IV
" Honour and shame from no condition rise,
Act well your part, there all the honour lies."
Old John Osborne did some service to the State as a
sire. Now entered into the " forties," he had presented
several hostages to fortune, so that his household
increased with the number of horses that were in the
Ashgill haras. The two elder sons, William and Robert,
were already grown into big lads, so big, indeed, that
any dreams of them keeping within a reasonable weight
as jockeys were soon dissipated. But there was yet the
third son of the family to look forward to as the jewel
much wanted in a stable which up to that time had been
the nursery of jockeys. A " featherweight " in those
days of lightly framed handicaps was now advanced,
in the year of grace 1846, to the age of thirteen years.
Probably a bright, merry, active, handy stripling he
was, with the instinctive love of jockey ship and of
horses imbued in him by his associations from very
infancy. This boy was none other than the present
John Osborne, destined to become a bright and
shining actor in the great, stirring scenes of the Turf
for the succeeding half-century. Often enough, no
doubt, the child had been pitched into the saddle by
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 41
his father, and ridden in a rough up gallop across the
undulations of famed old Middleham Moor. At all
events, so much was thought of him as a rider at the
age of thirteen years that little " Johnnie " was entrusted
with his first mount in public in 1846 on Miss Castling,
an Inheritor mare. The race was the Wilton Cup at
Radcliffe Bridge, near Bury, in Lancashire. It was
not an auspicious first essay, as Miss Castling broke
down in the contest, which was a handicap, two miles,
with 100 sovs. added — an important stake in those days.
Mr. Baker had taken the meeting in hand and raised
it that year from the " flapping " or illegitimate order,
to a more dignified status, by increasing the stakes and
by improving the course, which had a very awkward
turn in it before he made a change. Miss Castling, a
thoroughly game little mare, was afterwards patched
up, and " Johnnie " rode her the following year in the
Liverpool Cup, carrying 5 st. 7 lbs.
The embyro jockey had been brought from school
to make this, his first essay in the pigskin. He was
educated at Brampton-on-Swale, near Catterick, where
he lived with his grandfather until he was nearly eleven
years of age, afterwards returning to Ashgill and start-
ing at once in the stables. A strict disciplinarian and a
toiler himself, the father did not allow of his family
eating the bread of idleness ; the mother, too, found her
hands full with increasing ties, and worked as hard as
any member of her family. The tale is told of the good
dame arming herself with the stable besom and driving
the indifferent stable hands to the venerable church
in the valley below on Sundays. The calls of religion
were evidently not ignored in the old Yorkshire home,
and the mother's influence, no doubt, has had a
42
ashgill; or, the life
material bearing upon the splendid integrity which
thereafter marked the conspicuous career of her most
celebrated son. " Young Johnnie," after his schooldays,
began to work and ride in earnest. There were eleven
of a family all told, brother William, born in 1829, being
the eldest; the future Mrs. Abdale being the second,
and John, as already recorded, the third. Then there
was the future Mrs. Barrow; Philip and Eobert, who
died; the future Mrs. Ridley; George, destined to
become a clergyman; the two sisters, who afterwards
became Mrs. George Dawson and Mrs. Chaloner; the
youngest brother being Philip, now practising as a
solicitor at Sheffield.
In the autumn of 1844, old John Osborne bought
Annette, by Priam, with Agnes, by Clarion, at her
feet. This deal, small in its way at the time, has had
a most important bearing upon the history of the
English thoroughbred, as Agnes — " Old Agnes," as she
was afterwards called — may justly be regarded as the
veritable tap root of the great " Agnes " family.
Annette's dam was by Don John, out of Moll in the
Wad, by Hambletonian. The price of Annette and her
foal, Agnes, was twenty guineas or thereabouts, the
seller and owner being Mr. Minor, a Shrewsbury
gentleman. Agnes was tried in the autumn with
Cranbrook, and found useful. She ran twice at
Newmarket in the Cesarewitch week, and twice in the
Houghton week as a two-year-old. " Old John "
fancied her very much for the Nursery in the Houghton
week, but she failed to realise expectations, her failure
to run up to the home trial being explained by her
being found amiss at the end of the week. Agnes's
career ended with her two-vear-old nmning.
Bred by
Mr. John Osborne.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 43
PRODUCE OF AGNES.
Bred by Mr. Minor in 1844, got by Clarion, her dam, Annette, by Priam, out
of I'otentato's dam, by Don John,
1849 — br f Lady Agnes, by Irish Birdcatcher.
1850 — br f Miss Agnes, by Irish Birdcatcher.
*1851 — br f S^veet Agnes, by Sweetmeat.
1852 — gr c Lord Alfred, by Chanticleer.
1853 — b c Alfred, by Birdcatcher.
1854 — b f Lady Albert, by Chanticleer.
1855 — br f Lady Alice, by Chanticleer.
1859 — b c Lord Albert, by Fandango.
1860 — br c Lord Arthur, by Fandango.
1861 — b c Lord Adolphxis, by The Cure.
1862 — br c King Alfred, by Voltigeur.
1863— b c ' by "Weatherbit. (Shot.)
1864 — br c Alexander, by Musjid.
1865 by Colsterdale.
Some account here of Amies's descendants mav not
be out of place.
Polly Agnes, bred by Sir Tatton Sykes in 1865,
was by The Cure, her dam being Miss Agnes by Bird-
catcher out of Agnes by Clarion. Her first foal in 1869
was Rural Dean by Cathedral, and in 1871 she bore
Lily Agnes (dam of Ormonde) by Macaroni. Mr. John
Snarry bred these two, and afterwards Polly Agnes
became the proj^erty of Mr. James Snarry, in whose
ownei-ship she bore Fleur de Lis, Tiger Lily, and Jessie
Agnes. Barren in 1870, 1872, and 1873, she sHpped
a foal in 1877. The following year she had a filly by
Macaroni. Her next foal, a chestnut filly, by Macaroni,
died young, and after producing Bay Agnes in 1880,
Polly Agnes died in 1881 after foaling Orphan Agnes,
by Speculum. Old John Osborne, who held a deep-
* Sweet Agnes produced in 1859 b c by The Cure, and was sold to the
King of Sardinia in June, 18G0, covered by General Williams, having had no
other living produce in England. Sweet Agnes (in Mr. J. Osborne's stud)
had a dead foal by Voltigeur in 1856, and was covered by Stockwell. Agnes
was barren in 1865, and died in the spring of 1866.
44 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
rooted belief in the Cures and Weatherbits, died, as
already recorded, in 1865. His faith in those strains
of blood was not destined to be upheld in his lifetime
to so great an extent as thereafter. But how proud
would have been the sturdy old trainer had he been
spared to see that grand mare Lily Agnes bringing
lustre to his old 20-guinea Agnes, by Clarion. And
justly still more proud would he have been had he
survived to see Lily Agnes create an apotheosis for the
" Agneses " by throwing the incomparable Ormonde to
the Duke of Westminster's Bend Or.
Lily Agnes died at Eaton paddocks in her twenty-
eighth year on Thursday, 11th May, 1899. She was
bred in 1871 by Mr. Snarry, her sire being Macaroni,
and her dam Polly Agnes by The Cure out of Miss
Agnes. A mare of grand stamina, she won during her
career twenty-one races of the total value of £4950.
In her three-year-old season she won the Doncaster
Cup and the Northumberland Plate, capturing the
Great Ebor Handicap the following season. At the
close of her racing career she became the property of
the late Duke of Westminster, and to her he owed the
splendid issue of thoroughbreds which followed her
illustrious son, Ormonde, he having sired Orme, who
in turn sired Flying Fox. The latter was sold to Mons.
E. Blanc on the dispersion of the late Duke of
Westminster's stud for the record sum of 37,500
guineas. For several years the famous old mare
had been kept in retirement at Eaton paddocks,
and owing chiefly to the infirmities of old age creeping
on her, it was considered expedient to " be cruel
to be kind " by dispatching her with the friendly
bullet. She was buried at Eaton, close to the remains of
Shotover and Angelica, the stone tablets, " storied with
-fl
a
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 45
their praise," recording their ages and retailing their
achievements. Lily Agnes's produce was as follows : —
Narcissus, by Speculum, in 1878; Eastern Lily, by
Speculum, in 1880; Kossington, by Doncaster, in 1881;
Farewell (winner of the One Thousand Guineas), by
Doncaster, in 1882; Ormonde, by Bend Or, in 1883;
Ossory, by Bend Or, in 1885 ; Fleur de Lis, by Bend
Or, in 1886 ; Ornament, by Bend Or, in 1887 ; Arklow,
by Bend Or, in 1889; and Orelio, by Bend Or, in
1894.
Though not in chronological order with our story,
the following account from the present John Osborne
himseK of the Agnes family may not be deemed out of
place : —
" Old Sir Tatton Sykes took a dislike to Polly
Agnes as a yearling because she was so very
small and weedy, but she grew into a big un
as a three-year-old. He asked old Mr. Snarry,
his stud groom, if he would have her, and he at
once jumped at the chance. She was at once
taken away from Sledmere to Mr. Snarry's son's
farm, which was close to Sir Tatton's paddocks.
She was tried fairly as a two-year-old, but did
not do much good. She was covered as a thi-ee-
year-old, and during that season won the St.
Wilfred Handicap at Eipon; also the Scar-
borough Handicap, carrying her first foal — a
colt named Rural Dean, by Cathedral. Her
second foal was Lily Agnes, by Macaroni. We
tried Lily Agnes on Middleham Moor in the
spring as a two-year-old at even weights with
Euphrosyne and Organist, the latter being also
a three-year-old. She beat Organist a head,
with Euphrosyne last. She was never beat as
^ ashgill; or, the life
a two-year-old, winning the Seaton Delaval at
Newcastle, a race at York, and another at Kelso
m the autimin. As a three-year-old she won
her first race at Croxton Park; was beaten at
York Spring and at Chester in a badly run race
after which she carried 6 stone 10 lbs. home for
the Northumberland Plate, following that up
by winning the same season the York Cup the
Doncaster Cup, and then Peut-etre beat her in
the Queen's Plate at Manchester. As a four-
year-old she ran a dead heat for the Queen's
Plate with the French horse, Figaro II
and won the decider by a head; also won
the Ebor Handicap that season. She won
the Queen's Plate at Shrewsbury, beating
amongst others, Princess Louise Victoria!
In her five -year -old career she won a
Queen's Plate at Chester. That season she
was trained again for the Northumberland
Plate by my brother William, who had her under
his eyes all along; but three days before she had
to run for that event, Mr. Snarry took her away
from Ashgill and placed her under the charge
of Charles Lund. An opinion got abroad that
the late Mr. Harry Bragg had laid against her
After wmmng her race at Chester, Lily Agnes
was intended for the stud and to be put to
Lecturer. Then the weights came out for the
Northumberland Plate, and she was put into
training again; in fact, she was never really
taken out of training. She did not run very well
in the Northumberland Plate. It would be as
a six-year-old that she went to the stud, Mr.
Snarry breeding several times from her; then
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 47
he sold her to the Duke of Westminster. When
the Duke got her she was first mated with
Specuhmi, and I don't know what beside, before
she threw Ormonde."
Lily Agnes's six-lengths' victory in the Tyro Stake
at Newcastle-on-Tyne was her first indication of the
excellence she afterwards develoi^ed on a racecourse.
A lop-eared, ragged-hipped filly, she altogether upset
Sir Tatton Sykes' poor estimate of her worth, which
was to be confirmed in late years at the stud with the
happy issue of the Macaroni cross. In her lightness she
bore the earlier traits of the Agnes family. As time wore
on she developed grand muscular and propelling power,
with beautiful skimming action over the ground
that served to consolidate the fortune of " Sir
Tatton's " stud groom. Her two-year-old career
closed with an unbroken record of success. As a
three-year-old she ran ten times, winning on seven
occasions, defeating, amongst others, high-class animals,
hke Controversy, Lilian, and The Scamp. Notable
amongst her triumphs were a Northumberland
Plate, a Doncaster Cup, and the Ebor Handicap,
carrying 8 stone 8 lbs., in which she defeated
Aventuri(^Te, thereby upsetting one of Fred Swindell's
deeply laid plans in the Cesarewitch of the preceding
year, Aventuridre afterwards winning a Goodwood Cup.
Placing Alice Hawthorn, as John Osborne does, on
an equine pedestal of the highest eminence, an excuse
is offered to dwell on her wonderful career ahke as a
racer and a matron. Fortunately for the modern breed
of thoroughbreds, mares like " Old Alice," Bee's-wing,
Blink Bonny, and Caller Ou have transmitted some,
if not all, their good attributes which served to gain
them renown in the Turf annals of their days. John,
48
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
indeed, is inclined to esteem Alice Hawthorn the
grandest mare ever foaled.
Alice Hawthorn died in 1861, in the twenty-third
year of her age. Only a short time prior to her decease,
Touchstone, the then venerated " King of the Turf," had
" paid forfeit," and the death of " Alice " who, in those
days of stayers, was dubbed the " Queen of the Turf "
was mourned as a national loss. At the time of her
death she v/as under the care of Mr. Winteringham at
the Croft Stud, near Darlington. A few statistics,
extracted principally from the Racing Calendar of
those distant days, will readily show that she really
had been a " Queen of the Turf." She started for
seventy-one races, and of these she won not less than
fifty-one. She also ran a dead heat, and the stakes
were divided. She was placed, when not a winner,
ten times; unplaced (but some of these were won by
an animal out of the same stable), nine times. In
1842-3-4-5 she won stakes, as per the Calendar, of the
value of £8500, viz., sixteen cups, including the Chester,
Doncaster, and Goodv/ood Cups, and the Queen's Vase
in addition to eighteen Queen's Plates. The amount
of money she won was small in comparison with our
days of " ten thousand pounders " ; but when it is
considered she did not run for any of the rich two-
year-old stakes, it is large. She w^as not trained until
July or August, in 1841, although she was then, and for
some time afterwards, called a three-year-old, whereas
she was really 3^ years old before she was broken in.
Her racing career may be said to have commenced in
1842, the first win being the Chester Cup, and she was
so soon found to be a Cup animal that there was little
chance of getting her reasonably in for a handicap;
hence arose the great number of Queen's Plates and
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 49
Cups won by her. The fact of her not having been
broken in until she was some forty months old may be
accounted for the good properties she revealed during
her extended and busy career. She never met a Derbv
winner, but she defeated three St. Leger winners, one
Oaks winner, as well as most of the best horses of her
day. She combined great speed with great weight-
carrying and staying powers. As a brood mare the
largest price ever heard of ujd to that period had been
offered and given for some of her produce. She left
behind four noteworthy sons in Lord Fauconberg, by
Birdcatcher; Oulston, sold for 6000 guineas; Findon,
by Touchstone; and the Derby winner, Thormanby,
by Windhound. Amongst her best daughters were
Terrona, whose produce sold well, and Lady Hawthorn,
a sister to Thormanby. She was bred by Mr. John
Plummer, of New Parks Farm, Shipton, near York,
whose brother bred Thormanby. As a yearling she was
sold, but the purchaser declined her. She was subse-
quently thrown upon her breeder's hands. Mr. Plummer
was not a racing man, but seeing the grace and elasticity
of her movements in the paddock, determined not to let
her pass out of his hands for an " old song." Time
wore on, and until the month of July, when, as already
stated, she was upwards of three years old, the eye of
Alice Hawthorn had " never looked through a bridle."
She was sent to Leonard Heseltine, at Hambleton, to
be trained, the owner to divide the profits, if any.
After her powers of speed and endurance had been
displayed to the public, an offer of £2000 for her was
refused by Mr. Plummer. In the zenith of her career
she was leased to Mr. Salvin, and in the year preceding
her retirement from active participation in racing Mr.
Williamson hired her for 1500 guineas. She then went
E
50
ashgill; or, the life
to the stud. In 1859 she lost her foal, by Wild Dayrell,
at ten weeks old, after which her udder became impure,
caused by the absorption of milk into her system.
Towards the end an abscess formed in her udder, which
was lanced by Mr. Hedley, of Richmond, just before
the " Queen of the Turf " breathed her last, after a
glorious career.
Old stagers may agree, after reading the foregoing,
with John Osborne in his high estimate of Alice
Hawthorn as being one of the grandest mares that
ever bore saddle, possessing as she did first-class speed
and great staying powers. He speaks of her effort, in
which she just failed, to give a useful handicap horse
like Red Deer no less than 5 st. 8 lbs. in the Chester
Cup as one of the greatest performances on record.
She followed that up the following day, when, carrying
9 St. 6 lbs., she won the Duke of Westminster's
Plate, giving Philip, four years, who was second, 2 st.,
and having seven others behind her. Her subsequent
defeat of Robert de Gorham, and her victory in the
Goodwood Cup with 3 to 1 on her in a field of eleven
starters, bore further testimonv to her all-round merit
and her wonderful hard constitution — perhaps the
hardest of any racer of the present century. She missed
twice to Lanercost, and then bore useful animals in
Young Hawthorn, Lord Fauconberg, and Terrona. She
redeemed her character as a matron by throwing
Oulston, a high-class animal, but so delicate in his con-
stitution that John Day affirmed the lightest cloth would
make him sweat, and rarely would he look at his manger
after a strong exercise. With increase of years as a
matron her stock improved. But she set a seal on her
name when she threw Normanby in 1857, then being
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 51
nineteen years old. Thormanby was her eighth foal.
That Thormanby was a top sawyer cannot be gainsaid ;
and Harry Custance, in his " Recollections," places him
on the same pedestal of merit with Sterling and the
"triple classic" Lord Lyon. Some breeders incline
to the belief that the descendants of "Old Alice"
inherit their excellence mainly from her, but it does not
always follow that the dam is the chief agent in repro-
ducing speed, stamina, and gameness. Isonomy was
unquestionably the greatest horse of his epoch, though
he never had the chance of gaining classic renown,
which undoubtedly he would have achieved had he been
in the Two Thousand, the Derby, or the St. Leger. His
victories in the Ebor Handicap and the Manchester
Cup were, in every sense, really great performances as
a weight carrier over a distance of ground. In such
descendants as Common, Isinglass, Ravensbury, and
Satiety he has immortahsed himself as a sire. As a
set off against the theory that excellence is mostly trans-
mitted from the dam, the case of Isonomv stands out
irresistible, and equally so is it dissipated by St. Simon,
a really great horse, who has got winners in the first
flight from different mares, whose strains have nicked
in with the Stockwell and Faugh-a-Ballagh blood he
combines in his descent.
Some two years ago a correspondent wrote to the
Editor of the Snorting Times as follows : —
" In September last a letter was addressed to you
by Mr. Oswald Fletcher, giving certain erroneous state-
ments concernincr Alice Hawthorn. First in the list is
O
the statement that ' Mr. John Plummer, a carrier in
Colher Gate, York (the firm is still in existence),
bought Rebecca (dam of Ahce Hawthorn) for
52
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
30 guineas. He sent it to his brother, Mr. Francis
Plummer, living at New Parks, Shij^ton, York.' Now
the fact is Mr. John Pkuiimer was never a ' carrier '
(which I take as an obvious misprint for currier). It
was Mr. Francis Plummer who was a currier at Collier
Gate, York. Then the ' firm still being in existence ' is
not veracious. The firm really expired when Mr. Francis
Plummer died in 1891. Mr. Francis Plummer lived at
Layerthorpe Grove, York, and Alice Hawthorn was
there for years as a brood mare, and had all her produce
there. The beautiful little place is now rather spoilt bv
the railway company having a cattle market branch
through it. It was Mr. John Plummer who lived at
New Parks, Shipton, and not Mr. Francis Plummer,
the latter, as already stated, being the currier at Colher
Gate, York. Then as to the story about naming Alice
Hawthorn, your correspondent stated that Mr. Francis
Plummer stood godfather to the child named Alice
Hawthorn. He did nothing of the sort, for the little
lady was seven years old when he met her at the house
of a friend, Mr. Hawthorn, who was one of the heads of
the great Newcastle engineering firm of that name, and
which, now being an extended company, is known as
' Hawthorn, Leslie & Company.' The real facts of the
naming of Alice Hawthorn are briefly as follows : — Mr.
Francis Plummer saw a little girl seven or eight years
of age (too old to require a godfather, one would think)
at his friend Hawthorn's house. He had not found a
name for ' Old Alice ' then. Being pleased with the
child's manners, he asked her name. ' Alice Hawthorn,'
was the reply. Thereupon he resolved to name his
filly after the child, and, as history proves, a lucky
piece of nomenclature it was. The date of that incident
would be 1839, when ' Old Alice ' was a yearling.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 53
" Your correspondent further stated : — ' Mr.
Pliimmer let the mare to Mr. Heseltine, and her
unlooked-for success caused one of those worthy
gentlemen (the Messrs. John and Francis Plummer)
to take heart disease, which was subsequently the
cause of his death. This information is 'backed
up ' by other two old stagers who knew Mr.
Plummer, his mare, and Messrs. Heseltine personally.'
Now, to prove that this is merely romance, let
me state the facts. Mr. John Plummer was
killed by a fall from his horse in 1846. Alice
Hawthorn was foaled in 1838, and therefore the heart
disease fable will hardly hold water in this case. On
the death of Mr. John Plummer in 1846, Alice
Hawthorn and two or three other animals belonging
to him were sent up to Tattersall's and did not evoke a
bid. ' Alice ' and the others then became the joint
property of the late Alderman Benjamin Plummer, of
Newcastle-on-Tyne, and Mr. Francis Plummer. The
former died in 1889 and the latter in 1891. These facts
still further explode the ' heart disease ' romance.
Alice Hawthorn, after the Tattersalls' failure, was
jointly retained by the late Mr. Anthony Nichol,, of
Newcastle-on-Tyne (owner of Warlock, The Wizard,
and Newminster), and Alderman Benjamin Plummer,
though she was still under Mr. Francis Plummer's
fostering care at his place at Layerthorpe Grove, York."
Mr. W. R. Plummer, M.P., of Newcastle-on-Tyne,
son of the late Alderman Plummer, and nephew
of the late Messrs. Francis and John Plummer,
doubts the statement that Alice Hawthorn was
leased to the Heseltines for her racing career;
his opinion is that they only trained her. Mr.
W. R. Plummer, who is naturally proud of his
54 ashgill; or, the life
family connection with so great a Turf celebrity
as " Old Alice," has now in his possession a relic
of her. It takes the fomi of one of her hoofs, on
which the following inscription on a silver plate
appears : —
' ' The right fore hoof of the celebrated mare Alice Hawthorn,
out of Rebecca, by Mulej Moloch ; bred by Mr. John Plummer.
Died 20th April, 1861."
PRODUCE OF ALICE HAWTHORN.
Bred by Mr. J. Plummer in 1838, got by Muley Moloch, her dam Rebecca,
by Lotteiy — Cervantes.
1847-48 — Missed to Lanercost.
1849 — b c by Y. Hawthorn by Lanercost.
1850 — b c Lord Fauconberg, by I. Birdcatcher.
1851 — b f Terrona, by Touchstone.
1852 — b c Onlston, by Melbourne.
1853 — b c Findon, by Touchstone.
1854 — b f Lady Haivthoo-n, by Windhound.
1855 — b c Coxivold, by The Flying Dutchman.
1857 — chc Thormanby, by Melbourne or Windhound.
1858 — br f Sweet Haivthorn, by Sweetmeat.
1859 — c by Wild Dayrell. (Died within a week.)
1860 — Missed to Windhound.
1861 by Wild Dayrell.
."Alice " had no foal after 1859. She slipped a foal
to West Australian early in 1855, and was covered by
him again the same year, but proved barren.
Of Caller Ou it has been said that she was as unlike
Alice Hawthorn as any mare could well be; the one
was all elegance, the other all coarseness. Their
behaviour, too, was widely different. Caller Ou held,
her head high up in the air and frequently jerked it
back as if she intended to knock her rider's teeth out,
and really was never seen to perfection until she was
fully extended — then her action was very grand.
Alice, on the other hand, stretched out her neck (a very
Bred l»y
'Mr. B. Plummer.
P3
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 55
long one), looked round her from side to side, but never
cocked up her head or threw it back, and certainly was
never fully extended in her life. Alice looked the
animal, i.e., looked like a thoroughbred mare, though
a very singular one. Caller Ou, on the contrary, was
a very common-looking beast, more like a half-bred
hunter than a racehorse, with a great deal of long hair
on her legs.
56 ashgill; or, the life
CHAPTER V
"Whate'er with Time hath sanction found
Is welcome, and is dear to me."
That the racecourse had an irresistible charm for the
striphng little " Johnnie " Osborne is gathered from his
own statement that he slipped from the village school
of Brompton-on-Swale to see the races at Catterick,
which is quite contiguous. One wonders if the long-
since departed old pedagogue, who taught " Johnnie^s "
young idea how to shoot, was " hossey " inclined. If so,
he would wink at the insubordination of his young
charges when they slipped away to creep under the
racecourse rails. This would occur in the days of Bee's-
wing. We opine there are few men living who can
boast of having seen Catterick races as far back as 1839
and 1840, when old Bee's-wing was a cup winner at
the still extant old-fashioned Yorkshire fixture. Listen
to what " Mr. John " has to say of his experiences in
those days —
" I was at Catterick races when Bee's-wing
beat Penitent in '39 ; and in '40, Hydra, Philip,
and Bee — the latter belonging to my father —
went down before Squire Orde's grand old mare.
I saw Charles XII. in '41, there being only three
runners that year. Kaiser, a horse owned by
the Duke of Cleveland, got his foot in a hole and
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 57
broke his fetlock. So you see they ran good
horses at the Httle place in those far-off days.
" Resuming my recollections of Ashgill in
the ' forties/ Brandy Face and Lady Hilda were
good winners for the stable in '47. In the
following year, Brandy Face, who was an
Inheritor, won eight or ten races for us. I looked
after him myself up to the end of his four-year-
old career. He was then sold by my father to
Lord Wiliam Powlett for 400 guineas, and he
won several races for his lordship afterw^ards.
Ada Mary, by Bay Middleton, Avas one of ours
in '48. She was the dam of Adamas, and won
the ' Convivial ' at York that year. I rode her
at Richmond, when she beat Ruby by a head.
My first winning mount was at Ripon in 1848,
on a horse called Billy, from Brigg. I had
actually won the first heat in the same race the
previous year on Monsieur Pierrot. Then George
Abdale rode him in the second heat and was
beat, but he won the third on him and the stake.
After the race, the owner of Monsieur Pierrot
came up to me and said —
" ' You would have w^on on him the second
heat if you had been allowed to ride.'
" The horse ran away with me the first heat.
When they put George Abdale up for the second
heat, he waited and w\as beaten. They found out
the mistake in waiting, and, changing the tactics
the third heat, we sent him along at top speed
and won in a canter. In those davs there was a
great deal of racing in heats. At all the small
meetings there was one race in heats each day.
" ' Was it not verv severe on the horses ? '
58 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
" I don't know. They used to come out again
the next day and run all the better for it.
That same horse Brandy Face I was speaking
about, he ran in each of the four heats for the
Queen's Plate at Carhsle, and was beaten a head
in the last. He came out next week at Lancaster
and appeared none the worse for it. In the race
for the final there were only two heads in it —
Quadruple first, Brandy Face second, and Sylvan
third.
"In '49 and '50, Ada Mary, GlacUole (a
useful two-year-old by Gladiator), and Maid of
Masham won several races for my father. Maid
of Masham was trained by Thomas Dawson up
to '49, and she came to my father in '50, when
she was a five-year-old. In that year she won
a number of Queen's Plates and the Nottingham
Handicap as well. About this period Acyran-
thus appeared on the scene, winning at Thirsk,
Newton, and several other places ; and the Black
Doctor also about this time did us good service.
He was bred by my father, his sire being The
Doctor, and his dam Betsy Bird. One of his
best performances was winning the Eghnton
Stakes at Doncaster, beating Bee Hunter, second,
with the great Beverley mare, Nancy, third.
That was the first year of the Eglinton Stakes,
Lord Eglinton adding £200 to the race. After
that Black Doctor won several races for us, and
my father sold him to Mr. Saxon, for whom he
ran second to Nancy the following year for the
Chester Cup ; second in the Dee Cup ; unplaced
in the Derby, and second in the Manchester Cup.
Edwin Parr, the trainer of Lord Clifden, had
him as a three-vear-old. I rode Pity the Bhnd
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 59
when he won the Newton Cup in 1849, carrying
5 St., and won the Liverpool Cup the same year
on Bon-Mot, then being about sixteen years old.
My father gave me the Liverpool Cup, which I
have in my possession to this day. Pity the
Blind, by Inheritor, was bred and owned by my
father. Bon-Mot belonged to Mr. Disney, an
Irish gentleman, who afterwards owned Indian
Warrior, Knight of St. George, and a winner
of the Cesarewitch before that. I rode Bon-Mot
the day after he won the Liverpool Cup, and got
him home for the Bentinck Memorial. Both
Mr. Disney and my father wanted somebody
stronger than I on him, as I had to carry 7 st.
5 lbs., which meant a lot of dead weight. Mr.
Walsh, the trainer, who was ' a little bit on '
after winning the cup, strongly objected to any
change, saying, ' The lad won on him yesterday,
and he'll win on him again.' "
Enlarging upon his recollections (all of which, so far,
and indeed all that follow, are shorthand notes taken
from our hero's o^vn lips, without once consulting any
record whatever — a marvellous feat of memory), we
cull some facts from the Racing Calendar of 1849.
On the very first page the record states that on 28th
February of that year, exactly fifty years ago from the
period of this compilation, "Osborne, jun.," won the
Trial Stakes at Liverpool Spring Meeting on Mr. C.
Hall's Ada Mary (three years), by Bay Middleton,
beating Isaac of York, Sir Richard, and three others.
He followed that up at Manchester the succeeding
month by riding the same filly to victory in a sweep-
stake of 5 sovs. each, with 40 added, eight others being
behind her. The one-eyed Pity the Blind he rode into
second place, behind Mr. G. H. Johnstone's Priestess,
€0
ashgill; or, the life
the same month for the Northamptonshire Cup Stakes.
He went one higher on Pity the BHnd by winning a
5 sovs. sweepstake, with "25 sovs. added by J. E.
Dennison, Esq., member for the borough." This event
was decided in four heats, one and a half miles each,
the youthful jockey being second in the first, unplaced
in the second, and winning the two final heats, Mr.
Bowes' The Flapper and Mr. Hobson's Beverley being
second and third respectively.
Prominent amongst the contemporary gentlemen
riders half a century ago were Mr. Scobell, Mr. Gregson,
Lord Howth, Lord Strathmore, Captain Williams,
Captain D'Arcy, Mr. Luke, Mr. Lovesey, Mr. Parr, Mr.
G. Noel, Mr. P. P. Holt, Mr. Clarke, Captain Harvey,
Mr. Davenport, Mr. Batson, Colonel Richardson, Mr.
Crawford, Mr. C. C. Brooke, Mr. Osbaldeston, Mr.
Powell, Mr. Carter, Mr. T. Parker, Mr. W. Savin, Mr.
Wesley, Mr. Butler, Mr. AVombwell, Mr. Pilgrim, Mr.
R. Hunter, Mr. Foster, jun., Captain Little, Captain
Broadley, Captain Peel, Mr. Elwes, Captain Bell, Mr.
Wheal, "^Mr. T. Oliver, Mr. A. Smith, Mr. Jennings,
Mr. S. Erskine, Mr. C. Boynton, Mr. Cunningham,
Captain Pearce, Captain Key, Mr. Reeve, Mr.
Berkeley, Mr. Rowley, Mr. G. S. L. Fox, Sir J. Gerard,
Mr. Nicoll, Mr. Bevill, Lord B. Cecil, Mr. Peart, Mr.
Cookson, Mr. Chichester, etc.
Young Osborne again scored this year (1849) on the
useful Ada Mary, for " sixty guineas (clear)," at
Chester, the race being two heats, once round the
Roodee. She started on even money chance the first
time, and with odds of 5 to 2 on her the second, Mr.
Thomas Dawson's The Alp being second to her in the
final. Pity the Blind gave him another winning mount
in Newton Gold Cup, the gift of the lord of the manor,
value 100 sovs. At the same meeting he was second
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 01
on Pity the Blind to Anthony for a 50 sovs. plate,
second on Lady Hylda to Maid of Lyme for the Stand
Cup, and second on Zingari to Sir Henry Hardinge, by
Gladiator, for the Newton Stakes, finishing up the
meeting by winning a 50 sovs. plate on Pity the Blind.
the Calendar having a footnote to the race, " The
winner was claimed," so that it may be assumed John
Osborne, sen., lost the useful son of Inheritor on this
occasion, after he had done the then struggling trainer
veoman service.
In the July of 1849 young " Johnnie " won his first
important handicap — the Liverpool Cup. As showing
the conditions of this race half a century ago, the record
is taken in extenso from the Calendar of that vear.
The Liverpool Cup, in specie of .300 sovereigns, given from the Racing Fund,
added to a Handicap Sweepstake of 25 sovereigns each, 15 ft., and 5 onl}' if
declared on or before 21st April ; the winner of the Two Thousand Guineas,
7 lb. ; the Thousand Ouineas, 4 lb. ; the Derby, 10 lb. ; the Oaks, 7 lb. ; or of
any other sweepstakes cup, cup stakes, or plate in 1849 (not being a
handicap) of the clear value of .500 sovereigns, 5 lb. ; and the second in the
Derby, 7 lb. ; and Oaks, 5 lb. extra ; of any two oi -such races, 10 lb. extra,
but this, in any case, to be the extreme penalty ; the winner of the Metro-
jiolitan Stakes, at Epsom, Chester Cup, Somersetshire Stakes, at Bath,
Ascot Stakes, Northumberland Plate, Cumberland Plate, or Manchester
Trades' Cup, lo lb. extra ; or of any other handicap race of the value of 20O
sovereigns clear, 3 lb. ; of 400 sovereigns, 5 lb. ; of any two of such last-
nientioned handicaps, 8 lb. extra, the winner to pay 30 sovereigns to the
judge, and the owner of the second horse to receive 50 sovereigns from the
stakes ; two miles (123 subscribers, 63 of whom paid only 5 sovereigns
each).
Mr. Disney's b c Bou-Mot, by Elvas, 3 yrs., 5 st., . . Usljorne 1
Sir R. Pigot's Essedarius, 3 yrs., 5 st. 6 lb. (inc. 10 lb. ex.), E. Sharp 2
Mr. B. Green's Westow, 3 yrs., 5 st. 5 lb. (inc. 5 lb. ex.), . Basham 3
Mr. Eddison's John (Josser, 4 yrs., 7 st. 10 lb. (inc. 10 lb. ex.), Elatman
Mr. Lawson's b h Keleshea, 5 yrs., 6 st. 12 lb., . . Ryder
Mr. Fowler's br f Ribaldry, 4 yrs., 6 st. 4 11)., . . . W. Sharpe
Mr. I. Day's gr h Portrait, aged, 5 st. 10 11>., . . . Rodney
Mr. Nicholl's eh c Woolwich, 3 yrs., 5 st. 3 lb., . . Hiett
Mr. Bowes' b c Thringarth, 3 yrs., 5 st., .... Charlton
Mr. Drinkald's b c Sauter la Coupe, 3 yrs., 4 st. 10 lb., . A. Pavis
Betting — 2 to 1 against Essedarius, 5 to 2 against Thringartli, 5 to 1 against
John Cosser, 7 to 1 against Keleshea, 16 to 1 against Westow, 16 to 1 against
Sauter la Coupe, and 20 to 1 against Bon-Mot. Won by a lengtii, the same
between second and third, Thringarth was fourth, and John Cosser fifth.
C2
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
Such is the bare record of our hero's first important
handicap success. A rare outsider, too, was Bon-Mot,
starting at 20 to 1. It is curious to note the light
weights in vogue in those times, the handicap in this
instance, so far as the actual starters were concerned,
touching as low as 4 st. 10 lbs. for a three-year-old,
Bon-Mot himself being weighted to carry 5 st. only.
Some smart handicap horses were in the field,
for it will be observed that Essedarius, Westow,
and John Cosser were each penalised for previous
successes, the latter having won the Northumberland
Plate the previous month with comparative ease,
carrying 7 st. as a four-year-old.
The following day Bon-Mot reappeared for the
Bentinck Testimonial, a mile and a half race. Here
again " Johnnie " had the mount on Mr. Disney's colt,
and, carrying 7 st. 5 lbs., he beat Westow, carrying
7 St. — the pair had met at 5 lbs. in the Cup — easily by
a length and a half. The judge placed but two, the
others (Romance, Keleshea, and Mrs. Walker) did not
pass the post.
This same month George Abdale rode Jolni
Osborne, sen.'s, Gilnochie, by Lanercost, to victory in
the Ashton Plate at Lancaster, the prize being given
by the then Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, and the
same jockey won for the same owner the Two-Year-Old
Stakes at Harrogate on Acyranthus, by Thirsk,
" Johnnie " the following day riding Mr. T. Ellis' Acomb
into second place behind Mr. H. Stebbing's Present,
by Lanercost, for the Harrogate Handicap. Fame had
now spread her wings over the embryo jockey, and his
services were in growing demand. The following
August he is given a mount by Sir Joseph Hawley on
Van Dieman for the Goodwood Stakes, and gets second,
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE G3
beaten two lengths by Maid of Lyme, who was a good
mare that season, Van Dieman that same month, ridden
by Hiett, winning the Derby Tradesmen's Plate, with
odds of 5 to 2 on him, and " Johnnie " winning a Selling
Stakes of three one-mile heats on Mr. Ellis' Acomb.
He had his first mount in the Cambridgeshire this year
on Mr. Robert's Rienzi, three years, 5 st. 7 lbs. At this
meeting, for a sweepstake of 10 sovs., the judge was
guilty of an excusable mistake. The number of Sir S.
Spry's Bastilion was put up at the winning chair by
direction of the judge, and as the mistake was not
cleared up until the horses were preparing to start for
the next race, the number of the real winner (Mr.
Burgess' Hind of the Forest, ridden by J. Sharp) was
not exhibited at all. Sir Samuel Spry, on seeing Hind
of the Forest returned in the lists as the winner of the
race, objected to the alteration, and claimed the race.
An inquiry took place before the stewards, when it
appeared that the mistake arose from the similarity
of the colours in which the two horses were ridden, and
that the judge was quite certain that the horse he
meant to designate as the winner was the farthest from
him, which was Hind of the Forest's position. Tasker,
the rider of BastiUon, on coming to the weighing-house,
and hearing that his number was up, stated that he had
certainly not won the race. On this evidence the
stewards decided that Hind of the Forest was properly
returned as the winner.
It is a most singular fact that the winners of the
first and last races recorded in the Racing Calendar of
1849 were ridden by the then rising Osborne. It has
been mentioned that on the 29th February this year he
won the Trial Stakes at Liverpool on Ada Mary. At
the Yorkshire Union Hunt, held Monday, 5th
64 ashgill; or, the life
November, he won the Scurry Handicap on Sir E. W.
Bulkeley's black filly by Picaroon, out of Bonny Bonnet
(three 3'ears), beating, oddly enough, Mr. Shepherd's
Troublesome Johnny and ten others.
Taking a hurried peep into the Calendar for 1850,
we find " Johnnie " doing further service for Ashgill and
his father. His first win of the season was on his
father's Tity, by St. Bennett, in the Serapion Stakes at
Shrewsbury. Ada Mary scored at Newton in a race,
" three heats of once round and a distance," Acyranthus
giving him another success the following day in a sweep-
stake. The Flying Dutchman was a four-year-old in
'50, and Voltigeur had won the Derby at 16 to 1.
Further successes " Johnnie " gained at Carlisle in
the Tradesman's Plate of 40 sovs., four heats of a mile
and a half each, on Mr. A. Johnstone's bay colt by
Charles XII., out of Frill, The Black Doctor taking the
Eglinton Stakes at the same meeting. On this very day
Voltigeur and The Flying Dutchman were the two cham-
pions for the Doncaster Cup, a race which led to their
match the following year on the Knavesmire at York,
when " all Yorkshire " was there. In this Doncaster
Cup Voltigeur (Flatman) carried 7 st. 7 lbs., and The
Flying Dutchman (Marlow) carried 8 st. 12 lbs. The
betting was 4 to 1 on the latter, who was beaten half a
length. The great match between the pair was decided
the following year, on 13th May, at York Spring
Meeting, the race being two miles over the old course.
Weights — The Flying Dutchman, five years, 8 st. 8^ lbs.
(Marlow), 1st; Voltigeur, four years, 8 st. (Flatman),
2nd. Even betting. Won by a length.
The day following the match Voltigeur and Mr. T.
Lister's Nancy, three years, were the only runners for
the York and Ainsty Hunt Cup, a race specially pro-
s
HI
o
H
n
o
l-H
a
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 65
vided on the card, of the value of 100 sovs., " given by
the members of the Hunt in commemoration of the great
match run at this meeting, added to a sweepstake of
15 sovs. each, 10 feet, three years old, 6 st. 10 lbs. ; four,
8 St. 10 lbs.; five, 9 st. 5 lbs.; mares and geldings
allowed 5 lbs., to start at Middlethorpe corner and go
once round ; about two miles and a half (thirteen sub-
scribers)." " Johnnie " was on Nancy, by Pompey, three
years, and Job Marson rode Lord Zetland's four-year-
old, on whom 6 to 4 was laid, Nancy winning by a
length.
The next event at tliis meeting was the " First year
of The Flying Dutchman's Handicap, of 20 sovs. each,
10 feet. Two miles." " Johnnie " rode the winner on
the Ashgill bred 'un Alp, by Provost, then owned by
Mr. J. Shepherd, but it was a desperate finish, Chantrey
pushing Alp to a head on the post.
But harking back to '50, The Black Doctor still
further paid his way at Chester, after which " Johnnie "
had his first winning mount at Newmarket on
Mr. W. E. Hobson's Gladiole in a sweepstake of
10 sovs., gaining the verdict by a neck. On the 20th
October of this year (1850) George Fordliam had his
first leg up in public, at Brighton, on Mr. Law's
Isabella, two years, " The Kid " then scaling 5 st.
The prominent professional horsemen of the period
were George Abdale, Job Marson, Arnold, Charlton,
Aldcroft, Tommy Lye, Templeman, A. Day, Bumby,
Basham, Carroll, Hammond, Hay live, G. Gates, Wells,
Cartwright, Livesey, Huxby, Simpson, Marlow, Sam
Eogers, G. Mann, F. Butler, Chappie, E. Sharp, W.
Boyce, Whitehouse, G. and J. Mann, T. Smith, W.
Smith, Heavens, Wakefield, Pavis, Redman, Bennett,
T. Byrne, T. Osborne, L. Harlock, Atherton, Steggles,
66 ashgill; or, the life
Bartholomew, Kendall, J. Prince, T. Byrne, Ashniall,
A. Day, J. Goater, Robinson, Knott, R. Pettitt, H.
Goater, Norman, Hiett, Chillman, Preece, Toovey,
Harding, Rickards, Sherrard, Plumb, and W. Abdale,
with others.
Fifty years ago these were the contemporaries of
the still hale and hearty John Osborne. How many in
this year of grace 1900 can respond to the roll-call of
Father Time?
This year of 1850 saw a most stirring St. Leger, in
which Voltigeur dead-heated with the "dark" Irish
horse Russborough, and won the decider by a length
in the hands of Job Marson, with Jim Robinson on the
Irisliman.
Further dwelhng on the period when the present
century was half-way through its course, it may be of
interest to reproduce the leading lights of the Turf when
John Osborne was already a jockey of note —
1850.
LIST OF MEMBERS of the JOCKEY CLUB, NEWMARKET.
( Lord STANLEY.
Stewards -' Earl of GLASGOW.
( Colonel PEEL.
His Majesty the King of Holland.
Hon. Col. Anson. Lord C. Manners.
Sir D. Baird, Bart. Earl of March.
S. Batson, Esq. J. Mills, Esq.
S. R. Batson, Esq. Earl of Milltown.
Frederick Barne, Esq. Duke of Montrose.
Duke of Beaufort. Hon. E. M. LI. Mostyn.
Duke of Bedford. R. H. Nevill, Esq.
Earl of Bessborough. Marquis of Normanby.
H. Biggs, Esq. Earl of Orford.
J. Bowes, Esq. Viscount Palmerston.
Sir R. W. Bulkeley, Bart. G. Payne, Esq.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE
67
Earl of Caledon.
Earl of Chesterfield.
Viscount Clifden.
Marquis of Conyngham.
T. Cosby, Esq.
W. S. Stirling Crawfurd, Esq.
Earl of Eglinton.
R. C. Ehves, Esq.
Viscount Enfield.
K Etwall, Esq.
Marquis of Exeter.
T. Gardner, Esq.
Earl of Glasgow.
A. Goddard, Esq.
Sir S. Graham, Bart.
Earl Granville.
C. C. Greville, Esq.
Sir J. Hawley, Bart.
Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Bart.
Earl of Jersey.
Earl of Lichfield,
Cynric Lloyd, Esq.
Earl of Lonsdale.
H. Lowther, Esq.
Lord Henry G. Lennox.
Viscount Maidstone.
Col. Peel.
Duke of Portland.
Lord W. Powlett.
Duke of Richmond.
Earl of Rosslyn.
Hon. Capt. H. Rous.
G. Rush, Esq.
Duke of Rutland.
J. V. Shelley, Esq.
Lord Southampton.
Earl Spencer.
Lord Stanley.
Sir W. M. Stanley, Bart.
J. Stanley, Esq.
W. Sloane Stanley, Esq.
Earl of Stradbroke.
Earl of Strathmore.
Col. Synge.
Earl of Uxbridge.
Viscount Villiers.
Hon. Francis Villiers.
R. Watt, Esq.
W. Wigram, Esq.
Earl of Wilton.
Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart.
Gen. Yates.
Death has ridden rough shod over the ranks of these
rulers of the " sport of kings " of fifty years ago.
Truly enough do the lines of Gray in his immortal Elegy
apply to them —
" The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
All that beauty, all that wealth ere gave,
Await alike the inevitable houi'.
The paths of glory lead but to the grave."
When one reflects upon the thinned ranks of the
great ones of the Turf since the year of " The Dutch-
man's " triumph in the " Eglinton tartan," and further
considers that but a handful of jockeys, and certainly
not a racer then treading the Turf, survives in our day,
well mav he exclaim, " Vanitas vanitatum ! "
68 ashgill; or, the life
Amongst the lords of the harem popular in '50 were
Alarm, who got a goodly crop of foals. Annandale was
not so fashionable as Bay Middleton, whom Lord
Clifden, Mr. Newcomen, Lord Chesterfield, Sir R. Pigot,
Mr. Greville, Lord Oxford, and Colonel Anson
patronised. Birdcatcher, in whom old John Osborne
strongly believed, was wooed by Blue Bonnet, AHce
Hawthorn, and Martha L^'nn, amongst other proud
dames. Lord Spencer went in largely for Cotherstone,
as also did Lord Clifden, with Sir Joseph Llawley, Mr.
Greville, Mr. Osbaldeston, and others in a lesser degree.
Lord Glasgow's leanings were for Don John, as also
were those of Sir Joseph Hawley and Lord Chester-
field. Faugh-a-Ballagh and Hetman Platoff were in
good demand from various breeders ; and Lanercost had
a large clientele of " sweet things " to dally with.
Touchstone was a great lady-killer, and sired a big crop,
his patrons including Mr. Watt, Lord Stradbroke, Lord
Westminster, Messrs. Tattersall, Captain Archdall, Sir
Charles Monck, Lord Exeter, the Duke of Richmond;
" Squire " Orde also sending brave old Bee's-wing to
Touchstone, whom Tom Dawson, of Tupgill, esteemed
"the best horse that ever put head through a bridle."
Bay Middleton was still in his prime, as were also
Orlando, Pantaloon, and Nutwith, the latter's services
being wholly appropriated for the season by Lord
Exeter, while Sir Tatton Sykes put no less than twenty-
nine mares to an unnamed son of Sleight of Hand.
We now advance into the fifties, and John, rubbing
aside the cobwebs of his memory, continues —
" In 1850 I rode Haricot, the dam of Caller
Ou, and won, if I remember rightly, a handicap
on her at Eadclifte Bridge. Maid of Masham
paid her way for us in 1851, winning.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE G9
amongst other races, the Cumberland Plate
and several Queen's Plates. She was second
to Nanc}', giving her 2 st. for the Ebor
Handicap; and beat Prime Minister, weight
for age, in the County Plate T.Y.C. on
the Knavesmire the same afternoon. Oxford
Blue and The Alp that same season were winners
for us. In 1852 we had a rather good year.
Exact and Lambton were the crack two-year-
olds, and Audubon was to the fore. Exact won
a number of races, and Lambton seven or eight.
My father bought both of them as yearlings from
Lord Durham. Exact was a Birdcatcher, out of
Equation (sister to Euclid), by Ennui out of
Mary, by Whisker. Lambton was by The Cure
out of Elphine by Emilius. Elphine was sister to
Pompey (dam of Warlock), and I fancy also the
dam of The Wizard. Mr. Anthony Nichol, a
Newcastle chemist, bought both Warlock and
The Wizard from Lord Durham.
" My father just missed Warlock ; he always
said he ought to have had him. He had been at
Newcastle races and had to call at Lord
Durham's place at Fence Houses on the way
home to look at the yearlings. He missed his
way somehow, and did not touch the station at
Fence Houses. Had he seen Warlock, I have
no doubt he would have bought him. As it was,
Mr. Nichol was the lucky man. Merry Bird
by Birdcatcher, was a smart two-year-old
this season, which Lady Agnes, by Bird-
catcher out of Agnes by Clarion, finished up well
for us by winning the Nursery at Nevnnarket;
Merry Bird being second to her. Lady Agnes,
70 ashgill; or, the life
who was the first produce of Agnes, did not do
so much good the next year. She got Imocked
on to the rails in the Chester Cup, and ran badly
in the Dee Stakes the following day. After-
wards she appeared in a number of races, winning
at Croxton, beating Adine ; then went to Chester,
running four times at the meeting, and winning
on the last day. She ran twice at Manchester,
one of the races being three miles and a distance ;
and ran at Beverley the following week. And
this is what they call ' The soft Agnes family.'
" The ' Agneses ' were always a little bit
flighty — always very high-spirited. ' Old Agnes '
herself was peculiar in her temper; in fact, I
believe her dam Annette had the same traits, for
she could never be trained, I've heard them say.
Miss Agnes, an own sister to Old Agnes, had a
bit of temper. This Miss Agnes ran the course
twice or thrice, if I mistake not, at Liverpool,
and didn't start. She was a three-year-old in
1843, and a year younger than Old Agnes. Miss
Agnes never went to the post again after her
Liverpool capers. My father bred to Miss
Agnes, who had some produce, and he then sold
her and ' Old Agnes ' to Sir Tatton Sykes, and
they went to Sledmere. They were carrying
Tibthorpe and Bismarck, by Weatherbit, at the
time. Lord Westmorland got Bismarck, and
a smart horse he was too. At this period a
two-vear-old named Alfred, an own brother to
Miss Agnes and ' Old Agnes,' won us a number
of races. Then there was Lord Alfred, by
Chanticleer out of Agnes; he ran twenty-five
times as a two-year-old — won ten times, ran_
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE '1
second ten times, twice third, and twice
unplaced, if my memory serves me true. My
father sold him as a three-year-old to John
Jackson, who bore the nickname of ' Jock o'
Oran,' and bred horses at Fairfield, near York.
Lord Alfred won his last race as a three-year-old,
beating the Chicken, who had previously beaten
him in a handicap across the flat at New-
market. They ran first and second on that
occasion, but Lord Alfred turned the tables on
him at Shrewsbury.
" Did you ever have any personal dealings
with the owner of the Chicken?
" ' The Chicken,' repHed John, ' belonged to
the notorious Palmer, the poisoner, of Eugeley.
I met Palmer first on the course at Bogside,
where I had some horses belonging to my father.
Palmer had Doubt there running for the
; Handicap, and we ran Alp in the same race.
Alp won. Doubt being second to him. Before
the race Palmer came up to me and asked my
opinion about the different horses in the race.
I told him, ' I think I shall beat yours.'
" He repHed, ' You'll win then.'
" I said, ' I think I shall'
" That was the first time I met Palmer, but
he used afterwards to come up to me frequently
and chat about the horses at other meetings. I
always thought him a nice sort of fellow to
speak to."
This William Palmer, the poisoner, at the time
became the most notorious man in Europe. A phreno-
logical lecturer, who took a cast of the dead man's head
as he lay in the dead house of the prison after he had
"2 ashgill; or, the life
been hung, considered that the rolHng motion of his
body and head as he tripped along the corridor to his
doom was the " natural language of love of approbation,"
and that his tripping on the toes with a cat-like motion
was the result of a very large secretiveness. Palmer's
winnings commenced in " The Dutchman's " year, and
Doubt was one of his first racehorses. His dovx'nward
career began with the defeat of Hobbie Noble, and it
is chronicled that from the Derbv dav his sorrows be^an
and his crimes accumulated.
" Palmer's experience," says an old writer, " as a
medical student at St. Bartholomew's gave him a
scientific knowledge of the deadly properties of
strychnine with which he operated upon the liver
of his victims. From his earliest years he evinced
a deep passion for the Turf, and with that passion
grew a stronger one for gambling. Success
smiled upon him so abundantly that in a brief
space of time from being a penniless student he rose
into a position of affluence, becoming the owner of a
Chester Cup winner and a favourite for the Oaks.
Sporting men in his own neighbourhood and elsewhere
would be proud of the slightest mark of recognition from
him, and treasure up a hint as a junior barrister would
an expression of encouragement from a Lord Chancellor.
Upon his return to Rugeley he scraped sufficient money
to buy a colt called Ferry Hill (by Plenipotentiary out
of Memphis), which Avon him two races. He won £500
over The Flying Dutchman at Liverpool, and following
Lord Eglinton's horse up at Doncaster won a stake
large enough to purchase a few steeplechasers to amuse
himself with in the winter.
" In 1851 he came out with Doubt, with whom he
won the Leamington Stakes at Warwick of the
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 73
value of £955, not to speak of £2800 in bets.
Goldfinder won him more than £3000 in the
Shrewsbury HandicaiD. Subsequently he won at
Wolverhampton with the same horse as much as the
Ring would let him. But one of his greatest coiifs
was at Warwick, where Goldfinder won him £900 in
stakes and £6000 in bets. His star was still in the
ascendant at Manchester a fortnight later, when he had
a big haul over his mare Trickstress, and landed the
Great Shrewsbury Autumn Handicap with Doubt. On
his own horses the recreant won heaps of money, but his
inordinate passion for gambling led him to back other
people's. He fell a prey to the astute and deep-
designing bookmakers, and he came under the clutches
of the ' sixty per shent ' merchants as his fortunes left
him. The bookmakers took advantage of him by laying
him less than the market price, and it being known at
times he was short of monev, his commissioners would
frequently insist on hedging a great portion of the bets
they had invested for him. In 1852 Doubt did him
service, but his success was counterbalanced by the
successive defeats of Goldfinder at Liverpool, Notting-
ham, and Leamington. He now became seriously
embarrassed in his finances. He had backed Goldfinder
for enormous sums, and was so enraged at losing that he
attributed the cause to the jockey and refused to let him
ride for him any longer. A more unfounded case for
suspicion never arose on the Turf, as it was evident to
all racing men the horse was sore, and it was asking
him too much to come out within so short a period for
so many races.
" The following year (1853) he brought off a great
couf — the greatest he ever landed during his
sensational career — by winning the Chester Cup, long
<-i ashgill; or, the life
the object of his desire, with Goldiinder, after a most
severe race, in which twenty-nine animals ran, the
verdict being half a neck, and many imagined it was a
dead heat between him and Talfourd. Over this race
Palmer won £12,000 in bets and nearlv £3000 in stake.
Other successes followed Goldfinder s that season, and
Palmer's stud of horses increased. His name, for some
unexplained cause, did not appear in the Calendar for
1854. That year he started Nettle for the Oaks at
EjDSom, and she was at 2 to 1 when the flag fell. In
the race an accident happened to her which broke the
leg of her clever and honest jockey, Marlow. Many
surmises Avere entertained at the time as to Palmer
having either dosed the filly, or Marlow, as there was
a degree of mystery about the manner in w^hich Nettle
fluctuated in the betting the night before that w^as
never cleared up.
" Nettle was the animal Palmer bought with the
insurance money obtained by the murder of his
wife; and, as if to prove the truth of the old adage
that evil always comes of blood money, we may add
The Chicken, whom he had bought at the same time
and from the same funds, upset his calculations at
Warwick by not winning the Leamington Stakes,
running second only to Homily. It was surmised at
the time that to meet the settlement on that race he
was obliged to have recourse to the money lenders;
and consequently, when his securities were becoming
due, his fearful position tempted him to poison Cook,
for the sake of possessing himself of his means to stave
off for a time the evil hour. At Shrewsbury, which was
Palmer's last race meeting before his crimes found hmi
out, he won a Plate with Staffordshire Nan and the
Copeland Stakes with The Shadow, after having
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 75
assured a jockey that his other filly, Staffordshire Nan,
could not lose — a trick which provoked from the
peppery little artist of the pigskin the remark that
'Nothing else might be expected from a damned
poisoner/ Rumours of his nefarious practices with
strychnine as a means of getting rid of his victims were
very rife in the district at the time ; but so detemiined
a man, and so popular with the lower orders was
Palmer, that no one liked to throw the first stone at
him, and this forbearance, no doubt, caused an increase
in his victims."
Now, in his quiet, undemonstrative way, John
Osborne tells us that Palmer w^as a " nice, agreeable
sort of man to talk to." The preceding outline of the
poisoner's career has been excerpted from an old
Sporting Magazine issued in '56, the year that Palmer
was hung for his crimes. Further, the record states that
Palmer's general character among sporting men was
that of a good-natured, jolly fellow, and so eager to
back his horses that, provided a man would only lay him
a big bet, he did not care two straws about the price,
and would frequently take 5 to 2 when 4 to 1 was the
price. Generally he was of a taciturn disposition. His
brandy and water he had the singular habit of drinking
at one gulp, and he recommended all his friends to adopt
the same plan ; but one of them — whom it w^as strongly
suspected would have been his next victim, and who
was a celebrated pugilist — flatly refused him to drink
it so, adding that he had drunk brandy and water his
own way for the last twenty years and was not going
to alter it now. After his wife's death from the poison
the recreant administered to her, he was always so
nervous he could not sleep in a bed by himself, and a
well-known turfite generally thereafter occupied a
^*J ashgill; or, the life
double-bedded room with him, and his escape was
looked upon as miraculous, especially as he generally
carried a good sum of money about with him. At the
time of Palmer's execution an abortive attempt was
made to attribute his guilt to being connected with the
Turf. It w^as then argued with effect, as it would be
in these days in the case of poisoners and murderers
who have in nowise been connected V\'ith racing, that
whatever profession Palmer had followed his evil
attributes would have been exercised. " As a son," sums
up the old chronicler, "he was unnatural, as a
husband he was a murderer, and as a man he
was a fiend. He lived like a beast, and as such
he was destroyed and burned (in quicklime) ;
and may his example and the horror which his
simple name inspires be a warning to those who
would pervert to the worst purpose the talents they are
endow^ed with by Providence ! "
Quitting the grim memory of the recreant poisoner's
foul deeds, attention may now be directed to another
deceased contemnorarv of our hero's in John Jackson,
known amongst the Tykes as " Jock o' Oran," who was
quite the opposite of Palmer in that he did more injury
to himself than to others. It is a moot point whether
Jackson won more money over Blair Athol's than
Ellington's Derby. On the authority of the present
Tom Mastemian, of Middleham, who knew him
intimately, Ellington's Derby placed Jackson on his
legs beyond the cares of worldly dependence.
Resuming the tete-a-tete with John Osborne, he
says —
"Yes, I knew John Jackson when I was a
boy at school. He hved at Catterick with his
father, who was a farmer there. Old Mr. Jackson
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 77
had some good racing ponies, and John Jackson
used to ride them in the matches. They had a
ratth:ng good little pony by Billy out of Tunstall
Maid named 'Little Wonder.' Old Jackson
ran these ponies at the feasts all about the
countryside, and he challenged the world for
ponies under fourteen hands. John Jackson was
a real good man to hounds; a good-hearted,
thorough good fellow altogether. My father
trained several horses for him, and sold
Saunterer to him as a two-vear-old ; also
Eemedy, who was very sharp over half a
mile; and Lord Alfred was sold to him
in the autumn of 1855, out of the Ashgill
lot.
" It was on Manganese I won my first
classic race in 1856, then being in my nineteenth
year. She came to Ashgill as a yearling, and was
trained there for all her engagements. She was
the joint property of Mr. King, who lived at
Ashby de la Launde, and my father, but after I
won the ' One Thousand ' on her my father's
share w^as bought out, and thereafter she always
ran as the property of Mr. King, who was a
clergyman, and, like his father before him, bred
a number of horses. Manganese was a Bird-
catcher, and always a bit irritable, as nearly all
the Birdcatchers were. She was a very thick filly,
with fine action and great speed, and a hard
puller. Her first success as a two-year-old was
in the Bishop Burton Stakes at Beverley. She
was beaten by Fly by Night in the Convivial at
York, after which she won the Municipal Stakes
and the Portland Plate at Doncaster in 1855.
78
ashgill; or, the life
In those days the Portland Plate was a handicap
for all ages. That was before the rule came
into force that two-year-olds should not be handi-
capped with aged horses. At the close of her
two-year-old season, Manganese was beaten a
head for a Nursery at Newmarket. A mare
named Shela, belonging to Mr. Saxon, beat her —
Manganese carrying 8 st. 10 lbs., and Shela
6 St. 6 lbs.
" There were only five runners in Manganese's
' One Thousand.' She was looking ' rough ' at the
time, and I remember some one telling my father
that John Day's people were coming through with
their filly Mincepie to cut her down. My father
told me never to give them a chance but to bring
her through. I had them all settled before going
half way, and won in a canter. That same year
Manganese ran fourth for the Portland Plate
at Doncaster. In that year our stable was
second, third, and fourth. A horse trained by
Wetheral, named Lance, won ; Lord Alfred was
second, Saunterer third, and Manganese fourth.
As a four-year-old Manganese went to the stud
at Ashbv."
Manganese, bred by Mr. W. H. Brooke in 1853, was
got by Birdcatcher, her dam Moonbeam by Tomboy out
of Lunatic by Prime Minister. Moonbeam, got in
1838, was bred by Mr. King, who also bred Luminous,
Loup Garou, Gleam, Constellation, Herschel, Clair
de Lune, Moonshine, Benhams, Rebecca, Sermon,
Radiance, The Vicar, and others. She died in 1862.
She was first mated to Touchstone in 1859, but missed
to him. In 1860 and 1861 she dropped Mandragora
and The Miner, these being bred by Mr. W. H. Brooke.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 79
Her subsequent produce appear in the stud book as
being bred by Mr. " Launde " (Mr. King), and she had
Skirter, Rubbish (afterwards named Mineral), Thor's-
day, Slanderer, Minaret, In Memoriam, and others.
She was barren several seasons, and was shot in 1886.
From Mandragora, Mr. King bred Mandrake by
Weatherbit, and Napsbury by Scottish Chief in 1877.
Her daughter, Minaret, threw the useful Mintdrop by
Lozenge in 1872. Mandragora, by Rataplan out of
Manganese, set a seal to her name by being the dam
of Apology, by Adventurer, in 1871.
The allusion made to John Jackson and " Parson "
King in the foregoing pages claims some amplification.
Both were, more or less, identified with the elder
Osborne. Two more opposite types of men could
hardly be drawn. The one was a fearless, dashing
plunger ; the other a sport-loving clergyman, of spotless
reputation, who, although a breeder of many celebrated
horses, was never reputed to have wagered a shilling in
his long lifetime. " Jock o' Oran," a nickname which
clung to Jackson to his dying day, had a meteoric career
in the feverish blaze of active Turf life, until death
claimed him in 1869 at the early age of 41, his end being
accelerated by inordinate habits of indulgence. Born
about 1828, Jackson was the son of a sporting farmer.
His birthplace, so say the gossips, was at Tunstall, a
small village near Catterick, Yorkshire, where the
ancient sign of " The Angel " yet dangles from its high
place on the roadway in front of the once famous old
coaching-house which bears that name. But according
to other records, which may be accepted as being more
trustworthy, Jackson first saw the light at the neigh-
bouring village of Oran. He was early " blooded " in
sport, at least such sport as was followed in the region
80 ashgill; or, the life
of his native village. His father owned some smart
racing ponies, and ran them with signal success for
many years. Young Jackson as he grew up would
naturally be mixed in these contests, and the sport
of gambling which marked his after life was thus inbred
from earliest boyhood. He was a prominent figure at
the local coursing meetings, took part in all the cricket
matches, being accounted a good man either in attack
or defence with ball and bat. A fine athletic young
fellow, he distinguished himself as a pedestrian, and as
a fearless rider to hounds, ready at all times to put on
the " mittens," or even to fight it out with nature's own
weapons. By the time he attained man's estate, " Jock
o' Oran " was regarded as a hero in the district. Withal
he was a generous, good-hearted fellow, ever ready to
indulge in or wager on any sporting event. It is related
that his first bet of half-a-crown was invested on
Inheritress on Middleham Moor, where races of the
" flapping " order were wont to be held at stated periods,
though records are extant of race meetings taking place
there well back into the eighteenth century. At the
coursing re-unions in the Yorkshire district, he came
into prominence as a penciller, beginning, as many Turf
leviathans before him had done, with a " silver book."
Step by step his " bank " increased, until at last he was
able to enter the charmed circle of the ring, and take
his stand alongside the principal pencillers of the
day. First among the Ring celebrities of the period to
note the dash and pluck of Jackson was the leviathan
Davies. With all his apparent frankness and honliommie,
Jackson had the power of remaining as dumb as an
oyster when any stable secret of importance was
imparted to him. This astuteness and the power he
was gradually acquiring in the Ring brought him a
H
I?
•Jl
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 81
connection of great value with old John Osborne,
Thomas Dawson, John Fobert, Harry Stebbings, and
others, who, with confidence, placed their commissions
in his hands. Jockeys, too, entrusted him with their
investments. It goes without saying that the infor-
mation thus imparted to Jackson would not be allowed
to go without profit to himself. His rise to wealth was
rapid. He brought off several coiifs, which enriched
his exchequer. One of his triumphs was landing
£27,000 over Ellington, trained by Tom Dawson, for
the Derby. It is a moot question whether that win-
exceeded his gains over Blair Athol's sensational
victory in the second of the classic races at Epsom.
John Osborne has told us that Jackson bought
Saunterer from his father, Jackson then being some
thirty years of age; and, as he began a penniless
country lad, it is clear that his rise to wealth must
have been exceptional. In 1857 he owned a mare called
Sneeze, who distinguished herself by running second
in The Oaks ; and though he repeatedly made an effort
with horses he owned to gain the most envied prizes
of the Turf, Sneeze's performance was his nearest to
classic distinction. The star of the great Davies now
being on its decUne, Jackson became the " Emperor of
the Ring," occupying a position somewhat similar to
what Mr. R. H. Fry holds in the present day. While
evincing so much astuteness in his relations with trainers
and their secrets, he could hardly restrain himself at
the moment when a horse he had backed was winning,
or when one that he had operated against was
being defeated, from shouting his jubilant feehngs with
stentorian lungs, heard clear above the babel of the
crowd. In this weakness, if it may so be denominated,
he resembled the late Bob Howett, the Nottingham
G
82
ashgill; or, the life
bookmaker, and poor Tom Green, the rubicund
Yorkshire trainer who was carried off by the "pale
horseman " in 1899. Jackson prospered so well in his
affairs that he was able to own horses and place them
in several of the leading northern stables. This widely
distributed patronage still further ingratiated him with
trainers whose secrets were committed to his keeping.
He became connected with old Wilham I'Anson's
stable at Malton in this way, and thus he learnt of the
excellence of Blair Athol when the " palefaced
chestnut " was a " dark " horse for the Derby of 1864.
It was Blair Athol who dashed to the ground the bright
hopes which Lord Glasgow cherished of winning the
Derby with General Peel, so named after his life-long
and dearest friend. Blair Athol never appeared in
public until he bore the late Jim Snowden in triumph
past the Derby winning post. During the winter
Jackson had executed the commission for old William
I' Anson, and doubtless, helping himself largely to the
long odds, stood to win a huge stake.
Conflicting stories were current at this period with
regard to the antecedent environments of Blair Athol's
Derby. One rumour was that Mr. Hargreaves, " Jock's "
confederate, wanted General Peel to win, and to leave
Blair Athol a negligible quantity until the St. Leger
in the autumn. Naturally old William I' Anson was
averse to any such proposal, for he was as anxious to
secure the Epsom triumph as the excitable peer who
owned General Peel. The old trainer's will prevailed,
and Blair Athol's subsequent victory in the Derby and
St. Leger of 1864 now form stirring chapters in the
long history of those great events.
And here we may be excused making a further
digression from the direct line of the main story. Like
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 83
many other trainers who have had a Derby horse of note
under his charge, old Wilham I'Anson had a most
anxious time of it in the preparation of Blair Athol.
As a two-year-old he only came to hand in the autumn,
and with a schoolmistress like game old Caller Ou in
the stable, the trainer was plainly and irresistibly told
what a gem he had in Stockwell's son. The secret was
well kept by " Old William " and Jackson. But in the
spring of 1864, the colt then being a three-year-old, and
never yet having had his eyes opened on a public race-
course, it was found that he was subject to occasional
traits of lameness. The most careful examination by
the trainer for the cause was fruitless. Blair Athol
missed his engagement in the Two Thousand Guineas.
Even in the early inten^al between the Rowley Mile
race and its great connecting link at Epsom, Blair
Athol's mysterious defect could not be accounted for.
But the secret at last oozed out, and the miscreant
discovered. A great friend of old William I'Anson was
the late Mr. James Colpitts, of Newcastle-on-Tyne,
who will be familiar to many of the " old school " as
having kept for many years the hotel connected with
the errand stand in the davs when Newcastle races were
held on the Town Moor, prior to their transfer to
Gosforth Park, now one of the grandest racing arenas in
the kingdom. It so happened in the spring of '64 that
Mr. Colpitts had been on a visit to his old trainer-
friend at Malton. He went into a barber's shop in the
Yorkshire town, and quite by accident overheard a con-
versation between a stable lad (whose duty it was to
look after Blair Athol) and the barber. The lad,
evidently bearing some resentment against his master,
openly avowed that "No Blair Athol will win the
Derby." Then he went on to state how he frequently
84 ashgill; or, the life
kicked the j^oor brute in a delicate private part, thereby
causing the lameness which hitherto had baffled the
most anxious search to discover. The news was, of
course, speedily communicated by Mr. Colpitts to " Old
William," who, on hearing it, was driven almost to
distraction. The culprit was brought before him, duly
interrogated, and the confession of guilt made. The
recreant was thrashed alm^ost within an inch of his life
by the pardonably irate trainer, and then driven
headlong from the stables. Needless to add that, with
the cause removed, Blair Athol's lameness soon dis-
appeared, and that he became thoroughly sound. But
for Mr. Colpitts' luck}^ discovery, it is quite probable
that one of the grandest horses of the century — poor
Jim Snowden always averred he was the greatest horse
he ever rode — ^would have been robbed of Derby and
St. Leger honours by a wretched, inhuman stable lad.
After his racing career, Blair Athol became the property
of John Jackson, and he stood as a sire at Fairfield,
near York, a place which Jackson purchased and
directed as a breeding establishment up to the time
of his death.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 85
CHAPTER VI
" Now let excited Yorkshire vent
Her roar of triumph long iip-pent."
Still in the "fifties," we come to the closing years of
that decade when young John Osborne, by his improv-
ing skill as a light-weight jockey, was adding, steadily
but surely, lustre to his name. His father's stable was
now well established and tenanted by a useful class
of horses. But let John himself continue the tale in
his own matter-of-fact way : —
"Augury of ours, in 1856, was a real good
mare. Saunterer and Augury were bought at
auction by my father as foals from Mr. Jacques.
They were knocked down to him for 50 guineas
each. A filly, named Valhalla, he bought at the
same time for 25 guineas. In those days there
were few foals bought, and that is why they
were got so cheap. Augury had curbs, and
was never fit to run in the early part of her
career. She was very backward as a two-year-
old when she ran at Beverley and Catterick
Bridge, being beaten on both occasions. The
first time she was really ready was at York,
when she ran in the ' Convivial.' Blink Bonny
was her great opponent there. My father knew
86 ashgill; or, the life
Augury was very smart, and he had a great idea
she would beat Mr. I' Anson's crack filly. Blink
Bonny had beaten her at Beverley ; but that was
excused on the ground of her not being ready.
The orders were given to me to jump off and
come through, the going being very heavy.
Robert I' Anson, who was on BHnk Bonny, and
myself lay together, and we came along a
'cracker,' I can tell you. I beat Blink Bonny,
but Joe Kendal on Lady Hawthorn beat us
both. That tremendous finish was in the
* Convivial ' at York. Augury was brought out
on the following day, and she won the Eglinton
Stakes and the ' Biennial.' She ran again the
succeeding day in the Gimcrack Stakes against
Blink Bonny, but she couldn't raise a gallop, for
it was the fourth time she had run in the three
days. Augury never did much good afterwards,
and she died as a four-year-old. Her best per-
formance after her two-year-old career was
running second to Adamas for the Liverpool St.
Leger. She was a winner twice or thrice in the
autumn of her four-year-old career. She was by
Birdcatcher out of Nickname by Ishmael, and
own sister to Augur, one of Lord Zetland's which
won him the Champagne Stake at Doncaster.
" Lady Tatton, by Sir Tatton Sykes out of
Fair Rosamond by Inheritor, w^as the property
of my father. She ran three seasons, first winning
the Nursery at Newmarket in '54. The next
season she won the Palatine Stakes at Chester,
and ran third in the Dee Stakes. We took her
to Epsom for the Oaks, but on arri^dng there she
went amiss and did not run. She afterwards got
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 87
a place in the Great Yorkshire Stakes with Rifle-
man and Fandango, who were first and second;
and was ridden into fourth place for the Cesare-
witch by Tom Chaloner. At that time I was
first jockey and Tom second at Ashgill. Tom
would leave us in '61 to go to Newmarket to be
first jockey for Mr. Naylor. Chaloner always
rode well from being a boy. Harking back, Lady
Tatton ran a dead heat with Yorkshire Grey,
the pair beating Preston a head for the Good-
wood Stakes of '56. She won the Handicap at
Pontefract, beating Fisherman a head; and as
showing what a finish it w^as, Yorkshire Grey
was only a head behind Fisherman. She was
then giving Fisherman a stone, although he had
dead-heated with her at even weights at
Stockton. She won the Warwick Handicap the
same year. Lance beat her in the Queen's Plate
at Leicester the same week she won at Ponte-
fract. A smart horse was Lance at all courses.
He had previously won the Portland Plate, which
was the same ' sprint ' distance as it is now ;
whereas the Queen's Plate at Leicester was three
miles. Lady Tatton only ran once as a five-year-
old, after which she went to John Jackson's
stud at Fairfield. John Jackson had a few mares
at Oran, near Catterick, before he started on a
bigger scale at Fairfield. Lady Tatton never
bred anything wonderful that I can remember.
" Some smart two-year-olds were running in
'56. Notable amongst them was Saunterer, by
Birdcatcher out of Ennui, who won us a lot of
races, and was a good horse. He began his two-
year-old career by winning the ' Hopeful ' at
S8 ashgill; or, the life
Doncaster Spring, following that up by brackets
at Catterick and Croxton Park. At the latter
place he got a chill and went amiss, not being
quite recovered when he was beaten at Man-
chester and Chester. Once he got on to his legs,
Saunterer was a horse of great speed, but he
was not a quick beginner, and it was through
his starting so slowly that he was beaten at
Newton. It was in this year that we sold York-
shire Grey, then a two-year-old, to go to Italy.
He was brought back again to England, Mr.
Richard Boyce training him. I rode in that year
Bird in the Hand, by Birdcatcher, owned by Mr.
Cookson. She had previously beaten Ellington
in the Dee Stakes, but he reversed the running
at Epsom when he won the Derby. Ellington
was a horse of nice speed ; in fact, he didn't stand
training long.
" I took Saunterer over to France myself in
'57, when he was second to Fisherman. He then
belonged to John Jackson, who bought him
from my father for 1200 guineas. Jackson sold
him afterwards to Mr. Merry for 2500 guineas,
and for him he won the Goodwood Cup, the
' Fitzwilliam ' at Doncaster, and the Prix de
I'Empereur at Paris in '58, when he was a
four-year-old. He was in my father's stud as a
two-year-old. Altogether I rode four times in
the Prix de I'Empereur, being second on Saun-
terer to Fisherman in '57, and won with him in
'58, beating Mademoiselle Chant and Zouave,
both belonging to Count Lagrange. It was a
good stake then for English horses.
" Saunterer went amiss before the Derby of
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 89
'57, but he partially recovered. We fancied him
on the day, but he never showed his true form
in the race, and I was quite disappointed with
my mount that day. There were some real good
horses this year, and it w^as Saimterer's luck to
meet them. At Ascot he was third to
Skirmisher and Genrnia di Vergy, running the
latter to a head in that race. He won at
Newcastle, and cantered away with the Bentinck
Memorial Stakes at Liverpool, giving Lord
Nelson 20 lbs. ; he could have won that day with
10 st. up. De Ginkel was beaten half a length
only by Lord Nelson, and Saunterer could give
De Ginkel 4 st.
" In those days it was my duty to look after
the yard at Ashgill. ' Brother WiUiam ' trained
the horses princiiDally ; he is the eldest of the
family. He would begin to take a leading part
in training at Ashgill about 1850, and continued
until the partnership was dissolved in the spring
of '94. The latter part of my father's time,
' Brother William ' was nearly in full charge
of the horses, as my father's health then began
to fail, and he gradually turned weak. ' Brother
Robert' generally took a part in looking after
the horses and keeping the books, but towards
the latter part of his life — he died in 1892 — ^lie
kept the books altogether.
" Harking back to Saunterer, his great race
would be in the Great Yorkshire Stakes — the
race won by Vedette, already alluded to. He
won the Eglinton Stakes at Doncaster, and
Skirmisher beat him for the Doncaster Stakes
on the Friday. He went from Doncaster to
90
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
Chantilly, where Fisherman beat him for the
Prix de I'Empereur. That was the first year of
the race being open to Enghsh horses, and three
English horses were first, second, and third.
Wells rode Fisherman, and I rode Saunterer;
there were several French horses in the field.
" I can well remember being lost in Paris on
my return. I was late in getting into Paris at
night, and I wanted to reach Dieppe to catch a
boat to England the following morning. I hadn't
a Bradshaw, so I couldn't tell how the tidal
trains ran. When I got to Paris about midnight
I couldn't get a cab, so I had to make my way
on foot to the Pue St. Lazare. Of course I am
not a flier at talking French. I used all the
French I could, mixed with a bit of Yorkshire,
of course. All along the Boulevards I stopped
the Gens d' Amies and gave them a taste of the
lingo. It's wonderful what you can do in Paris
with a bit French.
" ' Voulez vous, mossoo, me mongtree ze way
a Pue St. Lazare? Je suis English jockee —
perdu! lost my way — vant to get zee train a
Angleterre, mossoo.'
" That fetched the Gens d'Armes. I had been
twice in France before, you see, so I was going
pretty strong in the language. Somehow or
other I got through Paris but missed my train
by half an hour, and also missed the train at
Euston. I had to ride at The Curragh the next
day, but was a day late. Saunterer came back
from Chantilly and won the Autumn Handicap
at Chester; and Charlton rode him for the
Bentinck Memorial at Liverpool as I could not
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 91
ride the weight. In 1857 I had to work hard to
ride 7 st. 12 lbs.
" Saiinterer's next appearance was in the
Cesarewitch, carrying 8 st. 12 lbs. John Jackson
made a heavy bet with some one that Saunterer
would be within six lengths of the winner.
He was well witliin the distance, and Jackson
won his bet."
John Jackson himself told Dr. Shorthouse that he
backed Saunterer to be within four lengths of the
post when the winner passed it, and won the bet.
Admiral Eous, on that occasion, decided that a length
must be taken to be three yards.
" That was the Cesarewitch in which Prioress,
El Hakim, and Brown Bess ran the dead heat.
Saunterer was fourth, and Warlock fifth. I
remember Saunterer and Warlock finishing
close together. He was giving a year away to
Warlock, who won the Leger the year before.
At the Houghton meeting that year Saunterer
gave Anton 7 lbs. across the flat, and ran third
in the Cambridgeshire the following day,
carrying 8 st. 12 lbs.
" It was through this race that Matthew
Dawson persuaded Mr. Merry to buy Saunterer,
which he did shortlv afterwards, at the end of
the season, for £2500. He left us then, and
Matthew Dawson took him. The following
year, under Matthew Dawson, he won the Good-
wood Cup and the ' Fitzwilliam ' at Doncaster,
and was second to Vedette for the Doncaster
Cup, after which he went over to Chantilly, and
I won the Prix de I'Empereur on him. The
following year he ran second to Fisherman in
^^ ashgill; or, the life
the Ascot Cup, in which he broke down and
was then sent to the stud. In 1857 we had some
very useful horses at Ashgill. There was Lady
Alice, the grand-dam of St. Gatien ; Intisidora,
afterwards named Chantress. My father bred
Lady AHce, who won us several races as a two-
year-old, as also did Intisidora, who, after
winning a selling race, was claimed by Captain
Christie. This same year my father won five
races at Eccles with Tiff and Black Tiffany.
Two members of the Eccles Race Committee
came to Ashgill a week after the races and
brought money for the five races, amounting
in all to 104 sovereigns — all in gold, which they
laid out on the table. These were the days when
stakes were very small. No, there were no
£10,000 stakes then.
" It was on Vedette in 1857 that I had my
first winning mount in the Two Thousand. He
was the property of Lord Zetland, for whom he
was trained by George Abdale. A short time
before he had to run in the 'Two Thousand'
Vedette was going off a bit. When we got on
to the course I found him going rather short
in his first canter. He had a second canter
before starting, and he went all right, and he
won the race very cleverly. I think it was a
very heavy betting race, a lot of horses being
backed that had been highly tried. There was
Anton from Danebury, and Loyola, belonging
to the Duke of Cleveland, and several others.
After Vedette had won he was dead lame, and
it took him an hour and a half to hobble from
the Heath — from the old red weighing room to
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 93
his stable. The horse was a martyr to rheu-
matism. He never ran from the Two Thousand
until he was stripped for the Great Yorkshire
Stakes in the autumn, when Ashmall rode him.
He beat Skirmisher, who was his stable com-
panion. It was in the Great Yorkshire that a
declaration was made to win with Vedette as
against Skirmisher. No doubt they declared to
win with the better horse, and Vedette won
easily. Lord Zetland was the sole owner of
Vedette, but only part owner of Skirmisher with
Mr. Savile. I fancy Mr. Savile was not well
pleased with the declaration business. At all
events, Skirmisher was taken away from Aske
shortly after, and Mr. Savile began racing him
in his own colours. There is not the slightest
doubt in my mind that Vedette was the better
horse of the two. Skirmisher was a good horse,
but Vedette had better speed, and stayed as
well. This same year I won the ' Fitzwilliam ' at
Doncaster on Vedette, and Tom Chaloner rode
him when he won the Doncaster Cup. Vedette
beat two good two-year-olds in the ' Fitzwilliam '
in Lady Ahce and Princess Eoyal; and Black
Tommy was second to him. This horse had run
second in the Derby that same year. Vedette
not being engaged, of course, did not run in
the Derby. In fact, had he been entered, he
would not have been fit to run, as he went all
wrong after the Two Thousand. He was bred
by Mr. Chilton and Mr. Anthony Harrison at
Billingham Grange; they were great friends,
and jointly owned the dam. Lord Zetland and
Mr. Williamson, who was Lord Zetland's
94
ashgill; or, the life
brother-in-law, went together to Mr. Chilton's
to look at a yearhng named Norton by
Voltigeur. Mr. Williamson at once took a
fancy to Vedette; he was a first foal, and a
little rough colt. Mr. Williamson asked the
price of him, and they put him up at £100,
and Mr. Williamson at once closed with the
bargain.
" Voltigeur, the sire of Vedette, was very
late when he went to the stud his first season,
and he had very few mares. Vedette was taken
to Lord Zetland's place at Aske to be trained
by George Abdale, who married my sister in
'56, if I am not mistaken. Abdale was with
my father as a boy in the Ashgill stable, and
remained there about nine years. He then
went to Aske to train for Earl Zetland (uncle
to the present Earl), who never had any family.
The first year Abdale began well, as he trained
Ivan, who was second for the St. Leger. He
got charge of Lord Zetland's horses in the
autumn of '53 ; he remained at Aske till '59, and
died shortly afterwards. Vedette was the best
horse he trained; but before liim he had
Fandango, with whom he won the Metropolitan
and the Ascot Cup; also Zeta, who won the
Northumberland Plate; then there were Skir-
misher, Ignoramus, and Qui Vive (a sister to
Vedette) — all good class animals. George
Abdale had been with Mr. Field at Richmond
for a short time before he came to my father.
" As a four-vear-old Vedette was beaten bv
Odd Trick for the Port Stakes at Newmarket,
but he won the Ebor Handicap the same year
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 95
with 8 St. 7 lbs. in the saddle, beating TunstaU
Maid, 6 st. 2 lbs. Underhand was behind him in
that race, but Mr. Foster's game little horse was
giving him weight. Vedette finished up by
winning the Doncaster Cup, again beating
Saunterer, both the same age. George Abdale
and I often had an argument as to whether
Vedette was a better horse than Saunterer. He
argued for his horse, and I argued as strongly
for ours. I would never give in on the point
until after this Doncaster Cup that Vedette was
the better horse, for he beat Saunterer very
easily. Vedette never ran after that race. He
was sold to Mr. Simpson, of Diss, near
Newmarket, and stood there throughout his
stud career.
" Old Dr. Shorthouse often wrote against the
Blacklock blood, and, like Mr. John Corlett, in
some of his articles in the Snorting Times,
affirmed that Galopin was by Delight and not by
Vedette. I am quite at issue with them in that
opinion. Well, now, Galopin during his first
eight seasons at the stud had only two chestnut
foals, and he averaged about sixteen foals a year.
One of these was out of a chestnut mare. Now,
Delight's dam was a chestnut with white legs;
her dam was a chestnut ; Elis, the grand sire of
Placid (Delight's dam) was a chestnut with white
legs, and so was Placid herself; and Passion,
the dam of Placid, was a chestnut. On this
statement, do you mean to say that if Galopin
had been by Delight he would not have shown
more chestnut than he does ? Mr. John Corlett
is perhaps not so strong in his doubts on this
96 ashgill; or, the life
point as was Dr. Shorthouse, and he seems to be
coming round to the opinion that Galopin was a
Vedette. There is no doubt Dr. Shorthouse did
an immense amount of harm by writing so
strongly as he did against Voltigeur and the
Blacklock blood. Many people believed in the
Doctor's opinion, and that was how the harm
was done. Why he wrote so strongly I don't
know, for there can be no doubt that Voltigeur
got some good, game horses ; and I feel confident
in my own mind that Vedette was got by
Voltigeur."
There can be no doubt that Dr. Shorthouse's
antipathy, as John implies, to the Blacklock Hue
directly infused into Voltigeur materially affected the
stud career of the latter. The Doctor, who always
called a spade a spade, affirmed at the time that " all
things evil spring from the accursed Blacklock blood,"
which Voltigeur inherited on both sides of his pedigree.
VEDETTE'S TWO THOUSAND.
The 2000 Guineas Stakes, a subscription of 100 sovereigns each, h ft, for three
years old colts, 8 st. 7 lb., and fillies 8 st. 4 lb. ; the owner of the second
horse i-eceives back his stake ; R.M. (44 subscribers).
Lord Zetland's br c Vedette, by Voltigeur,
Mr. F. Robinson's b c Anton, ....
Lord Clifden's br c Loyola, ....
Baron Rothschild's ch c Sydney,
Lord Clifden's br c by Surplice — Bee's-wax,
Mr. W. S. Crawfurd's b c Lord of the Hills,
Lord Exeter's br c Turbit,
Lord Glasgow's b c by The Flying Dutchman — Barba
Mr Howard's ch c Drumour, ....
Lord Londesborough ch c Kent,
Mr. T. dive's b c Apathy, ....
Mr. E. Parr's ch c Lambourn, ....
J. Osborne 1
A. Day 2
S. Rogers 3
Charlton 4
Sly
G. Gates
Norman
Aldcroft
Wells
Flatman
G. Fordham
Hughes
Betting — 5 to 2 against Vedette, 4 to 1 each Loyola and Kent, 5 to 1 against
Anton, 100 to 8 each against Drumour and Lambourn, and 100 to 3 Apathy.
Won by three-quarters of a length ; a head between second and third ; a.
length between third and fourth ; Drumour and Turbit next, well up.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 97
Vedette's career for the remainder of the season was
untarnished by defeat, his successes embracing the Ebor,
St. Leger, and the Great Yorkshire Stakes, in which he
was ridden by Ashmall; the Fitzwilham Stakes at
York, ridden by Chaloner; and the Doncaster Stakes,
in which John Osborne was his pilot, the horses behind
him in this latter event being Black Tommy, Warlock,
Commotion, Drmiiour, and Melissa, the latter of whom
bolted after passing the chair the first time, and
D rumour broke down.
The " Druid " relates that Vedette began the world
as " West Hartlepool," having been named by Mr. John
Bowes, " Nothing could have been more uncompro-
mising than his yearling look, as his head was big, his
middle like a brood mare's, and his hocks very far
behind him, and hence, much as Lord Zetland hked
the blood, he wavered for some time till Mr. Williamson
used all his eloquence in favour of ' the ugly one.' At
last the £250 '* went the right way, and unpromising
as the beginning seemed, it is doubtful whether ever such
a horse had been at Aske. He had quite as little notion
as Fandango of leaving off, and for pace and staying
as well, if the jockeys were polled he would have as
many votes as Voltigeur. When the chronic rheu-
matism was not troubling him, few had such action,
and as he went with his head down he seemed to ' get
all he stretched for.' He was the last horse Job Marson
ever rode in public, and Job told the stable that
Voltigeur the second had been found at last. His first
great trial was at Cattcrick before the Two Thousand,
at even weights, a mile and a haK with Ignoramus and
the four-year-old Gaudy, while Skirmisher received
* John Osborne states the sale price at £100.
H
^'"^ ashgill; or, the life
7 lbs. He just won it, but when lie and Skirmisher were
put together again over two miles of the same course he
gave Lord Fitzwilliam's horse 16 lbs., and beat him haK
a length. This course proved fatal to both of them at
last, as well as seven others from Aske, including
Sabreur, Zeta, and Fandango, and in every instance
it was the left leg which went."
Vedette, like all the Voltaire stock, including
Voltigeur himself, was heavy necked and heavy fleshed,
and it was these characteristics that made Lord Zetland
snd one or two more of the Jockey Club disHke
Voltigeur when Bobby Hill marked him as a yearhng
at Doncaster. Their verdict was confirmed when the
colt came up before Mr. Tattersall. " Take him away "
soon boomed forth, and not a soul was there to give a
hundred for a yearling that was destined to be the
rival of The Flying Dutchman. But for more interesting
memoranda auent Voltigeur and Vedette, the reader
v^^ould do well to dip into the pages of " Scott and
Sebright " and read for himself the tale as told in the
" Druid's " own incomparable style. " Bobby Hill,"
adds the Druid, " had training notions of his o\vn, and
never had a man a grander piece of stuff to work on
than the sire of Vedette. Voltigeur throve under
Bobby's gum bandaging of the legs, and would say v.^hen
asked his reasons on that head, ' They're a vast deal
better for't.' He was not the man to let his horses be
idle ; but, be his system what it might, the three-year-
old Voltio-eur thrived on it. He could sweat week after
week with 12 stone, lad and all, on his back, and quite
deserved his glowing eulogy, ' His legs and feet, my
lord, is hke hiron.' "
It is now too late in the day to question the stout-
ness of the Blacklock blood. Its value has been attested
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 99
in many ways. Himself a horse of great stamina, he
won the Doncaster Stakes over four miles, and the Cup
at York. Bred in 1814, he transmitted his excellence
to his sons, Velocipede, Voltaire, and Brutandorf
attesting to it, while the line down to the present day
stands out still more illustriously through such direct
descendants as Voltigeur, Vedette, Galopin, St. Simon,
and Persimmon, the mention of whose names is almost
strong enough evidence to raise the hot-headed Carshal-
ton seer from his last resting-place.
Voltigeur was destroyed on Saturday, 21st February,
1874. The pride of Yorkshire and one of the most
popular horses on the British Turf, he was accidentally
kicked on the near hind thigh by a mare belonging to
Mr. " Sandy " Young, the previous day, but as " Volti "
walked a"bout as usual it was not considered that the
fracture was dangerous. On the following morning,
however, the groom found, on going into his box, that
he was still lying down, and it was discovered that
Voltigeur's leg was broken. Mr. John Hedley, of
Eichmond, pronounced the case hopeless, and the horse
was shot in his box at Aske, his lesr and tail beiuG; taken
off and cured as a memento of the famous steed. Bred
in 1847 by Mr. Eobert Stephenson, of Hart, he was a
dark brown or nearly black, got by Voltaire out of
Martha Lynn by Mulatto. A handsome colt, he soon
became the idol of Richmond, and Mr. Stephenson sent
him to Doncaster in September for sale. The reserve
price of 350 gs. not being reached, hke a " convicted
prisoner " Voltigeur returned to Hart's. Shortly after-
wards the then Earl of Zetland was induced by his
brother-in-law, Mr. Williamson, to buy him. In due
course he came to Aske, where he became the idol of
Bobby Hill (the then Earl of Zetland's trainer) and of
100 ashgill; or, the life
the Earl, too, as he early developed excellences. Any-
one that contested the point with Bobby Hill as to
whether Voltigeur was the best colt ever stripped, or
dared to point out the slightest fault in his conformation,
offered a sure and certain cause for a quarrel with the
old trainer, who zealously looked after " Volti " him-
self. His delut was made on Eichmond Moor in the
Wright Stakes, when, although very backward, he
cleverly defeated Mark Tapley, one of Tom Dawson's,
who showed that he coidd race a bit when he beat the
celebrated Nancy at Warwick. Bobby Hill's confidence
in him, coupled with the fact that he was fancied by
the Earl of Zetland and Mr. Williamson, soon oozed out,
and all the Tykes backed him for the Derby. It is
said that when Voltigeur arrived in London, accom-
panied by the famous "Tubal Cain" of Aske, his
progress was Hke that of a foreign Sovereign. A
special train of North Riding farmers accompanied him,
and an equally large number of London backers cheered
him as he was whirled into Epsom. On the Sunday
morning the critics visited the Downs to see him gallop,
but owing to the tediousness of the journey "Volti"
went very stiffly in his spin, and the critics voted him a
lumbering coach horse, whilst sinister rmiiours as to
Mr. Stephenson being largely in the forfeit list caused
him to be almost " knocked out." Pitsford and Clincher
thus became greater favourites than ever. The foUownig
morning the Earl of Zetland received a communication
from Messrs. Weatherby that upwards of £400 were
due in forfeits from the nominator of Voltigeur, and
that amount, they demanded, should be paid up. Some-
what displeased at this unceremonious call upon him,
the Earl of Zetland determined, upon the spur of the
moment, to strike the horse out of the Derby, and
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 101
actually gave instructions to this effect to be sent to
Messrs. Weatherby. But the Earl was induced to
revoke his decision. A couple of dozen entered for
Voltigeur's Derby, the field including Pitsford, the
champion of the powerful Danebury stable, Clincher
and Mildew also having a large following. The
" Macaulay of the Turf " of that date described the
Derby finish as follows : —
"Now, Frank, lay on to Clincher (just glance to your right
hand),
Pitsford is at your saddle girths, they are three lengths from
the stand ;
There goes Job's finger off the rein, he clears them at each
stride,
He wins, he wins, docs Voltigeur, there's ' 7 ' up on the
slide !
'Tis done ; mixed pain and pleasure sets each mad brain
in a whirl.
And loud claps of vocal thunder greet the 'red spots' of
the Earl,
While the delighted multitude by no means lack the will
To carry to the weighing-house Job, Voltigeur, and Hill."
The return of " Job " and " Volti " to Eichniond was
a triumphal one, rejoicing and presents to Job being
of the warmest and most numerous. There were yet
other stirring incidents in store in Voltigeur's career.
He had yet to win a " Sellinger " and beat The Flying
Dutchman, his dead heat with Eussborough for the
St. Leger being the most sensational. The unfair riding
of Foley on Chatterbox, who made the running for Euss-
borough, and who crossed " Job " so often and got in
his way that he was compelled " to come " earlier than
he intended, contributed to the dead heat. In the
decider, however, " Volti " won in the most decisive
fashion.
Never was there greater excitement on the Town
Moor at Doncaster than when Voltigeur and The Flying
1*^2 ashgill; or, the life
Dutcliman met on the Cup day, the Aske stable sendino^
forth its champion bearing "spots" against the
" Eglinton tartan." Job Marson being unable to ride
the weight, the mount on "Volti" was given to Nat
Elatman, Marlow riding " The Dutchman," who made
terrific running, but the pace gradually told upon him,
for after passing the Red House the lead was diminished
and at the distance Nat was at " The Dutchman's "
quarters. " Volti's got him, Volti's got him! " shouted
Bobby Hill in an agony of delight, and as the story goes
the milHon took up the cry. The Dutchman's flag
was hauled down for the first time, and Voltigeur,
amidst such a scene of excitement as an English course
can alone give rise to, was declared one of the best
horses of the century, and one who had fully realised
the honours expected of him as a foal and a yearling.
Erom this memorable Doncaster Cup race between
Voltigeur and " The Dutchman," the great match
between the pair originated, and came off over
two miles of the Knavesmire at York in the
following spring for £1000 a side. Wilham
Osborne once said, there was " mair folk on the
Knavesmire that day than ever seen before, and
would ever be seen again." " The Dutcliman," however,
asserted his superiority, and although excuses were
oft'ered for the Yorkshire idol, he was fairly defeated
in a struggle in which all but honour was lost. Volti-
geur came out the following day, and v/as beaten when
attempting to concede 32 lbs. to Nancy, who was well
ridden by Johnnie Osborne.
As a sire he left the stamp of his excellences on such
celebrities of the turf as Vedette, Skirmisher, Bivouac,
Sabreur, Bumblekite, Geant des Batailles, Brennus,
Fragrance, and Ealkland. Voltigeur was a great
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 103
favourite with Lord Zetland, and when at Aske rarely
a day passed when his lordship did not cast his admiring
eyes over him. The Landseer canvas in the Aske
gallery reproduces in life size Voltaire's great son.
At one time, according to John Osborne, that
eminent turf authority, Mr. John Corlett, shared in
Dr. Shorthouse's aversion to the Blacklock blood. Of
late years he has become a convert from that faith,
in proof whereof we quote from a recent article of his
the following interesting particulars about Galopin,
who is Vedette's greatest son : —
" It is astonishing how the different strains
of blood have their day. They come and go like
everything else. Last year Galopin was at the
head of the list of winning sires, and this year
it is his mares that have brought him to the
front. His daughters have produced winners
of nearly £50,000, and that places him at the
top of the tree by a long way. A subscription
to his son, St. Simon, is scarcely to be obtained
for love or money, and 500 guineas is merely a
nominal fee. This struck me very forcibly when,
by accident, the other day I came across the
sale of the stud of the late Mr. Zachariah
Simpson. Galopin is a son of Vedette, and, in
the sale I have mentioned, mares by Vedette, or
covered by him, were sold at something less than
cab prices. Miss Sellon, for instance, was a well-
bred mare, but with a foal at her foot by
Vedette, and again covered by that sire, the
price for the lot was only 11 guineas. A foal
by Vedette, out of Clio, fetched 7 guineas, and
another out of the very speedy Castanette went
for 6 guineas. At that period the only blood
10-1 ashgill; or, the life
that would go down at all was the Sweetmeat
and Beadsman, which nowadays no one will look
at. Vedette, the sire of Galopin, I may mention,
was sold for 42 guineas. He was seventeen years
old at the time, and Galopin and Hermit Hved
about ten years longer than that. Talk about
the vicissitudes of noble families, we have it here !
Vedette, it should be mentioned, when sold for
the absurd sum I have stated, had got several
good winners. In a modern stud, on the
strength of a son like Speculum, Vedette would
at once have been promoted to 100-guinea
rank. There are sires now at that price who
have never got anything within 7 lb. of what
Speculum was. In contrast to the 6-guinea
mares by Vedette sold in 1871, we have his
great-grand- daughter La Fleche, who was sold
by public auction for 12,600 guineas to Sir
Tatton Sykes, who, however, was a very
unwilling buyer.
" Mares by Galopin have, during the last five
years, thrown stock that have won £100,000.
Large as is this sum, it is beaten by Hermit,
whose mares have equally distinguished them-
selves with a total of nearly £150,000. It is not
a little singular that both these sires were the
property of Mr. Chaplin at the Blankney stud.
Nor did he give an extravagant price for them.
Hermit, as a yearhng at the Middle Park sale,
cost 1000 guineas, and Galopin was purchased
after he had made a great name for himself for
a very few thousands of pounds. It is not
generally known that Prince Batthyany, before
withdrawing Galopin from the Turf, tried to
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 105
sell him to Lord Rosebery, the price asked being
10,000 guineas. The horse was at that moment
in his very prime, and had all the Cup races of
the following year at his mercy. It was a bad
day's work for Lord Rosebery when he declined
this offer. We cannot wonder, however, that
he should have done so, seeing how he had been
' bitten ' by many of his costly purchases, such
as Bonnie Scotland. What profit Galopin
would have returned on the outlav of £10,000
it is impossible to conjecture, but it may be
safely put at not less that £150,000."
lOG ashgill; or, the life
CHAPTER VII
" And so 'twill be when we are gone,
The Saddling bell will still ring on."
Resuming the tete-a-tete, we come to the closing period
of the " fifties," when the Osbornes and the stable were
in a flourishing state. The tale is thus continued by
the chief actor: —
" So far as concerned Ashgill in '59," con-
tinues " Master John," " we had a good year,
Red Eagle, ridden by Harry Grimshaw, winning
the Cambridgeshire for us. Bred and owned
by my father, he was by Birdcatcher out of
First Rate, by Melbourne. Grimshaw about
this time was connected with my father, and
had already made his mark as a ligM-weight.
He came to Ashgill as a boy, and remained
there till '61 or '62. The next vear Moorcock,
ridden by Tom Chaloner, won us the Liverpool
Cup, Red Eagle also winning a race or two,
afterwards being sold to go to Russia. Tom
Chaloner came to the stable in 1852; he was
then very light, and rode a lot of our horses
for several years. Speaking of jockeys that
have been connected with Ashgill, there was
William Abdale, Bearpark — he went abroad to»
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE lOT
ride for Count Henckell; Tom Chaloner,
Harrv Grinishaw, Whitelev — he went to
Germany; Dick and Willie Chaloner (brothel's
of Tom), Busby ; Willie Piatt, Mills ; Glover, W.
Carroll — he began riding in '50 ; and C. Carroll,
who, I think, began in '54. Both the Carrolls
died, Charles was killed at Musselburgh in '67,
a horse falling under him as he was coming
round the last turn; Bill died after leaving
Ashgill. Walter Wood would come to us about
1870; he went to New Zealand and Australia.
Then there was George Gates ; he was with John
Fobert first, and afterwards went to Bill Scott's.
William Abdale was here; he was the crack
light-weight of his day, and went from my
father to Lord George Bentinck, riding a lot for
him at Goodwood. George Abdale, too, was a
good jockey, but always a little bit heavy. He
rode Maid of Masham for all her races as a five
and six-year-old. Bearpark rode well, though he
ncA^er got much riding except on horses in our
stable; he was very successful abroad as a
jockey. Tom Chaloner was a good jockey — a
good light-weight ; he was good all through, from
a boy upward. So was Harry Grimshaw, who,
on leaving Ashgill in '61 or '62, went to ride for
Count Lagrange in England at the time the
Count came over to race in this country, winning
a lot of races for him. Gladiateur was his great
mount, but he did not ride him as a two-year-old,
Edwards riding him twice that season. Harry
Grimshaw was killed on his way home from a
race meeting. It was a very dark night, and the
trap in which he vras riding was upset by some
108
ashgill; or, the life
means or other. Poor fellow! he was killed on
the spot, and was brought here to be buried in
Coverham Churchyard. He was a Lancashire
lad, and was married to my sister at Coverham
Church. I daresay it was my sister's wish that
he was brought here to be buried.
" Speaking of old Middleham trainers, I can
just remember old Bob Johnson, of Tupgill. He
rode Dr. Syntax in nearly all his races. Then he
trained Bee's- wing and Nutwith, when he won
the St. Leger. Bob Johnson rode General Chass^
at Liverpool the first time he ran, and won. He
was a great slug of a horse, and after the race
his owner asked Bob what he thought of ' The
General.' ' He's a nice donkey kind of a devil,
Sir James,' was Bob's reply. Sir James had to
call in the aid of Thomas Dawson to interpret
Bob's description of his horse. I couldn't be
certain whether Mr. Dawson trained General
Chassd or not, but I know Mr. Fobert trained him
for the St. Leger. I can remember old George
Gates having two or three horses in training at
Middleham after I came from school. Of course
I can well remember Thomas Dawson and John
Fobert. Paddy Drislane? yes, of course, he w^as
here first of all as head man with Fred Bates,
and then he started training on his own account.
I think Warlaby was the best horse he had. He
was head man at Tupgill when Bates had Tam o'
Shanter in the Chester Cuj). They made an
attempt to back the horse for that race, but
found they couldn't get any money on. ' Lave it
to me, 'pon my word,' said Paddy to Fred Bates,
' and you'll get the money on.' So Paddy pre-
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 109
tended to give the horse a dose of physic — it was
only a flour ball — then he put the horse's leg in
hot water, tied his tail up, and put him on the
wallving list. No one knew about this dodge to
mislead the touts except Drislane and the boy
who looked after the horse. The touts, swallow-
ing the bait, reported that Tam o' Shanter had
broken down, and the horse was soon driven to
an outside price in the market. The stable
money was then got on, and when the horse won
Paddy said, ' Didn't I tell ye to lave it to me ? ' •
" Robert I'Anson, uncle to the present Wm.
I'Anson, trained at Middleham both privately
and publicly for some time. Old Mr. Joseph
Dawson began at Middleham as a private trainer
to Lord Glasgow, and Mr. John Dawson also
acted for him in the same capacity. Lord
Glasgow was a very passionate man, and used to
blow everybody up. Lie always supplied his
trainers with money in advance when they were
going away with his horses. He never would
think of them laying out their own money for
him. When he was Lord Kelburne he had his
horses with old John Smith, of Middleham, but
that was before my time. Smith had Jerry and
Actseon. He bought Jerry after he won the St.
Leger. Jerry stood as a sire at Middleham for
some time, but he used to move about, and was
at Newmarket for several seasons, and the horse
ended his career at Middleham. Lord Glasgow
would never have any horses trained at Middle-
ham after '65. They would leave here just after
the Christmas of '65. Young Tom Dawson was
the trainer, and I had been engaged as the jockey.
^10 ashgill; or, the life
Tom Dawson gave his place up, and Lord
Glasgow asked me to take charge of the horses
until he might fall in with another trainer.
There would be about a dozen or fifteen — all of
them old horses ; the yearhngs had not yet come
up. I had them under my charge for five or six
weeks, and then I took them to Newmarket to
Mr. Godding's. Lord Glasgow had a stud and
paddocks at Doncaster then, but kept one or two
stallions here at Middleham, Brother to Strafford
being here for two j^ears after his horses left. Mr.
Lilly was training for his lordship in '47, and
would have his horses about two years. He did
not keep his trainers long; he was very
passionate, but a very kind-hearted man."
Speaking of old John Osborne's visit to Northampton
in 1862, a writer of the period said —
" Northampton, as usual, opened the week in the
Shires, every county house having its party, so that the
road was as well patronised as the rail. The ' Adelphi'
on Boxing Night was not more crowded than the stand,
and in the enclosure there was a national exhibition of
*rain traps and overcoats.' Of the latter class,
decidedly the greatest curiosity was the mantle of old
John Osborne, which was as short as that we see the
Iron Duke attired in, and which, with its brass lion
clasp, looked like the relic of some great warrior,
borrowed from a museum. Still, he would have cared
naught for the date of its birth if he could have seen
Chaloner put Rapparee before Stampedo. But the
fates decreed otherwise, and the veteran, who was
attended by a few select friends from the North, whose
coming South is alw^ays indicative of a ' good thing ' in
the wind, was compelled to see the Middleham
JOHX OSBORXE IX THE ".SIXTIES'
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE HI
champion worsted by the Newmarket one. The dress
rehearsal of Stampedo and Rapparee in the ' alley of
■critics ' on the day led to conflicting opinions, and
singularly enough, both were selected to be potted,
because they were as big as bullocks. Throughout the
race the great guns had it to themselves, and Stampedo,
nicely handled by Fordham, raised the number for the
Bedfordshire Baronet, Sir Williamson Booth."
The same disregard for gaudy adornment which
marked the father has been inherited by his most dis-
tinguished son. A nattier and better groomed man-
than " Mr. John " does not exist. His pet aversion is
the wearing of a collar. " I am never comfortable when
I have one," was his reply to a query put to him on
the point.
" Brother William " asserts that " John has never
worn a collar since he were married." From which one
may assume that he adorned liimself with one on that
important occasion to give an Adonis effect to his
personal apjoearance when leading his bride to the altar.
A regular attender at the pretty little Coverham Church,
which lies in the lowland half a mile from Brecongill,
" Mr. John " is a vision of dignity on the Sundays. He
will tell you that he has been often and often asked to
stand as a churchwarden, but declines the honour.
Dispensing with the everlasting billycock of the week-
days, he adorns his head " agoing to church with a silk
bell-topper," whose faded " nap " and unconventional
shape suggest to the beholder that it had been built
in the period of the Eoman occupation, and worn
through successive generations. The other portions of
his body gear indicate a like ancient origin, nor is the
cut of his coat one that would meet v/ith the approval
of a Regent Street " swell."
112 ashgill; or, the life
It has been remarked before that " Mr. John " is ss
man of heredity and environment. A lover of old times,
old manners, and even old clothes, his belief was created
by his father's simple mode of dress and independent
disregard for the conventionalities of costume.
" It was my father's custom,
And so it shall be mine,"
is the text from which he preaches his daily pilgrimage.
His observance of religious duties was drilled into him
by his mother, of whom it is said that she was first astir
in the mornings, like the douce guid wife that she was,
and last up at night doing the house turns. Nor did
her industry cease here, for when the horses were out
at exercise on the Moor and all the stable lads occupied,,
she would take the broom and sweep the boxes clean
for the animals to have sweet stabling on their return
from the early morning gallops. With sometimes as
many as between forty and fifty lads at Ashgill, it goes
without saying there would be some wild, unruly spirits
amongst them. Their moral and spiritual welfare was
this real worker's concern. It was her rule, supple-
mented by the will of her husband, to enforce th&
attendance of the lads at divine service to get a mouthful
of salvation. Refractory ones there would be amongst
them — as little in love with dry-as-dust sermons as
spiritual welfare. Mrs. Osborne would occasionally find
some of them skulking from church. Seizing the first
broom she could lay hands on, she would thump the
backsliders right and left, and like a feminine John
Knox — not knocks, if you please — drive them down
the lane till they were v^thin the portals of the sacred,
edifice.
Another writer in the period with which we are now
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 113
dealing gives a passing glimpse of old John Osborne and
Tom Chaloner, who was one of his favourite jockeys.
The sketch conveys an idea of the old trainer's confi-
dence and regard for his " feather-weights," several of
whom, reared in the Ashgill stable, rose to eminence.
That " Old John," now in the plenitude of his scope —
the period is the early " sixties " — had done, and was
doing, yeoman service as a breeder, trainer, and owner
in the making of jockeys, the chronicler (in Baily's
Magazine) indicates as follows: —
" As Turkey imports her brides from Circassia oti
account of their natural beautv, so John Osborne
colonizes liis ' feathers ' from Manchester by reason of
their sharpness, he having rightly observed that the
leaders of the betting ring have all come from that city.
Chaloner and Grimshaw are excellent specimens of the
Manchester school, whose subjects as soon as they are
out of their egg-shells are taught to shift for themselves.
Chaloner is to John Osborne what Adams is to Wilham
Day, viz., his pilot in handicap nurseries and consolation
scrambles, and, by the retainers he has from other owners
for him, he gets to know many horses' ' forms,' and
profits by it. In the North people are as fond of back-
ing his mount as they are that of Fordham in the South,
and a better jockey of his years never scaled. Of quiet
and domestic habits, his great taste is for natural history,
and his collection of pets a short time back resembled
the Zoological Gardens on a small scale. By his industry
and ability he has realised large sums for ' Old John,'
besides for himself ; and to his credit be it said, his first
thoughts were for his parents, whom he put into a
public-house and saw them do well. Grimshaw, his
companion, is one of the most old-fashioned boys we
ever came across. Stronger than the majority of the
I
11-1 ashgill; or, the life
* feathers,' with rare hands, and a knowledge of pace
acquired by extensive practice, he is invahiable to an
owner, and scarcely are the weights published for a great
handicap ere negotiations are entered into for him. But
' Old John ' is as hard in bargaining for him as Bamum
is for a curiosity, and it took two days for Sir Joseph
Hawley to conclude the treaty with him for Beacon in
the Cambridgeshire of the year before last. Dressed in
his long greatcoat, which comes nearly down to his
spurs, and his cap pulled over his eyes, old John Osborne
gives one, with his stolid countenance, the idea of an
old whipper-in razeed; and the ensemble is heightened
by his curt mode of speaking. Like Chaloner, ' Old
John' conducts himself in a manner that will always
ensure him employers."
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 115
CHAPTER VIII
'' ! who will o'er the downs so free ! "
The reader may be interested in a survey of the
training grounds and the trainers when the " sixties "
were entered. At Middleham, which had been glorified
by The Flying Dutchman in the preceding decade, John
Fobert directed a big string at Spigot Lodge. The
Dawsons, father and son, were enjoying liberal
patronage — the one training for Lord Glasgow, and the
other for John Jackson, then rising to his zenith as
the " Emperor of the Hing," and for whom Tim Whifiler
was doing yeoman service. The Osbornes, as we have
seen, were flourishing, holding under their control many
horses, " Old Jolin " bringing before the public more
good " feather-weights " than any other of his profession
in the kingdom. A little further north of Middleham,
Geo. Abdale, Jim Watson, GiU, and Winteringham held
court at Richmond, which had already been made
famous by the doughty deeds of Voltigeur, Fandango,
and Vedette, bearing the " Aske spots " of the Earl of
Zetland. But the mightiest training citadel of the
" county of broad acres " was Malton and Pigburn,
where John Scott, with the grace of a gentleman and
the dignity of a prince, held patrician levees of his
patrons, including Mr. Bowes (for whom he trained four
116 ashgill; or, the life
Derby winners, including the "Flying West"), Lord
Glasgow, and Lord Stanley. Another Malton meteor
was old William I'Anson of Blinky Bonny, Caller Ou,
and Blair Athol renown.
Turning southward, the training grounds of the
country Avere irregularly scattered. Except the Cliffs
and the Wadlows in Staffordshire, the land was
barren of horses till Newmarket was reached. Then,
as now, Newmarket was the headquarters of the Turf,
many stables and trainers giving to the place a high
importance which has been largely augmented in later
years. The two Dawsons, John and Joseph (the latter,
Lord Stamford's private trainer, having a supplementary
stable at Ilsley); Buckle, employed by the Duke of
Bedford, and the original manager of Asteroid ; Golding,
styled " the terror of handicappers, and the joy of Mr.
Naylor " ; and Harlock, who had the direction of Lord
Exeter's great stud, were responsible for many
animals of class, as also was Matthew Dawson.
Jennings, who had formed an alliance with the French-
men, had been responsible for the Hospodor and
Stradella failure. Old Tom Taylor had migrated from
Bretby Park to the more racing atmosphere of head-
quarters; Ilayhoe was acting for Baron Rothschild,
being trainer and jockey in one; and the great Mr.
Samuel Rogers added to the list of celebrities who
galloped their horses of a morning on the Bury Hills,
or of the afternoon up the Bunbury mile or around
the Limekilns, as do their successors and some of their
descendants in the present day.
Still scouting in the South and crossing the
Thames, one met colonies of trainers of lesser note.
The eye would rest on Lewes, where Lord St.
Vincent's horses were trained by Edwin Parr,
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE HT
and where the boy attempted to " cooper " Lord
Clifden by digging holes in the turf, injury to
the St. Leger winner being happily frustrated by
timely discovery of the nefarious design of the youth-
ful recreant; thence on to Findon, where W. Goater
was in command; by Worthing, where in yet earlier
days old John Day galloped Virago for Mr. " Howard,"
the line would sweep westward to find other bright
places of the period, where the high-mettled racer found
a habitation and created a name.
In Hampshire and Wiltshire a little squadron
deploys in view. In this region H. Goater, near
Winchester, was the trusted lieutenant of Lord
Palmerston. John Day's rule at Stockbridge, and
William Day's towards Salisbury, recalled the times
when the former stable won two Derbies running,
and were first and third for another; and when
the latter appropriated the Chester Cup, the Cesare-
witch, and other big plums of the calendar. Passing
Woolcot's, still near Salisbury, away in a northerly
direction to Kingsclere, memories recalled the lucky
Sir Joseph, who owed the victories of Beadsman and
Musjid, and still later of Asteroid, to the care and
attention of Manning. At Lambourne Mr. Saxon's
horses w^ere trained in the same neighbourhood as the
great Russley string, from which that " darling of the
public," Thormanby, came forth to win the Derby,
Buckstone still further adding lustre to its high renown
as a home of great horses. A near neighbour was
Ilsley, and here Lords Stamford and Stratlimore main-
tained considerable studs. Wantage also comes under
the coup d'oeil as the resting-place of Thomas Parr,
with memories of grand old Fisherman and Rataplan
aroused.
lis ashgill; or, the life
Near Marlborough Alec Taylor had an abiding
place, around which hung the halo of the Tedding-
ton and St. Alban's glories. Still pursuing the
line northwards along the Wiltshire Downs, not
forgetting the American stable at Newbur}^ with
its nigger boys and its orders given in unmistake-
able Yankee nasal, and quitting the once-renowned
quarters of Stevens at Chilton on the right, Swindon is
reached, with its handful of " small men," before
Beckhampton, where Freen trained the winner of the
first Metropolitan Handicap and of the Cesarewitch,
completes the topographical view of trainers and
training centres of some forty years ago, when John
Osborne had already come into note as a jockey. At
this period of his career he was a smart young fellow
of some twenty-seven years, having already made his
mark as a jockey by riding a One Thousand and a Two
Thousand Guineas winner to victory. Still plodding
along in his home at Brecongill, in this closing year of
the nineteenth century what mixed memories must
arise in his moments of reflection when he reviews all
the havoc made by death amongst the masters of the
horse Avhose names are incidentally mentioned above,
and who were numbered amongst his friends and
contemporaries !
Richmond is one of the extinct meetings that has
been swept out of the calendar by the migration of
patrician supporters to the South, not to sjoeak of Jockey
Club enactments in regard to the endowment of stakes
altogether out of proportion to the resources of so
isolated and thinly populated a place as the picturesque
and historic little Yorkshire town. With its High and
Low Moor, Richmond, as a training ground, has quite a
family resemblance to Middleham, alike in its topo-
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE Hi)
graphical features and in its antiquity as a racing centre.
Each course at each place is a galloping up and down one,
and the locales are reached by a steep ascent from the
town. The likeness does not end there, for from the
highest altitude of each the eye takes in a panorama of
scenery of hill and dale, of wood and water, of far-
stretching pasture and meadow, which, for beauty and
extent, is unrivalled in the United Kingdom. The view
from Richmond on a clear day is impressively grand,
the eye glancing over the mosaic of country from Rich-
mond High Moor, taking in on the sky line the towers
of York Minster some fifty miles distant. Change the
view, and tlie meandering Swale, winding its way like
a silver thread through dingle and dell, through
tumbhng cascades, with the Hambleton Hills on the
one side and the not far distant Penhill and Middleham
on the other, fomi a sombre background to the
ravishing picture.
Richmond Moor has been the scene of many
triumphs of the Osbornes. Who that has been at the
old-time meeting could forget the quaint old stand
and the square stone tower away from it at the far side
of the course that served as a judge's box ? " The stand,"
says a writer in the early sixties, " would shock the
refined ideas of the Ascot stewards', and the Newmarket
authorities would have fainted to see that in the
weighing-room there was a kitchen range with oven and
boiler complete." The access to the judge's chamber,
in which Mr. Justice Johnson sat to hear summonses,
was by means of a window to which a small set of steps
was attached. " By a piece of glass let into a cupboard
the jockeys made their toilette, and one more elaborate
than that of young Job Marson," continues the writer,
" we never saw attempted by Charles Mathews on any
120 ashgill; or, the life
stage. Whether he was doubtful about his weight we
cannot say, but we are sure he was anxious about the
small quantity of jewellery he carried about him, as a
plain gold pin was changed for a black one, and he
weighed it and himself as carefully as a chemist would a
pennyweight of magnesia. So far satisfied, the next
process was to remove the shirt, which he did in a
manner as unintelligible as the Davenport Brothers, for
we are certain he never took liis jacket off. The shirt
was subjected to a similar rigid test as the collar, and
the result, we presume, was satisfactory, for it was care-
fully rolled up and put away, the neckerchief pinned
down as neatly as before, minus the collar, and a thin
silk jacket was the only protection his light frame had
from a nor' caster that would have penetrated through
any number of greatcoats. And yet the boy had a
hollow cough on him. And while we were expressing
our fears to Johnnie Osborne that the lad, who is a
striking image of the great Job and sits his horse in
exactly the same style, might soon follow in the foot-
steps of his father, we found he was very much amused
at our fears and pronounced them groundless.
" And yet, in this strange weighing-room what
mighty Turf characters have been seen! It Avas here
that Jackson, who rode more Leger winners than any
man, with the exception of Bill Scott, went to scale year
after year; here the famous Billy Pierce, who used to
' knee the lads ' so much, and when he could not beat
them any other way, made each of their horses in turn
run away, weighed in and out ; Bob Johnson, the famous
rider of Bee's-wing, and who gave up because Mr.
Lockwood would not place her for the Leger, was
also an hahitue of the room. Afterwards came Sim
Templeman, with his almost annual Inheritress; and
AND TniES OF JOHN OSBORNE 121
the spare and gaunt John Hohiies, who told the
sohcitors of a well-known nobleman, when they offered
him a composition of ten shillings in the pound, that he
would make his lordship a present of the flesh he had
•got off for him ; Charlton, the nattiest of the Yorkshire
school and the chamj^ion rider of the light-weight
handicaps, full many a time and oft donned his jacket
here — and yet all have passed away !
" In this little room, also, we reflected, had stood
the famous Duke of Cleveland watching the weigh-
ing of Dainty Dame, by Traveller out of Slighted-
by-All, who won the Gold Cup here four years
in succession, Mr. Sutton's Silvia being second on
■each occasion. Here, also, might have been seen
around the clerk and the ' tryer,' as the judges were
-called in those days, the Dukes of Ancaster, Bolton,
and Northumberland, as well as the Marquis of Rock-
ingham, Lord Tankerville, Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, Sir
T. Dundas, the Charterises, the Shaftoes, Stapyltons,
and other names on which Yorkshire gossips like to
•dilate, and which called up the departed great. Now,
Lord Zetland was the only representative of the peerage
present, and as the good Earl's mare came back to weigh
there was no mistake in the cheers that greeted her, for
the Aske men com2:)letely surrounded him, and would
not allow him to escape from the manifestations which
he tried to avoid. Mr. Williamson, another of the links
between the two generations of racing and hunting men,
was also present, full of legendary lore and pleasant
gossip, contrasting the past with the present and
speculating as to the future."
Then this pleasant recorder of R-ichmond reminis-
cences relates an accident to the scales, revealing how
primitive and haphazard the old meetings were carried
122 ashgill; or, the life
on some forty or fifty years ago. No alteration had been
made in these antique adjusters in the recollection of
the oldest inhabitant, and, as they bore the mark of
1725 upon them, it is not wonderful they crumbled to
pieces. After the first race, Mr. Peart (this would b&
John Peart, who was a sort of business manager of
Mr. Bowes's horses at Whitewall for many years)
despatched a messenger to the town for a fresh set ; but
they were not to be obtained, and it seemed as if there-
was no help for it but postpone the sport. At last the-
quick eye of old John Osborne, still suffering from his-
old complaint (he died the following year), discerned a
remedy, for in crossing: the course he came in contact
with an itinerant weigher of persons, who wished to-
ascertain the effect of their Banting process for the small
fee of twopence per head. Immediately the discovery
was made he communicated with Mr. Peart, and
suggested the man's employment. That gentleman, than
whom there is none less fettered by red tape or routine,,
jumped at the proposal and effected an engagement with
him then and there for a sovereign and free admission
to the stand; and as the worthy C.C. entered with the'
new official, he was received with what the newspaper
reporters tenii " a perfect ovation." Business was then
resumed, and beyond the fact that in the first race-
John Osborne laid twenty pounds to ten on Red Lion
against Brown Bread and beat him with the latter by a
head, there was really nothing to note, and as the stake-
was exactly twenty-five pounds it paid John for his.
bet.
It is curious about this time to read of the explosions
between Lord Glasgow and Aldcroft. The jockey was-
dead out of luck in '64, and the disputes between him
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 123
and Lord Glasgow were described as greatly resembling
lovers' quarrels. Neither seemed willing to part; and
one moment the jockey was first favourite, and the next
he had to give way to the capricious peer. Then
Aldcroft would go out and weep, and the old Earl was
stated to have been similarly moved. Then this was
considered very absurd on the part of both parties, and
it was suggested that a definite understanding should
be come to between them, and an end put to the stereo-
typed paragraphs in the papers about the falling-out
and reconciliation of the Earl and his jockey.
The annals of the Goodwood Cup form some of the
most interesting chapters of Turf history. One of the
most stirring of these great contests for it was that of
1861, when John Osborne had the mount on The
Wizard, who was a great favourite of John Scott's,
though he failed to realise the very high estimate which
the famous Whitewall House trainer had formed of him,
either for the Derby or the St. Leger. This Goodwood
Cup had quite an international character, as it brought
into opposition to The Wizard, a Erench mare, the Derby
winner in Thonnanby, Mr. Ten Broeck's American-bred
horse Starke, and others. The " head " finish between
The Wizard and Starke saw John Osborne on the
former and George Fordham on the latter, fighting out
the battle, which went to Starke, whose victory sent
New York into ecstasies, as indeed is the case with our
American cousins now nearly forty years later, when
they triumph over John Bull in any of his great sports
or games with their representatives. As will be seen
from the appended outline of the race, excerpted from
" Our Van " (Baib/s Magazine), Starke's victory, after a
tremendous flogging, was largely due to the policy which
l--i ashgill; or, the life
Pordham invariably adopted of riding his horses out to
the last ounce, even when only the faintest ray of hope
was left:
" The Cup day was what the Cup day ought to be
everywhere, viz., a glorious one; and the living illustra-
tion of ' Le Follet ' defied all foreign competition. ' The
Cup, and nothing but the Cup,' was the order of the
day; and although The Wizard showed in magnificent
form, and had furnished and framed into one of the
finest Cup horses we have ever seen slipped for many a
year, still the ring and a large body of the public were
unmistakeably opposed to him for his defeat in the
Derby and St. Leger. His supporters, however, were
staunch, and consisted of the Whitewall division and the
few noblemen Avho think John Scott still capable of
training a horse. Starke looked in prime order, but the
Prench mare was a little scratchy thing, more adapted
for a consolation scramble in John Osborne's country
than a Goodwood Cup. France stuck to her nobly, and
so did the English ring in a different way. And when
Spreoty refused the offer of Adams, Bullock, and another
excellent jockey, who was placed at his disposal by Lord
Frederick, only one conclusion could be found, and as
she never went once into her horses there could be no
question of her having been in articulo mortis at the time.
Thormanby was very fresh, and carried, in addition
to Custance, the money of Mr. Merry, Mat Dawson, and
the public to make him first favourite.
" The lot, when paraded, made a goodly show.
Wallace led the lot a nice dance as soon as they
started, and maintained his lead so long, although
he looked a bag of bones, that the Cesarewitch
handicapper cannot forget him next month, and
when he finished, which was not until they had
I'tgnette fi otn " Baily s Mii^vzitie"
GEORGE FORDHAM
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 125
got to the distance, away came The Wizard, steaming
on like the Great Eastern without an engineer,
Johnnie Osborne in vain trying to steady him, and ' The
Wizard in a canter' broke from thousands of voices.
But the race is not always to the swift, and a few strides
from home, ' Johnnie ' raising his hands to ease him, his
head went up, and Eordham, who had almost hopelessly
persevered with his horse, pounced on him hke a
' Whicher,' and won by a head. Great must have been
the delight of the ring when the American's number
went up, for many of them had stood an extra shot
against him, believing he could not stay, and all the
annals of the Humane Society do not present so narrow
an escape as they had from the old man's favourite.
' When John Scott's fond, he is bad to oppose,' has
always been an axiom, and we have heard the last of
The Yv'izard. Of Starke Mr. Ten Broeck may really be
proud, as he is a real genuine good horse, and bore his
flogging like a sailor going round the fleet."
As a contemporary of John Osborne in the pigskin,
George Fordham is Avorthy of a few inches' space
in our gallery of jockeys. Fordham's ugly seat was
always made worse in appearance by the careless manner
he adopted in going to the post, and an incurable habit
he had of shrugging his shoulders. His eminence and
almost phenomenal success as a jockey were as much
due to his talents as to his good fortune. It has been
truly said that without the adventitious aid of the
fickle goddess, the highest accomplishments in horse-
manship are good for nothing. When he had established
a reputation, Fordham naturally had a choice of good
mounts. He had good hands, which were only surpassed
by his expertness in gammoning in a race. His
" kidding," to use a slang phrase, gained him " The
12G ashgill; or, the life
Kid " for a nickname. Another element of his success
was that he never gave up riding a horse until he was
past the post, so as to be there in the count for any
mishap taking place to the leader, and never was this
policy better exempHfied than in his riding of Starke.
He was as popular in private as in public life, and
particularly so with the Amiy, many of whose officers,
on leaving the country, were wont to leave commissions
behind them to back every mount he had for a tenner,
with a result that left a respectable credit balance at
the end of the season. Like John Osborne, he more
than once felt the loss of being unable to speak the lingo
of La belle France. The story is told of Fordham when
in Paris — it would be in the year '60 — he went into a
hairdresser's shojo, where he expressed in dumb show,
of course, that he wanted his hair cut. The coiffeur
so operated upon the capillary adornment of " The
Kid's " head that he left him as bare as a cannon ball.
On his return to Newmarket, " The Kid's " cropped
appearance excited some apprehension as to what he had
been guilty of in the gay Lutetia. His travelling tutor,
Mr. MeUish, asked him if he had been " doing time," to
which insulting question he indignantly replied " that it
was all very well for him to talk, but he should like to
know what he would have done had he been in Paris and
had his hair cut and been unable to tell them when to
stop." His manner was somewhat rough and unpolished,
but beneath the rugged exterior there was a kind heart,
which prompted many kind acts to the younger branch
of his profession, and it can be said that when the " pale
horseman " at last rode away with him into the realms
of shade, George Fordham left not an enemy behind.
He sprang from Cambridge from humble circum-
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 127
stances, and was apprenticed at the age of ten 3ears to
Drewett, of Lewes, making his dehut at the Brighton
autumn meeting in 1850, or four years later than did
John Osborne have his first leg up at Radchffe, Ford-
ham s weight avoirdupois being 3 st. 8 lbs., which was
increased to the necessary 5 st. with clothes and a large
saddle. It was not until twelve months afterwards, and
at the same meeting, that he had his initial winning
mount. A short time after this he had a narrow escape
with his life. He was thrown from Miss Nippet when
riding her in the strawyard, and his foot slipping
through the iron, he was suspended by the laiee and
carried round the strawvard with her kickins; at him
for some time until he was rescued. The effects of that
fall he felt throughout the whole of his career, and it
left him an enlarged knee joint until his dying day. It
was not until 1853 that he took his " first class " on
Little David, on whom he won the Cambridgeshire for
the wealthy and eccentric Mr. W. Smith, of whom it is
related that he never read but three books in his life —
" The Racing Calendar," " The Duke of Wellington's
Despatches," and the Holy Bible. His subsequent
brilliant recrister for manv seasons defies analysis in the
brief space admissible in these pages, and he well
verified the sobriquet of " The Demon," which was
conferred upon him in addition to " The Kid."
A good year for the Osbornes was 1861, the stable
sendins; out no less than fifty-two winners, which total
was six better than that of Thomas Dawson's output at
Tupgill, though eighteen less than John Scott, who still
waved the wizard's wand at Whitewall. In this year
died Touchstone, whom Tom Dawson considered the
best horse of his time, bar none. When in training.
12S ashgill; or, the life
Touchstone stood only 15 "2; he was a dark brown, with
a star on his face and one white foot. His first St. Lesrer
came with Blue Bonnet in 1842, and nine years later
Newminster added to his renown as a sire. Direct
descendants of his that won St. Leger are Imperieuse,
Lord Clifden, Hawthornden, Wenlock, Marie Stuart,
Apology, Petrarch, Jannette, and The Lambkin — all in
the direct male line.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 129
CHAPTER IX
" Loving the sport for its dear sake alone.
Hating the base defilers of its fame,
Winning unmoved, losing without a groan,
Equal to eitlier fortune of the game."
In the "sixties" the purity of the Turf, the early
racing of two-3'ear-olds, and the alleged deterioration
of the thoroughbred were burning questions, just as
they are now in the closing months of the centur}^ Sir
Joseph Hawley and Mr. Chaplin had recommended
the discontinuance of two-year-old racing as one
remedy. These gentlemen, while not disposed to believe
that the breed of horses had degenerated, expressed
their opinion that if the system of running two-year-old
races Avas persisted in for twenty years more, the
degeneration so often spoken of would surely be felt.
They accordingly argued that two-year-olds should not
be run before the 1st of July. In racing^ law no man was
better read than Lord Derby, and if we can challenge
the purity of the Turf in these days, we are still thankful
that there are yet noblemen and gentlemen identified
with it whose integrity, public worth, and influence
hold in check the evil influences which, if once let loose
and unrestrained, would soon bring upon the sport
ample reason for it being described as a degrading
pursuit. Lord Derby went deeper into the question
130 ashgill; or, the life
than that of the racina: of two-vear-olds. From the
letter which he addressed to Mr. Chaplin and Sir Joseph
Hawley, then reigning magnates along with his lordship,
not to mention others of note, the following is an
excerpt : —
" I take it," he wrote, " that any deterioration of the
Turf in public estimation, of which there is no doubt,
is mainly owing to the fact that the majority of horses
are now in the possession of men who run for profit and
not for sport, who care nothing for the animal horse,
who can't afford to wait for the return of their money,
but who, in the language of the Manchester School,
prefer the nimble ninepence to the silver shilling, and
in whose hands a wretched animal, especially if he is
not going so wretched as he is thought, is quite as
valuable as one of the high class horses, if not more so."
Needless to add that the number of needy and
unscrupulous speculating owners on the Turf at the
present day is as large, if not larger, than in the days
when their villainy caused the retirement from the
Jockey Club of so high-minded a nobleman as " the
Rupert of debate." Lord Derby, who was at the head
of two administrations, died, mourned as a great noble-
man and patron of the Turf on 23rd October, 1869. The
above is one of his last public utterances on an evil which
largely exists in the present. He succeeded in winning
neither a Derby nor a St. Leger, though his name is
found in the bead roll of the Two Thousand and the
Oaks.
As one of the conspicuous figures associated Avith
the " Times " of our hero. Lord Glasgow claims a part in
the passing show. Born in 1792, he was originally in
the Navy. For a period he was known to the racing
world as Lord Kelburne, assuming the fuller title of
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 131
Earl of Glasgow when he came in to more than an
opulent rent roll. A devotee of hunting, racing, and
shooting, he was always in a position to enjoy them to
his heart's content. He lived amongst choice spirits,
like the Marquis of Queensberry, Lord Kennedy, Sir
William and Sir John Heron Maxwell, and Sir James
Boswell, of whom it is said they drank " claret enough
to exhaust a chateau." He was Master of the Renfrew-
shire Hounds, he rode the best of horses, and went as
straight as a gun-barrel to hounds. At the outset of
his career he raced as Lord Kelburne, and to this day
the name of " Kelburne " is writ in flint stones in the
courtyard of Glasgow House at Middleham. This in-
scription was embedded in 1832.
When he began his career as an owner of racehorses,
he engaged James Smith, of Middleham, who pre-
viously had been private trainer for Lord Stratlimore
and the Duke of Cleveland. On every racecourse in
Yorkshire, in Scotland, and even at Newmarket
Lord Kelburne's figure, in the green coat, steel
buttons, and white ducks, became remarkable, if not
notorious. Of an impetuous, choleric, high-minded,
generous, rash, and, at times, unfeeling disposition, his
wayward will would not be brooked, and it was
remarked of him that he changed his trainers with the
new moon. James Smith was succeeded by Mr.
Dawson, father of the late Matthew Dawson, the Heath
House trainer; indeed, nearly all the Dawsons were
under his employment. Succeeding them was William
Dilly. After Dilly's departure from Middleham to take
charge of Mr. Payne's and Mr. Greville's horses in the
South, Lord Glasgow divided his team of horses, a
moiety remaining with R. I' Anson in the North, and the
other being sent to Alec Taylor at Fyfield. Brief was
1-32 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
I'Anson's reign, less brief was that of old John Osborne,
who got charge of the team at Ashgill. John Scott at
Whitewall then had his tenure of office, and it was a
sad blow to the great " Wizard of the North," not long
before his death, when Lord Glasgow deserted him —
the greatest and most wonderful trainer, perhaps, the
world ever knew.
Lord Glasgow's penchant for matching led him
into encounters with Admiral Rous, Sir Robert
Peel, Sir Joseph Llawley, and his indifference to
defeat, which was oftener his fate than victory, was
phenomenal. The only time he ever flinched under
adversity, it is said, was in the Houghton week in '57,
when " he sighed over the fact of having lost three
thousand five hundred pounds in different engagements
during the week and declined further overtures. The
next morning Fortune tired, as it were, of persecuting
him, veered round, whereupon all his previous resolu-
tions were scattered to the Avinds and he embarked with
a series of fresh ones for the Spring meetings." Old
Middlehamites speak to this day of his affection for
his horses, his preference for shooting them to giving
them away lest they met with ill-treatment. Beneath
the exterior of rugged eccentricity was a deep vein of
tenderness and sympathy for his fellow-creatures.
Indeed, of him it might be truly said he had a tear for
pity and a hand open as the day for melting charity.
The above outline is excerpted from Baily's Magazine.
Dr. Shorthouse paid a fine tribute to him in his
Sporting Times obituary notice. " Lord Glasgow," he
wrote, " was very smiple in his habits, and was always
meanly and coldly clad. He had been brought up to
the sea, and the ' Spartan discipline ' seemed to have
rooted well in his system. When young he fell from
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 133
one of the masts of the ship and fractured a portion of
one of the vertebrae of his neck, so, at least, it is
supposed, for whenever he turned his head in a parti-
cular direction he suffered the most excruciating pain
in his neck. It was supposed by the eminent surgeons
who were consulted in the case that a twig of one of the
cervical nerves became entangled in the crack of the
bone, and so caused the agony he felt in moving his
head. He was consequently almost always standing
with his hands at the back of his head, and the multi-
tude supposed that, like a parrot, he liked his poll
scratched; but the real fact was he was digging the
ends of his fingers into his neck so as to press the nerve
and benumb the pain he was suffering. How much of
the irascibilitv of his temper mav have been due to the
pain he suffered whenever he turned his head to look at
the person addressing him! All sorts of remedies were
tried, but without affording relief. Indeed, one surgeon
went so far as to perform an operation on his neck for
the purpose of dividing the nerve, but, of course, how-
ever well intended, that was a jump in the dark very
likel}' to be attended by beneficial result-s, if the nerve
could have been found and divided.
" His temper was of the most irascible description,
and his manners the reverse of courteous, but of
a large-hearted, generous disposition, Lord Glasgow
bought but very few horses, and we believe never
sold one. He bred for himself, and when they
did not answer his expectations he shot them.
He occasionally gave pretty good ones away, and not
unfrequently lent his stallions for a season or two to
owners of studs with whom he was scarcely acquainted.
He bred none but horses of gigantic size and coarse in
their nature, gluttonous horses, who laid on flesh rapidly
134 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
and required the utmost care and skill in training, con-
sequently his colours were not successful in proportion
to the stud of horses he kept in training. He had an
objection to naming his horses, but at the entreaty of his
friends he gave a few of them names — Knowsley,
General Peel, and Strafford, for example, which were
intended as compHments to his friends. Principally,
he patronised the expensive weight for age races, such
as the Black Duck Stakes at York of 1000 sovs. each,
300 sovs. forfeit. When he did engage in any handicap
he invariably stipulated that from 7 lb. to 10 lb. more
weight should be put upon his than anybody else's horses
of the same age or supposed merit, for, as he said, ' My
horses are better than other people's, or I won't keep
them.'
" Almost every trainer of any repute, except John
Day and Dover, had a turn from him at one time or the
other, but, on the whole, the Dawsons had most of his
patronage. Tom Aldcroft remained longest in his
employ, and it was always a treat to see Tom in a spic-
and-span new jacket on one of the Earl's gigantic steeds.
His colours — white jacket, crimson sleeves, and cap —
were singularly handsome, conspicuous, and universally
popular.
' Crimson, type of noble blood ;
White, the garb of rectitude.'
Whenever he took a dislike to a man it was a strong
hatred, but it was never of long duration; and if he
wTonged any one, he always made ample pecuniary
compensation."
In the autumn of 1861 died the Earl of Eglinton,
the princely patron of every manly sport, and a
gallant ornament to his country in the Senate and
in the Cabinet. What the Marquis of Waterford
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 135
was to Ireland, he was to Scotland. A man of
exalted character, he was cut off in the prime of life,
after attaining every honour that ambition could desire,
breathing his last in the arms of his bosom friend, Whvte
Melville, the laureate of the chase.
Ashgill, in the early " sixties," was rising to its zenith,
for the world of later years had prospered with " Old
John," his horses and his family. He had thoroughly
established his reputation as a capable trainer, and the
worries and responsibilities of his position were now
relieved by the valuable assistance rendered by his three
sons — William, Robert, and John — now men in years
and in experience. At the beginning of the decade a
large number of horses were in the stable, which, indeed,
had been invariably full up after '58. In addition to the
sixty horses in training, there was a like number of
brood mares to look after, these being placed out at
various homesteads in the neighbourhood.
Continuing the viva voce narrative, John Osborne
relates : —
" I rode no good winners in 1860 except
Sabreur, who won the ' Great Yorkshire.' No
noteworthy horses were at Ashgill that year
except Moorcock and Moorhen. Moorhen, who
was the property of my father, won the ' Great
Yorkshire ' at Doncaster. Lady Trespass won
two small handicaps at Derby, and went amiss
for the Oaks, but after\vards showed form when
she won the ' Park Hill ' at Doncaster. She
belonged to old Mr. Hudson, of Brigham, near
Driffield. Her best at the stud was Mr. Batt's
Castlereagh, by Speculum.
" About this period Zetland appeared on the
scene. He would be a two-year-old in '61. Bred
13G ashgill; or, the life
by my father, he was by Voltigeur out of Merry
Bird by Birdcatcher out of Miss Castling. Lord
St. Vincent bought Zetland from us for 3000 gs.
Lord Clifden was a two-vear-old in '62, but I
never rode him that season, his owner, Lord St.
Vincent, always putting Fordham up ; in fact,
I never rode him before winning the St. Leger
on him the following year.
" Also notable amongst the Ashgill racers in
'62 were Rapparee and Zetland ; and the follow-
ing year there was Little Stag, Lady of
Coverham, and Coastguard. Then Cathedral,
who would be a two-year-old in '63, but he only
ran once that season, nor did he do much the
following as a three-year-old. The Miner was
also a two-year-old in '63. A thorough good,
game horse, of good size, not perhaps quite 16
hands. He wouldn't be quite so big a horse as
Rataplan, I should think. The Miner was at
Ashgill when being trained for the Two Thou-
sand Guineas. The ground was very hard, he
couldn't act on it, and he ran very badly over
the Rowley Mile. He had been tried a good
horse in the spring of the year before ' The
Guineas.' He belonged to Mr. Launde (Parson
King), and remained w4th us throughout his
career.
" Now, I rode The Miner in his race with
Blair Athol in the ' Great Yorkshire ' on
Knavesmire. Lie was receivins; 7 lbs. from Mr.
I' Anson's colt. It vv^as a strong run race, and he
wore Blair Athol down. As Blair Athol had won
the Derby just before, you can imagine there was
a bit of excitement over the race. Wm. I'Anson
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 137
always thought it was a mistake, alleging that
it was not Blair Athol's correct form. I don't
think there was anv mistake about it. Of course,
The Miner was a good horse, but an unlucky
one. The Miner was fourth in the St. Leser won
by Blair Athol. The Miner had to make all his
own running in that instance, and he was a ver}^
bad 'un at that. He was a horse that hung a
lot to the right at every bend he came to. You
had to hold him back to get round the bends
on a left-hand course like the St. Leger. That,
of course, was against him always, and did not
make his St. Lester as true a run race as it should
have been. When he was following he was all
right. I think Blair Athol was a good horse of
great speed. Whether he was a thorough good
stayer I don't know ; his speed got him through
his races. Of course, Blair Athol's was a good
year. After the Derby he ran for the Grand Prix,
and Vv^as beaten by Vermont.
" Was it not a surprise to you when The
Miner beat Blair Athol ?
"Well, it was no suq^rise to me. We had
tried The Miner in the spring, and he gave
3 St. to Little Duchess, who was a three-year-old
and something else in our stable at the time.
That was before the ' Two Thousand.' Before
Ascot he was tried at even weights with Gaily,
Avho had won the Lincoln Handicap, and he beat
her all the way. He was tried before his race
with Blair Athol, with Cathedral, Dr. Rooke,
Prince Arthur, and others in it. It was over a
mile and three quarters, and he won by ten
lengths. Blair Athol, you may depend upon it.
l-'^S ashgill; or, the life
didn't meet a fool that day. Ely beat The Miner
in the three-year-old Produce that year at York.
Well, we fancied him very much that day, but as
he had to make all his own running, he was
beaten. He beat Ely in the Great Yorkshire
Stakes, when there was a pace. He also beat him
in the St. Leger, although he had to make his own
running. They laid 20 to 1 against The Miner
that day at York he beat Blair Athol. If The
Miner hadn't run the first day many people would
have backed him against Blair Athol. My
father backed him at 1000 to 10 before he ran
in the St. Leger. The Miner did not run in the
Derby. Through being shaken so much in the
' Two Thousand ' he was very sore and wasn't
trained for the Derby, and put by for some race
at Ascot. He could never be trained as a three-
year-old owing to his legs giving way. He went
to the stud at Low Street, near Bedale, and died
when he was six or seven years old. He was
the sire of Controversy, who appears in the stud
book as by ' Lambton or The Miner.' There is
no doubt he was got by The Miner.
" How do you arrive at that conclusion ?
" I make it out that Lambton went amiss,
and his mare was covered by The Miner after-
wards, and the mare foaled to his time. I cannot
tell what difference of time there was between
the two services. Mr. Ashton had the stud farm
at the time, and had both stallions."
It was in 1863 that John Osborne rode his first St.
Leger winner, on Lord St. Vincent's Lord CUfden,
whose victory was one of the most sensational in its
incidents of any race for the Doncaster " Sellinger "
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 139
in the long annals of the greatest of the three classic
contests. In his simple, brief, matter-of-fact way
John recited the outline of the race in the following
words : —
" I can't remember now how it was that Lord
St. Vincent gave me the mount on Lord Clifden
when I rode the horse to victory in 1863. At
Ashgill we had a few useful two-year-olds that
year. There was Lord Arthur, Little Stag, Lady
of Coverham, and Coastguard — all very smart.
Coastguard was bred by and belonged to Mr.
Wm. Hudson, who sold him, after he had won
the Gimcrack Stakes, to Mr. Naylor for £1200,
if I remember right. My father bred the other
three. Now, with regard to Lord Clifden and
the St. Leger, Fordham had ridden the horse
in all his two-year-old races, and I suppose it
was because he was engaged to ride something
else in the St. Leger that I got the mount. When
the flag fell Blondin cannoned against my horse,
and I lost a bit start. Somehow or other I
quickly kept dropping further behind. When
we got to the mile and a half post I touched
him with the spur to see if he would go,
but he did not respond. I took hold of him
and gave him a second dig, and he never
answered. I let him alone until he got to
the top of the hill and asked him to go. He
answered as soon as we began to go down the
hill; he quickly ran through his horses, and, as
you know, won cleverly. I can't tell you how
far I was behind in the race : it was certainly
a long way. Lord Clifden was a bad beginner ;
in his two-year-old race he began slowly. The
^•^0 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
only time previous I had been on his back was on
the Tuesday morning before the Leger day. I
rode him gently over the Leger course.
"Lord Chfden's St. Leger was similar to
Kilwarline's, was it not?
" No, Kilwarline's was quite a different Leger.
I rode Phil in Kilwarline's Leger. No doubt
Kilwarline lost a lot of start, but when the flag
fell, and he was left kicking at the post, the
field only went at a hack canter to the hill. I
don't know why the pace was so bad at the
beginning that year, unless it was that all the
jockeys had orders to wait. However, the pace
was so bad that Kilwarline, after losing so much
ground, had onh- to go steadily to get into a
position with the field, whereas in Lord Clifden's
Leger it was a strong run race from the fall of
the flag."
The compiler again has to express his indebtedness
to Baily's Magazine for the following pages, which give
a graphic, succinct account of the race and of the career
of Lord St. Vincent : —
" Born in 1825, at Teddington, Lord St. Vincent was
the nephew of the valorous Sir John Jervis, who, for his
conduct against the Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent
in 1797, was raised to the peerage with the gift of an
earldom by that title. An accident in the hunting field
caused Lord Clifden's owner to quit the Chase and to
adorn the Turf by as splendid a show of pluck and
devotion as any of its votaries have ever revealed. First
figuring as an owner of horses in 1860, he began with
buying Emotion, to whom was speedily added as
stable companions Clementi, Hidalgo, Claverly, and
Draghound. Then followed his connection with the ill-
starred Klarikoff, who is said to have run a dead heat
LORD SI. VINCENT
Vii;)iette /rout *' Baiiys Ma^^azine"
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 141
with Kettledrum for the Two Thousand, for the judge
declared there was not the difference of a race-card
between them. He achieved that feat after behaving-
like a mad horse, suggesting the suspicion that he had
been ' done,' an impression accentuated by the way in
which he was ' milked ' throughout the winter in London
and Manchester. It is a matter of fact that Captain
White and old John Osborne held the opinion that the
horse had been ' got at.' Klarikoff recovered from the
presumed ' nobbling,' and so well did he progress
between the Rowley Mile contest and Epsom that John
Scott looked upon the Derby as ' all over.' Mr.
Padwick, celebrated in the ' Hastings era,' was the then
owner of Klarikoff. Lord St. Vincent gave Mr.
Padwick five thousand for the moiety of the colt's
ownership, the bargain including a bet of forty hundred
to two for the Derby. How, in the race for the blue
ribbon, Mr. MacGeorge, in his nervous anxiety at the
start, confessed he did not see the horse, and practically
left him standing at the post, and how Fordham,
irritated at being thus treated after being in a good
place in all the previous false starts, over-rode his horse,
was second at the top of the hill and fifth in the fimish,
are facts recorded in Turf annals. The culminating
point of Klarikoff's career and Lord St. Vincent's luck
came when, in returning from Epsom, the colt was
destroyed by the van, in which he was travelling from
Epsom to Whitewall, taking fire from a spark from the
engme.
" One of the most prominent examples of Lord St.
Vincent's pluck during his brief Turf career was his
purchase of Lord Clifden, who, as a two-year-old, had
been so liicrhlv tried that 20 to 1 was asked about him
for the Derbv before he ran for the Woodcote. The colt
was the property of Mr. Llind, a wine and spirit
142 ashgill; or, the life
merchant living at Ashton-under-Lyne, Staffordshire.
Edwin Parr, the trainer, and Mr. Hohnes, an Irish
gentleman, were the ambassadors to effect the purchase,
and the sum asked was five thousand pounds down and
two thousand more if he won the Derbv. These terms
were at once closed with, and at half-past eleven o'clock
that same night of the conference the future hero of the
St. Leger was in his new quarters at Godmersham.
That Lord St. Vincent was a spirited buyer more cases
could be cited, but disappointment, grievous disappoint-
ment, invariably followed his outlays. Though success-
ful in the St. Leger with Lord Clifden, Hidalgo and
Duenna could never be trained; and Lady Stafford,
v/hom he bought of Mr. Hind for 2000 gs. about the
same time as he got Lord Clifden, was a failure. He
also gave an Irish breeder 750 gs. for Bellman, who
never won a race ; and as Zetland, whom he purchased
of old John Osborne for 3000 gs. specially to win the
Goodwood Cup, was beaten by his own nomination, Tim
Whiffler, and The Orphan died from tetanus, it may be
said that Lord St. Vincent had more of Fortune's
buffets than her rewards."
Lord Clifden's terrific finish with Macaroni in the
Derby will ever be memorable. The judge said the only
difference between them at the finish was that Lord
St. Vincent's colt's head was down and Macaroni's up
as they flashed past the post. Lord Clifden's equivocal
market position before the Derby led to the supposition
that he was not sound. The real facts of the case were
that the colt occasionally showed signs of lameness,
attributed to a fall at exercise when he slipped up.
These symptoms did not re-appear after his sensational
finish for the Derby, and his trainer, Edwin Parr, gave
him a rattling and uninterrupted preparation. A new
course was made at Telscombe under the hill, and in
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 143
this isolated spot, which was unknown and inaccessible
to the touts, Lord Chfden did such rousing gallops from
day to day that he stumped up the 3000 guinea purchase,
Zetland, Necromancer, and Charles Fox..
Lord Clifden was sent in advance to Doncaster
the Saturday before the St. Leger. Quoting from the
"Van Driver" in Bailys Magazine, "Nothing," he
writes, " could be more diverse than the ideas formed of
him the next morning when he appeared on the course.
According to strict Doncaster etiquette, he should have
gone a splitter round the course whether it was as hard
as asphalte or as deep as lime. And not having com-
plied with the usual precedent, a renewal of the
hostilities in the ring took place, which a quiet canter
on Monday did not cause to abate. Tuesday morning
being rumoured to be the dress rehearsal, the critics
were in great force, but except from the two ' Johns '
(Osbornes) there was no applause, and he was rather
damned with faint praise than commended as he ought
to have been. ' No horse could take that gallop that had
not been trained,' was the remark of Captain White to
John Scott, as he w^ent up to the Whitewall brougham,
which stood as usual at the bend where the jockeys pull
up. ' Yes, you are right; I'm afraid I cannot best him,
and I would just as soon he had been left at home,' was
the reply of the veteran Leger trainer. But although
this opinion became known, and the Captain was
summoned to a medical survey in the stable afterwards,
no one would have the horse, and no reason could be
assigned for it with any good cause.
" * I do not like thee. Doctor Fell,
The reason why I cannot tell.'
" All concerned in him were nervous save ' Lord
Frederic/ who enjoyed the confusion and surveyed the
14-t ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
battlefield and the bringing up of the reserves with the
calmness of a Clyde. ' We know he's well trained and
will be well ridden; and what more do we want?*
*Why, only to collar the "stuff" afterwards/ was all
that could be extracted from him ; and Johnnie Osborne
passing him at the time he was speaking, he added,
' That lad rides the winner of the Lester.' ' Mine is a
good mare, but not a smasher,' was what John Scott
said of Queen Bertha ; but after he had seen ' Clif den '
gallop he almost felt inclined to coincide with the pro-
phecy of ' The Druid,' who, in his field wanderings in
Scotland, had enveloped himself in the mantle of Pepys,
and told him that as fifteen years ago Canezou had to
yield to one Lord Clifden, so now vfould Queen Bertha
have to yield to another. Those w^ho had ' taken the
pledge ' stuck to him manfully, and none more so than
his late owner, who pooh-poohed Queen Bertha terribly.
Borealis and Bluemantle had both passed the Doctor in
the morning, but none of the old school of trainers, who
live as John Osborne does in the mists of Middleham,
hked Avenger.
" The St. Leger Day," vividly continues the brilliant
chronicler of Turf events of the period, " fairly beat us,
and accustomed as we are to the ])rofanum milgus, the
hordes of Lancashire and Yorkshire were too manv for
us. Where they came from and where they dispersed
to is a problem worthy of consideration of the Council
of the Social Science Congress, Avhich is to be held next
week. We had read, of course, of the iuA^asion of the
cities, but the flock of pilgrims to Doncaster was enough
to frighten both the authorities and the unprotected
females of the place. And as if the ' flies ' were not
sufficiently dangerous in the streets in the high tide of
the morning, a menagerie made its appearance with.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE H5
elephants and camels en avant, and no less than seven-
teen Hons and caravans in the rear. For a time all
circulation was suspended as the mob flocked round the
beasts like boys round a sweet-stuff woman, and we
could not help thinking what a risk was incurred by
their transit without more guards than were in attend-
ance, for, if they had got irritated and made a rush at
Lord Chfden or some other St. Leger favourite, no
redress could have been had; and simpletons enough
will be found to beheve it was une affaire arrangee,
and indicated strongly the morahty of the Turf of the
present day. And yet this vast mass of human beings
was as tractable as children, and fell into their places
in the most good-humoured manner, having no other
thought than the Leger. When the bell rang for it,
the sensation it produced was overwhelming, although
it was a relief to some to think that the excitement
would soon be at an end and the worst known. From
the stables to the course the passage was as dangerous
as being on the streets, and few were bold enough to
undertake it; and as the ring was as noisy as a bear-
garden and the sides of the gentlemen were gradually
getting discoloured from the knockings about they
received in squaring their books, they fled for refuge
to their stands, which are far more convenient than the
Ascot rookery. All the candidates got through their
preUminaries well, with the exception of Donnybrook,
who was anything but Donnybrook Fair, but, as with
Surplice, West Australian, and The Flying Dutchman,
Lord Chfden towered high above the others, and, in
fact, advertised himself. The scene at that moment
was, indeed, a striking one, and such as no other
country but our own could produce. On the Moor the
masses of England were packed hke bees in a hive, and
L
146 ashgill; or, the life
on the roof of the stand the proudest patricians were
estabhshed. The ring was stationed beneath them —
Hodgman on his ladder and Stephenson on his perch.
All were pervaded but with one idea, and their curiosity
was soon set at rest. Fearful of being hemmed in, John
Osborne had taken up a position which prevented any
fear of collision, but left him at enormous disadvantage,
for, when the flag fell, he was quite away from his
company, and as Bluemantle and Lee Boo took them
along at a cut-throat pace, the long stern chase of Lord
Clifden seemed perfectly hopeless, and he really seemed
to be beaten further and further every stride he went.
To the ring nothing could be more w^elcome than this
intelligence, but to Lord St. Vincent and his trainer
the torture was almost insupportable, and ' All is lost
now ' was the refrain of their song, as going over the
hill he was 150 yards from the leading horses. By the
time, hovs^ever, they had got on to the ' flat ' there was
a more favourable change in the weather, for he was
not the last, but the last but two. It was then and for
the first time that Osborne found he had a Great
Eastern under him, and crowding on his canvas he went
through the lot one after another until he had over-
hauled Queen Bertha. The race between them w^as not
long but decisive, and amidst an amount of excitement
unsurpassed since Voltigeur's year, * Johnnie ' came into
port with his ' corpse.' The scene that follows beggars
description, and the carrying of ' Johnnie ' into the
weighing-room by the mob we shall never forget, nor the
struggle with the policemen which Edwin Parr had
before he could be permitted to see him in the scale.
Of the cheering, the champagne, the congratulations,
objurgations, and maledictions that followed we need
AND TDIES OF JOHN OSBORNE 14T
only say a word, as they are the accompaniments of
every St. Leger, but they have never been exceeded in
our time, and the whole tableau will render the Lord
CHfden Leger day the most memorable in the annals
of Doncaster."
The career of Lord Clifden subsequent to his St.
Leger triumph was disappointing to Lord St. Vincent,
whose fate it was to " blaze the comet of a season, and
to leave behind liim a reputation as evanescent as the
meteor's track, soon to be blotted out among the
countless stars of more steadfast lustre.' The colt
sustained a crushing defeat behind Scottish Chief in
the Ascot Cup of the next year, the stud becoming his
early destination thereafter, with Hawthoniden speedily
bringing him into note as a sire. The " Sublime Edwin,"
as Parr, his trainer, was dubbed, was not long in
his lordsliip's service after the St. Leger, the horses
going to Mr. Bevill's string. Nor did the owner of Lord
Clifden long remain on the Turf afterwards, and it was
said of him that he was a rare instance of " a bird
escaped from the fowler's net; a fly having broken the
bonds of the spider's web without being sucked even
unto death."
The following sketch of the owner of Lord Clifden
was pubhshed in one of the magazines of the period
shortly after his lordship's death: —
" Lord St. Vincent had been, for the last two years,
nothing but a splendid wreck, and his sinking could
occasion no pain to his relatives and friends, as it must
have been a happy release from his pitiable condition.
A more used-up being than the infant which Sir Thomas
Lawrence had immortalised in his famous picture of
Lady Dover and child, grew into, could hardly be under-
148 ashgill; or, the life
stood in the outside world. Reserved, selfish, and
indolent, he seemed to live for himself alone. Many
thought him proud, but in reality he was not so, for
that would have cost him an exertion he did not care
to make ; and he was very good-natured where he took.
His confederate, Mr. Villiers, set him against several
jockeys and trainers; but when the fatal incubus was
removed, he renewed his relations with them, and they
would always speak a good word for him. His luck
with his racehorses, from Surplice to Homily, was, on
the whole, very good, and far greater than he had a
right to expect for a young beginner, and had his
health permitted, we believe he would have gone on
after his marriage. His carriage appointments and
horses were always first-rate, and he astonished the
Florentines and Romans by travelling through Italy
with three carriages and a squadron of gendaniies, in
case of being attacked by the brigands; and as we
pursued the same route ourselves, in the week following
the one in which he went from Florence to Rome, we can
bear testimony to the exalted opinions the landlords of
the hotels at Viterbo and other stages entertained of
him ; while in both those cities he laid out large sums in
the purchase of works of art, which his accomplished
mind could well appreciate. In his betting he was
pretty fortunate, and he had enormous faith in ' Lord
Frederick,' whom he followed like a child, and nothing
amused him so much as his Lancashire patter. A
curious illustration of the opinion he entertained of him
we will give. At one of the Newmarket meetings a
young gentleman, a member of an Essex family, and
noted for his habit of whistling, came up to 'Lord
Frederick ' after dinner in the Subscription Room, and
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 149
saying he knew he was fond of getting something out
of an outsider for the Derby, asked him what he would
bet him against a colt for the Derby. 'Why, he is
dead, I tell thee. What is the use of backing him?'
was the reply. ' I know better,' said the young 'im,
' and I'll take 1000 to 15 about him.' ' Well, then,
you must write down "dead or alive," and I'll bet it
3'ou.' The wager was accordingly booked; but before
Lord Frederick, who was not a fast cahgrapher, had
finished writing, he was accosted by Lord St. Vincent,
who had walked across the room, and said, ' What ha-ve
you been doing, my lord? I have been watching you
with that young 'un, and I have laid a pony to a fiver you
have the best of the transaction.' ' Well, that is the
strangest thing I have ever heard of, as I have got the
best of the lad, for I have betted him against a reaUy
dead horse ; but I have made him put it down " dead
or ahve," and you have won your fiver.'
" That we have not exaggerated the indolence of
Lord St. Vincent, we will proceed to show by a couple of
illustrations, which we think will clearly exemplify it.
Of a most equable disposition, he was never seen but
twice out of temper — once when, at Newmarket, his
valet was left behind at Cambridge with his clothes,
and he was compelled to dine at the Eooms in his
morning dress, old Bob Sly being extemporised into a
body servant, and ordered to wash his hands before he
helped him to take off his shirt to cool ; and the latter,
we have no doubt, can even now recollect the terms in
which he expressed himself as to his unfortunate position,
on the occasion.
" Another time his irritability positively rose into
indignation, when Mr. E. R. Clarke subpoenaed liim at
150
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
Westminster to speak to his signature on a bill for a
very large sum of money. Although he was released
from his liabihty for it, he could not hsten for an instant
to the apology of D'Orsay for calhng him, but he
demanded, in a tone which even Captain "White might
have envied, to know the cause why he was called out
of bed at so early an hour, and before he had had
his breakfast, and he never would look at him after-
wards.
Lord St. Vincent never hedged a farthing of the
£11,000 to £1000 he took about Lord Clifden. Immedi-
ately after the victory John Jackson, who had laid the
wager, went up to his lordship and intimated that he
Avould pay liim there and then as he had the amount
on him. The tender was refused, his lordship expres-
sing a disinchnation to risk in his possession on a
crowded racecourse so much wealth, preferring the
arrangement to meet in the Subscription Rooms that
same evening. The appointment was not kept by the
nobleman. The following afternoon Jackson met Lord
St. Vincent in the paddock at Doncaster and, prevailing
upon him to accept the money, he handed over seven
£1000 notes, one of which his lordship made a present
of to John Osborne, the remainder of the sum being-
paid in smaller notes, one of them being for £300. Mr.
Rudston Read, who managed Lord St. Vincent's Turf
business, checked the notes with his patron and found
the sum exactly correct. The following day Lord St.
Vincent asserted that Jackson had paid him £300 short,
and he claimed that amount. Amazed at the demand,
Jackson in vain protested that the exact amount had
been handed over. He inquired if there was a £300
note amongst the notes Lord St. Vincent received, to
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 151
which the latter replied there was not. Jackson
dechned to accede to the demand of £300 more, with
the result that Lord St. Vincent ' posted ' him at
Tattersall's the following morning as having paid him
that amount short. Lord St. Vincent soon discovered
that he had acted wrongly to Jackson, for he found the
missing note for £300 in his waistcoat pocket, having,
in an absent-minded moment, stuffed it there. An
ample apology to Jackson followed, which the book-
maker freely accepted, and all was smoothed over.
152 ashgill; or, the life
CHAPTER X
*' Where is the race of yore
That danced its infancy on our knee 1 "
Midway through the " sixties " it was only too apparent
to the friends of John Osborne, the elder, that the
tenure of his days was not far distant. The once burly
frame and yigorous constitution were being undermined
by a cruel and insidious disease. Practically since '62
the onus of training the numerous stud had fallen upon
his son William, with Robert acting as a sort of
commercial super^dsor, and John, now in the heyday
of liis popularity and eyen greatness as a jockey, adding
lustre to the triumyirate of brothers. Speaking of the
season of 1864, John relates —
" We had W^ild Agnes that season as a two-
year-old in '64. A fine slapping filly she was,
too, only beaten once during her two-year-old
season — in the ' Conyiyial ' at York by Olmar —
but she reversed the running the following week
at Stockton. Afterwards she won at Stockton,
Eghnton, and Doncaster, beating Victorious at
the last-named place. She won some races for
Mr. Padwick, who sold hex to the Duke of
Hamilton; she won for him also. The Duke
bred from her some foals in France; but
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 153
I don't remember of her having thrown any-
tliing great. King Arthur would be winning
races for us in '64. My father sold him to Lord
William Powlett, who died that year, and he
bought him back, after which he went steeple-
chasing and won a few races."
In the autumn of 1864 Mr. Padwick imported into
the South from Ashgill the magnificent Wild Agnes,
" regardless of costs." According to all existing opinion,
Wild Agnes, then a two-year-old, had only to winter
well to win the Oaks of the next vear, an estimate of
her quality that was not realised, though she had been
the belle of the season and as much sought after as
any heiress. For a time old John Osborne was as " firm
as a stone wall " in his resolution not to part with her,
but the diplomacy and the cheque book of " The
West," who was a short time thereafter to be One of the
leading actors in the great Marquis of Hastings drama,
prevailed in the end, and Wild Agnes was handed over
to the care of John Kent, who had recommenced
training at Drewitt's with fifteen of Mr. Padwick's
yearlings.
Continuing his narrative, John recites —
" On the 31st July, 1865, my father died. He
had been ailing for a long time. At the subse-
quent sale of the stud a horse called Xi realised
the highest price. He was not Ashgill bred, but
my father bought him as a yearling from Mr.
Milner, of Middledale, Kilham. He had never
been beaten up to the time we sold him. He
was a useful horse for Sir Joseph Hawley,
winning him several races, and a match or two,
I think.
" The whole of the Ashgill establishment was
154 ashgill; or, the life
sold at the instance of my father's will, with twa
exceptions, viz., an old mare that he used as a
hack, and Interduca."
As showing the extent to which the establishment
had grown, details of the catalogue, reprinted from
the Snorting Gazette at the time, are appended :
SALE OF THE ASHGILL STUD.
The sale of the breeding and racing stiids of the late Mr. John
Osborne took place on Thursday and Friday last, by Messrs. Tattersall,
the horses in training and yearlings being sold at Ashgill, Middleham,
and the mares, foals, and stallions at Low Street Farm, near North-
allerton. The following are the prices realised, with the purchasers : —
FIRST DAY— THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1S65.
Horses in Training.
Gs.
Bay gelding by Lambton out of Queen of Troy, 2 years - (Mr. Bragg) 12
Bay gelding by General Williams, dam by The Cure out
of Ella, 3 years (Mr. p]. Holmes, Beverley) 40
Bay gelding by The Cure out of Fleetham Lass by Hos-
podar, 3 years (Mr. Micklethwaite) 40
Brown gelding by The Cure out of Vatty by Vatican, 3
years (Mr. Holmes) 70
Lady Abbess, bay mare by Teddhigton, dam by Cowl,
grand-dam by Lanercost, 5 years .... (Mr. Bragg) G2
Gailj', bay mare by Weatherhit — Gay by Melbourne, 5
years ......... (Mr. J. Ridley) 155
Nell Digby, brown mare by Weatherbit out of Miss Digby
by Touchstone, 4 years (Mr. Durham) 56
King Arthur, bay colt by The Cure out of Miss Agnes ly
Birdcutcher, 3 years (Mr. Dorley) 175
King Alfred, brown colt by Voltigeur out of Agnes by
Clarion, 3 years (Mr. Thompson) SO
First Rater, bay colt by The Cure out of First Rate by
Melbourne, 3 years (Mr. Fobert) 20
Ned Digbj', brown gelding 1)y Lambton out of iliss Digby
by Touchstone, 3 years (Mr. Bragg) 4(>
Brown colt by Weatherbit out of Gnatcatcher by Bird-
catcher, 3 years (Mr. Mackenzie) 50
Arkenside, brown colt by Colsterdale out of Beautiful
Star by Sleight of Hand, 3 years .... (Mr. W. Sharpe) 200
Nidderdale, chestnut gelding by Colsterdale out of Sister
to "Woollaton, 3 years -' (^Ir. Dimmock) 35
Chestnut filly by Saunterer — Lady John by Pantaloon, 3
years (Mr. Oldaker) 40
Wild Poppy, bav filly bv Wild Davrell out of Helena
(h b) by Launcelot, 3 years - ' - - - - (^Ir. Whitaker) 210
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE
155
Lad}" of Coverdale, bro-rni filly by Leamington out of
Abbess of Coverham by Augur, ?> years
Madras, bay filly b}- General Williams, dam by Bird-
catcher out of Colocyntli ------
Jig, bay filly by Fandango, dam by Jereed out of Knight
of the Whistle's dam, 3 years . . - . -
Black Jacket, black colt by Voltigeur out of Birdtrap by
Birdcatcher, 2 years -------
Prince of Wales, chestnut colt by General Williams out of
Sulpitia by Surplice, 2 years -----
Xi, bay colt by General Williams — Lambda by Umbriel,
2 years --.-..--.
Bay colt by Colsterdale, dam by Fernhill, grand-dam by
Hetman Platoff, 2 years
Bay colt by Windhound out of Pera by Mango, 2 years -
Bay colt by Barnton out of Ellen the Fair by Chanticleer,
2 years ---...---
Dark Agnes, brown filly by Voltigeur out of Miss Agnes
by Birdcatcher, 2 years
Redneck, chestnut filly by Windhound out of Redbreast
by Redshank, 2 years ------
Miss Haworth, bay filly by The Cure out of Countess of
Westmorland by Melbourne, 2 years - - - -
Total,
(Mr. Bragg)
v;ro.
2i)(y
(Mr. T. Dawson)
105
(Baron Dassel)
220
(Mr. Bragg)
320'
(Mr. T. Dawson)
120
(:\Ir. H. Darley)
2100
(Mr. Durham)
56
(Mr. H. Bragg)
28.
(Mr. Dollar)
m
(Mr. Calder)
220
(Mr. West)
35
(Mr. Bragg)
150
4905
YE.4RLINGS, WITH THEIR ENGAGEMENTS.
Chestnut filly by Weatherbit out of Trapcage by Sweet-
meat ----------
Bay filly by Weatherbit out of Abbess of Jerveaulx by
Gladiator --------
(Mr. ^^'est
- (Mr. Masterman
Brown filly by Rapparee, dam by Barnton out of ^Irs.
Tait by Don John (h b)
Brown colt l>y The Cure out of Game Pullet by Chanticleer
Brown colt by Weatherbit out of Pera by Mango
Chestnut foal by Colsterdale, dam by Fernhill- - (Mr. Micklethwaite
Brown filly by Weatherbit out of Lady John by Pantaloon (Mr. jNIasterman
Bay colt by Weatherbit out of Redbreast by Redshank -
Bay colt by Weatherbit out of Gobelins by Orlando
Bay colt by The Cure out of Fete Day bj' Weatherbit
Chestnut colt by Weatherbit out of Helen the Fair by
Chanticleer --------
Brown colt by Weatherbit, dam by Birdcatcher — Colocyntli
Brown colt by Weatherbit — Fairy Knowe by Touchstone
Brown colt by Weatherbit out of Interduca by The Cure
Rap, bay colt by Rapparee out of Lanky Bet by Cossack
Brown colt by Oxford out of Duplicity by Annandale
Rabbit Trap, brown colt by Voltigeur — Birdtrap by
Birdcatcher (Mr. Danby
Brown filly by Wild Dayrell — Chantress by Chanticleer - (Col. dc Butts
Bay filly by Wild Dayrell out of Gay by iMelbourne - (Mr. Danby
(Lord Bolton
(Mr. Lumley
(Mr. Mackenzie
(Mr. Mackenzie
(Col. de Butts
(Mr. Bragg
(Mr. Mackenzie
(Mr. Fobert
(Mr. Whitaker
(Mr. Mackenzie
(Mr. Danby
(Mr. Mackenzie
Gs.
35
25
31
30
G5
27
30
80
230
90
160
200
330
230'
SO
310
210
i;o
100'
156 ashgill; or, the life
Brown filly by Weatherbit out of Abbess of Coverham by Gs.
Augur (Mr. Wliitaker) 260
Brown Tommy, brown colt (brother to Brown Bread) by
Weatherbit (Mr. C. \V. Ramsay) 250
Brown colt by Van Galen out of Countess of Westmor-
land by Melbourne (Mr. W. I'Anson) 300
Alexander, brown colt by Musjid out of Agnes by Clarion (Mr. W. Day) 520
Weatherguide, brown colt by Weatherbit out of First
Rate by Melbourne (Mr. Mackenzie) 220
Total, - - - .396.3
The following were also brought to the hammer inmiediately after the sale of
Mr. Osborne's horses on Thursday : —
'Orey pony, 6 years, 12^ hands - ... . (Mr. Harrison) 18
Night Stroller, black colt by Saunterer out of Stolen
Moments, 3 years (Mr. Masterman) 10
28
Prince Arthur, Blue Riband, Trump Card, Jezabel, Lord of the Vale, Hap-
hazard, and Breffni were not sold.
SECOND DAY— FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8.
At Low Street, near Northallerton.
Annie de Clare, by De Clare out of Annie Laurie, with a Gs.
colt foal by The Cure (Mr. Vaughan) 70
Bay Tiffany, by Melbourne out of Tiffany - - - (Mr. Oldaker) 110
Birdcatcher mare — Colocynth, by Physician, with a colt
foal by Chevalier d'lndustrie - - . . . (Mr. Smith) 90
Barnton mare — Mrs. Taft, by Don John (h b) - - - (Mr. Booth) 25
Chantress, by Chanticleer out of Ino, with a filly foal by
Wild Dayrell (Mr. Oldaker) 250
Duplicity, by Annandale — The Hind, with a colt foal hy
Weatherbit (Mr. Oldaker) 300
■Gobelins, by Orlando out of Crotchet, with a colt foal by
The Cure (Mr. Anderton) 80
Hesione, by King of Trumps out of Queen of Troy - - (Mr. Singleton) 30
Lanky Bet, by Cossack out of Giselle, with a tilly foal by
Voltigeur (Mr. S. Young) 115
Lady John, by Pantaloon, dam by Rasselas, with a filly
*foal by The Cure (x\Ir. Micklethwaite) 65
Last Hope, by Hospodar out of Hope .... (Mr. Pamlette) 40
Maid of Clifton, by Touchstone out of Barba - - - (Mr. Darley) 60
Mrs. Birch, by Gameboy — Wasp, with a colt foal by
Colsterdale (Mr. Smith) 145
Mrs. Taft, by Don John (h b) (M. Bruyere) 23
Miss Walker, by Sir Hercules out of Sister to Mrs.
Birch (Mr. Vaughan) 40
Miss Digby, by Touchstone out of Lady Jersey, with a filly
foal by Colsterdale (Mr. J. G. Simpson) 85
Nelly Taft, by Sweetmeat, dam by Priam (h b), with a
colt foal by Zetland (M. Bruyere) 72
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE
157
(Mr. Roberts)
(Mr. W. I'Anson)
(Mr. Rickal)y)
(Mr. Mackenzie)
(Mr. Roberts)
(Baron Darsel)
(Mr. T. S. Dawson)
(Col. de Butts)
(Mr. Vaughan)
(Mr. Micklethwaite)
(Mr. Fobert)
(Mr. Fobert)
(Mr. Rickaby)
(Mr. Shepherd)
(Mr. Shepherd)
Gs.
41
100
12.)
3.30
(Mr. G. Holmes) 2o
Princess Augusta, by Teddington out of British Queen (Mr. Micklethwaite)
Queen of Tro}', by Young Priam out of Young Tiffany
Redlireast, by Redshank out of Lady Day, with a colt
foal by The Cure
Red Tape, by Rataplan out of Lady Alicia, with a filly
foal by Chevalier d'lndustrie
Trapcage, by Sweatmeat out of Birdtrap - - - -
Tinsil (sister to Jack of Hearts), by King of Trumjjs out
of Bay Tiffany
Vatty, by Vatican out of Birdtrap by Birdcatcher, with a
colt foal by Chevalier d'lndustrie ....
West Australian mare — Pearlin Jane ....
Ellen the Fair, by Chanticleer out of Maid of Clifton
Flj'trap, by The Flying Dutchman out of Birdtrap -
Vanessa, by Newminster out of Heiress -
Cure mare — Queen of Troy .....
Weatherbit mare — Nelly Taft
Little Casino, by Fandango, dam by Mickey Free •
Fan, by Fandango out of Sulpitia ....
Windhound mare — Pera -.-.--
Saunterer mare — Troica, by Lanercost
Fair Agnes, by Voltigeur out of Little AgTies (Prince
Arthur and Wild Agnes's dam) .... (Mr. T. S. Dawson) 120
SO
92
150-
500
100
25
2a-
25
25
la
12
ro.\Ls.
Chestnut filly by Chevalier dTndustrie-
Coverham ------
Brown filly by Weatherbit out of Interduca
Brown colt by Colsterdale out of Idothea
Bay filly by Costerdale out of V.R. -
Abbess of
(Mr. Elliott) 46
(Mr. Darley) 70'
(Mr. Danby) 35
(Mr. Micklethwaite) 10
Stallioxs.
Henry James, by Windhound out of Mary Jane
Colsterdale, by Lanercost, dam by Potboy out of
Tesane ...--...-
The Cure, by Phj'sician out of Morsel ....
Total,
Grand Total,
(Mr. Booth) 50
(Mr. Mackenzie) 250
(Mr. Danby) 100
2592;
11,488 Gs
" The Druid," * writing with all the power conferred
by a personal acquaintance with old John Osborne, and
being a moving figure in the shifting scenes of the Turf
of the time, gives the following characteristic sketch of
* " Saddle and Sirloin."
1^8 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
liis early struggles, and the horses and men surrounding
him: —
"John Osborne seemed quite an Old Parr in our
minds, and yet he had hardly been known on the Turf
much before Charles the Twelfth's year. He was at
one time head lad under Skaife, when the Duke of Leeds
kept racehorses at Hornby Castle, with ' Sim ' Temple-
man as his jockey. ' Chocolate and black cap ' were the
Leeds colours, and he adopted them when His Grace
died. Our first remembrance of him on the Turf is in
connection with Mr. Toy's Ararat, one of the colts
which, in conjunction with the Commodore, Malvolio,
and Lanercost, made Mr. Ramshay's Liveipool so
popular. The bay was a pretty good one in his time,
and once went so far as to get to Bee's-wing's head for
the Stockton Cu^d, and it was all Cartwright could do
to prevent him from getting ' bang up.' Old Bob
Johnson (Bee's-wing's jockey) was never so astonished
in his Hfe, and, ' in course,' he had some reason for them
•at Tupgill when they at last ventured to mention it.
" With 1842 came a new order of things, and Jolin
had the Marquis of Westminster's string — Sleight of
Hand, Maria Day, Auckland, and a lot of others — in
his keeping. Auckland, by Touchstone, was a colt upon
which the Marquis of Westminster was wondi'ously
sweet, and from his foalhood he set a monstrous figure
on him. He was reared at Moor Park paddocks and was
coming north in the early days of the London and North-
western, with a black filly, when an engine burst and
nearly boiled the filly and took some skin off the colt.
They were taken to the Red Eagle Inn at Rugby, where
the filly died, and the Marquis went in for something
hke £3000 compensation, and we believe he got it.
Auckland was very little the worse, and as it proved.
<
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 159
■^' The London and North-Western Boiling Stakes ' vrere
the best he ever won. The millionaire Marquis fondly
hoped on for the Derby, but although the illustrious
patient did not win that race, in the process of years it
fell with Caractacus to the young Rugby V.S. (Mr.
Snewing) who attended him.
" Such was poor John's Eaton episode with the
Derby, and he did not care for another season as
guardian of the yellow jacket, which was enough to
give him the jaundice. Maria Day, a very sweet little
;animal, and Job Marson very nearly put things right at
Doncaster, but ' The Yeoman ' was in the way, and John
w^as not sorry to have liis crust of bread and liberty
and begin at the bottom rung of the ladder of fame once
more. The Heir, by Inheritor, was one of his horses,
but his was a sad, weary time ; although with George
Abdale, his future son-in-law, to ride, he did a httle
for his employers and on his own account, till his son
and heir, the redoubtable ' Johnnie,' appeared in the
saddle. We remember the old man quite opening out
(for him) in the train one day about his lad, and his
delight that Sir Joseph had engaged him to ride at
5 St. 6 lbs. on Van Dieman in the Goodwood Stakes.
The next year (1850) brought the great turn in his family
fortunes with Black Doctor. The Httle horse ran four
times and did nothing, and then he began to ' come,'
and lost his maidenhood in that great Eghnton finish,
which he won by a neck from Beehunter and Nancy,
and had Neashan, Payment, Pitsford, and Mildew
behind him as well. The black went in the course of
the week to Mr. Saxon for 800 guineas, and henceforth
the star of Osborne and Ashgill steadily rose. John
was marked dangerous for his two-year-olds, and his
great axiom, ' if they are to be sweated, let them sweat '
160 ashgill; or, the life
(not on Middleham Moor for love, but all over England
for ' the brass ') stood him in fine stead. As an early
tryer and bringer-out of ripe two-year-olds, and as an
artist for keeping them on their legs when they were
brought out, he had no superior during the '52 season..
Exact and Lambton were like the man and woman in
the clock — when one wasn't out, the other was. Exact
ran sixteen times and won nine, and Lambton was out
once less and won one more. Very often they were in
the same stake, and John had some little difficulty in
deciding which was' to go. At the York August of that
year his London commissioner backed the wrong one
for a race, and John had to follow the ' v^res ' and
change his tactics forthvdth. They drew about £1000
in stakes between them that meeting, which John
thought a great thing, as he had not then dealt in Little
Stag, or Prince Arthur, King Arthur, Wild Agnes, and
the rest of that lucky Agnes family, of which he sold
two, ' Little ' and ' Miss,' to the present Sir Tatton Sykes.
It might be the bargain was better, and therefore he
liked to send his best mares en masse to a horse if th&
blood suited; and Birdcatcher, Weatherbit, and The
Cure were all his particulars. For Colsterdale, which
he purchased for £300 at the Sledmere sale, he had some
fancy ; and his brood mares had gradually increased and
multiplied till there were forty of them. No one did
more with The Cure, and he had a strong attachment
to Wild Dayrell, though he did not use him in the same
wholesale way. He also left a good word behind for
Picador.
" Brown Brandy, Cherry Brandy, and Lord Alfred
were ready to appear at the footlights when Exact and
Lambton (for no one knew the moment to sell better)
had departed South. The grey was a son of Chanticleer
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 161
and Agnes, and for soundness a wonder. He began on
29th March, and had run twenty-four races and won
nine of them on 28th October, the day after his com-
panion. Lady Tatton, had won the Nursery Stakes.
Next year Manganese, giving 2 st. 4 lbs. to Shelah, was
second for the Nursery Stakes, and the year after that
old John nailed one of the Nurseries again with Mongrel
under no very flattering weight, so that the Newmarket
Houghton Friday had nothing but good omens for him.
Great weight for age races were not his forte, although
he did drop on Blair Athol at York wi£h The Miner.
Lady Tatton was third for him in the St. Leger, but
he never got so near for a Derby or Oaks. Honeywood's
friends made a braying of trumpets about the black
which not a little disturbed the repose of the backers
of ' The West,' but John was vn:ong that time. He
looked very downcast following Saunterer in the
paddock on the Derby day, and threw up his hands
and told his friends he ' knew nothing about him ' ; but
the public watched the money, and knew as much as he
could tell them as to the * pencil fever,' which was slowly
consuming the colt in the interior. In his day he trained
for a number of good men — Lord Zetland, Lord
Londesborough, Sir Charles Monck, and others, but he
was very independent, and had every right to be so.
"What was better stiU, prosperity never puffed him up.
He was really and truly ' Plain John ' to the last.
' Little fish,' in the way of stakes and little meetings,
were what he loved. Handicap studies were his forte ;
and go past who might, he hardly looked up from the
desk at the ofhce mndow which looked into the yard
at Ashgill. The calculations he had in his head about
' form ' were as clear and as well arranged as a Senior
Wrangler's differentials and integrals, and we never
M
162
ashgill; or, the life
heard of but one man who could thoroughly tackle him
over weights and make him ring hurriedly for his
slippers at the inn and say, ' I think I'll be off to bed.'
" The last time we saw him was at the Doncaster
Meeting. He came in that long trainer's train in which
Blair Athol's box was placed before General Peel's, and
so many accepted the omen. There was the crush-hat
and the salmon-coloured handkerchief looking out of the
train, and then old John descended and walked up the
line, but took no part as ' Johnnie ' unshipped The Miner.
There seemed a worm at the root then, and we felt sure
he would never see another St. Leoer. He came to the
town once more for the Spring Meeting, whose first
Hopeful Stakes he had won with Saunterer ; but he was
hardly seen out again, and he was on his deathbed ere
Stockbridge came round, and henceforth all the entries
were made in John Osborne, junior's, name. That con-
firmed in words what the racing world had long known
too well by report, that the old man's days were
numbered. His was a homely style and a homely school,
but it was a most efficient one, and few, if any, can boast
of having reared up such jockeys as John Osborne,
Chaloner, and Harry Grimshaw, who all began their
saddle hfe in his colours." *
Thus denuded of its inmates by the sale, a fresh start
had to be made at Ashgill. Good luck did not come to
them at once, for three mares missed their foals and
were sold afterwards. One of the new employers was
Mr. Harry Bragg, a Newcastle sportsman, whose lots
purchased at the sale were left in the stable to be
trained; and two yearhngs John himself had bought,
* For permission to extract the above from " The Druid's " worlc
we have to thank Mr. Tresham Gilbey, the proprietor of the copyright
of that great writer's series of most entertaining books.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 163
viz., Rabbit Girl and Rabbit Trap, formed a new
nucleus. Old patrons in Mr. " Launde " and Mr.
Charlton left their horses in the stable. The year '66
was not marked by any bright particular star, Romping
Girl being the best of a moderate lot ; Caxton, owned by
Mr. Anthony Harrison, an old employer, also running a
bit. John did very little riding this year, devoting most
of his time to the stable work. In the fore part of the
season Lord Glasgow put him up a few times, and he
won a few races on Sundeelah with chance mounts. In
'67 he found two new employers in Mr. Johnstone and
Mr. Robert Jardine, who were then confederates. That
year they owned Tynedale and Mandrake as three-year-
olds. Taking up the thread of John's story^ he relates —
"Jimmy Cameron rode Mandrake this year,
and won the Ebor Handicap on him. I was near
winning the biggest stake of my life this year on
one of my own horses — Romping Girl, who ran
a dead heat with Achievement for second place
in the Oaks, Hippia, with Johnny Daley up,
beating us both for Baron Rothschild. The
Baron's filly was a good second favourite. They
laid odds on Achievement, and 50 to 1 against
Romping Girl. I was only beaten half a length.
That would have been a surprise if it had come
off! They only laid 2 to 1 against her for a
place ; it did not look like her beating Achieve-
ment. I told a lot of my friends that I thought
she would get a place, but I did not back her for
that situation. Of course it did not look like her
beating a grand filly like Achievement had
proved herself to be. In the Spring, Romping
Girl had given Caxton 21 lbs., and he just beat
her. Caxton went to Durham — there was a
164 ashgill; or, the life
capital little meeting there by the banks of the
Wear in those days — and beat Honesty the
following week in a handicap. At that time
Honesty, who belonged to old Mr. Masterman,
father of the present Tom Masterman, of Middle-
ham, was a very useful horse. The first time
Eomping Girl ran in the Prince of Wales' Stakes,
I fancied her for it, but I could never account for
the poor show she made. Whether the boy
couldn't ride I don't know. I rode her in
the Oaks myself, when she ran the dead heat
with Achievement, behind Hippia. She beat
a mare of Mr. Thomas Dawson's named
Mendicant at Newton the week after the
Oaks, and Strathconan in the Newcastle Cup.
I have never had so good a one as Romping
Girl since. Well, yes, I think I had one — Sir
Amyas Leigh, but he never did any good.
Afterwards Romping Girl was second to
Fripponier at Doncaster. I then sold her to
Lord Westmorland, and she was third in the
Cesarewitch won by Julius. I had a big ' pot '
on her for that Cesarewitch. I had 1000 to 15
about her.
" I never did bet very much, only a little for
hedging purposes. Now I backed Zetland for
the Derby — took £3000 to £30 about him ; that
was a big bet for me. I hedged at 16 to 1. Now
you ask about my betting propensities. So far
as that goes, we had five horses in the Derby of
'64, I took 500 to 20 about the lot before any of
them ran as two-year-olds. I had £2000 to £10
about Prince Arthur, who had shown fair form
that year, running second to Fille de I'Air for
the ' Criterion,' and they took 20 to 1 freely about
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 165
him for the Derby. After he ran second
in the Newmarket Nursery, carrying 8 st. 10 lb.,
I hedged at £1000 to £50."^ So I stood on velvet,
d'ye see? They took 15 to 1 about Coastguard,
and I laid £150 to £10 against him. He had
left our stable then, but he had not left when
I backed him. Now the lot I backed included
Prince Arthur, Dr. Eooke, Cathedral, and
Coastguard; these and another we had in the
Derby. I had three runners — Prince Arthur,
Coastguard, and Cathedral — and stood on the
day £1500 to nothing Prince Arthur, £350 to
nothing Coastguard, and £1500 to nothing if
Cathedral had won. As I worked it out, I
actually won £10 on the bet. Now you can
let them know that this is the way I used to bet,
and that this was one of my biggest 'plunges.'
I have never been a speculator ; those bets I have
mentioned have been my only plunges during my
career. At other times I have had something on
when I had good reason to invest, thinking they
would become favourites, and then hedge, don't
you see? Now, when we had Lord Glasgow in
for the City and Suburban — Digby Grand beat
him — I had to get some money put on for the
owner. I had £10 on myself and £10 for a place.
They put some more money on for the ovnier,
and I stood in £10 for a win and £10 for a place
more, of course, at the same time. The money
invested averaged 70 to 1 for a win, and 16^ to 1
for a place. Well, on the Monday before the
race I intended hedging as I had a bit extra on
that time, expecting to see hedging do it. I
never could hedge; he started at 66 to 1. That
was bad luck. But I got out of it all right. I
1G6
ashgill; or, the life
got my place money. But rarely I have more
than two sovereigns on a race — not often. I used
to bet a little more at that time than later. Of
I course, as I say, I used to put on a Httle bit extra
for hedging, perhaps. Really, it was the people
round about me, that wanted their humble five
shilHngs or half-crowns on anything that we had
going to a meeting, that made me put money on
sometimes. I used to do it to make even money.
So far as it personally concerned me, their
commissions caused a great deal of trouble.
" Harking back to Romping Girl, she passed
from Lord Westmorland on to Sir Reginald
Graham, and finally went into Mr. Chaplin's
stud. She bred a few that raced a bit, but
nothing very great."
Caller Ou, after winning two Northumberland Plates
in succession, just failed in her third essay to concede
no less than 37 lbs. to Mr. Mackenzie's three -vear-old
Brown Bread, a useful horse from Tupgill at the time,
sent to Newcastle for the '65 " Pitman's Derby."
Ridden by Chaloner, the " awd meer," who was the idol
of the sturdy pitmen of the " North countrie," took up
the running at the distance, being left with Brown
Bread to fight out the issue with Mr. Mackenzie's colt,
on whom Carroll had the mount.
" Haste, Caller Ou, thy prestige keep,
Tynesiders' shouts arise.
As with a rapid, lengthy sweep
Brown Bread doth surely creep
From t' awd meer this day to reap
The lionour and the prize."
So sang the local song writer in honour of Caller
Ou. Gamely did she struggle under the "green and
straw" of old Will I'Anson, thousands of voices pro-
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 167
claiming " The awd meer wins," as she held her own
against the young 'nn, creating hopes of gaining her
third triumph; but literally standing still under her
heavy burden a few strides from the chair, a " switcher "
from Carroll's whip did the trick and Brown Bread beat
her by a neck. His career was as short as Caller Ou's
had been long. In that season of '65 she ran twelve
times, winning five Queen's Plates. During the four
seasons which followed her triumph over Kettledrum
in the St. Leger, she travelled on almost all the railways
in England, and besides enjoyed abundant opportunities
of becoming acquainted with the weather across the
Irish Channel. In addition to these labours performed
on her otnti account, to her belonged, as was aptly said
at the time, the credit of having taught Blair Athol how
to win his races, so that no racer could better appreciate
the adage " to rest and be thankful," which she enjoyed
after that year.
At this same Newcastle meeting of '65, in a race for
Her Majesty's Plate, Osborne rode Mr. Pludson's
colt Cathedral a dead heat with Mr. Mackenzie's
Oppressor, who the day before had won the North
Derby, John getting up in the last stride to make the
two "duck eggs" on the telegraph board. In the
decider " Johnnie " made all the running and won by two
lengths. The following September he rode Regalia into
second place for the St. Leger, behind that great horse
Gladiateur. The three successive classic triumphs of the
French colt this year led to many learned discussions
as to whether the Enghsh thoroughbred was deteri-
orating, only to be confounded by the proofs and
arguments adduced that good mating, good rearing,
and good training would inevitably result in the
supremacy of the English thoroughbred. Mr. Graham,
^^^ ashgill; or, the life
the owner of RegaHa, who had won the Oaks,
entered a formal objection with Mr. Richard Johnson,
the then clerk of the course at Doncaster, against
Gladiateiir (who had also won the Two Thousand
and Derby) on the ground of being over age,
and requesting permission for Professor Spooner
and Mr. Baker, of Malton, to have the opportunity
afforded them of examining the colt's mouth. This
objection was made on the Tuesday before the St. Leger
and posted on the notice board in the ring. The acting
stewards decided as follows: —
"That in the face of the certificate produced before the Derby,
signed by the proper authorities in France, and other evidence as
to the identity of the horse, and also in the absence of any evidence to
the contrary on the part of Mr. Graham, they cannot comply with his
request,
(Signed) "Warrington and Stamford.
" Westmorland.
" Falmouth."
"Argus," a Turf authority at the time, whose
lucubrations appeared in the Morning Post, rightly
took credit for the appeal he made to'^pubHc opinion
on behalf of Count Lagrange, the owner of Gladiateur,
as a nobleman who had done nothing to forfeit the
reception he had met with in England from every class
of society.
This same year John's mount in the Oaks was Wild
Agnes, the former inmate of Ashgill, sold by his father,
and which now ran for Mr. Thelusson. She started a 5
to 2 favourite with the Duke of Beaufort's Siberia,
beaten out of place. Wild Agnes running second to
Regaha, who, as above stated, carried him into the same
provoking position behind the Frenchman. Gladiateur's
triple " classic " was hailed by our mercurial neighbours
I'hofo, f'j Jiiiu't il- J-'i y, London
Silt ROBERT JARDINE, Baut.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 109
across the Channel as avenging their debacle at
Waterloo. The French press was pardonably jubilant
at the defeat of per fide Albion, a defeat which had
been emphasised by the previous victories on EngHsh
.ground of Vermont and Fille de I'Air.
It was in the season of 1868 that our lontr-since
famous jocke}^ — for Fame had truly cast her glamour
over him — became closelv identified with the con-
federates, Mr. A. Johnstone and Mr. Eobert (now Sir
Robert) Jardine, two keen and liberal patrons of the
Turf at the time. Tom Dawson trained their horses*
at Tupgill. Between him and John Osborne a warm
friendship existed for years, remaining unchanged until
the great trainer's death at Thorngill, in the year 1880.
During the season of 1868, so far as the calls upon him
as a jockey were concerned, John was in partial activity,
riding only at about a dozen meetings. Yet we shall
see that the Tupgill connection, through Pretender, a
brown horse by Adventurer from Ferina, who was a two-
year-old in '68, was ^stined to j^ave the way for him
realising a jockey's greatest ambition — the winning
of an Epsom Derby, a feat he had yet failed to achieve,
and did not repeat. Few as were his mounts
this year, they served to show him up in a favourable
light. He began well by riding three winners — on
Honesty, Flying Jib, and Good Hope — at Liverpool,
supplementing that by a like number at Ripon on
Master Tom (twice) and Inon ; other successes included
those on Thorwaldsen in a sweepstake, value £705, at
Doncaster, and the Doncaster Cup on Mandrake, who
was a good horse that day, for amongst others of class
behind him was Julius.
Glancing for a few moments at the Tupgill horses
this year of '68 and the two-year-old running with its
1^0 ashgill; or, the life
bearing on the Derby of '69, it should be noted that
Pretender made his first appearance for the Hardwick
Stakes at Stockton, two of his stable companions in
Lord Hawthorn and Thorwaldsen being amongst the
limited field of runners. Thorwaldsen and Lord
Hawthorn were made joint favourites, the last-named
giving John a comfortable seat home to win by a length
and a half, Pretender, then a raw colt, being second.
On the same day he met his stable companion, Thor-
waldsen, who was greatly fancied for the Lambton
Plate, in which, though opposed by Minaret (previously
defeated by Belladrum in the Ham Stakes), he started
at 6 to 5 " on." Pretender was quoted at 5 to 1, but
the hope of the stable rested on Thorwaldsen, and but
little support went to Mr. Johnstone's colt. Both, how-
ever, were defeated by Miner's Sister, who, as she
subsequently settled the pretensions of Lord Ha\^i:horn,
may be said to have disposed of the whole of the
presumed powerful Tupgill division. On this occasion
she finished a neck in front of Pretender, a similar
distance separating the last-named and Thorwaldsen.
With Thorwaldsen fit and well, and Pretender neither
one nor the other, it was obviously a good performance
on the part of the latter. His last performance in a
disappointing season was carrying 8 st. 13 lbs. into a
place for the Middle Park Plate, in which he gave 7 Ibs.
to Pero Gomez, who won, and 10 lbs. to Scottish Queen,
finishing four lengths behind the latter, who was half
a length from the winner. None but a first-class colt
ever had performed Pretender's feat up to that period in
the Middle Park Plate. Achievement in 1866 had run
second with that impost, but then she was a top-sawyer.
Lady Elizabeth tried in the zenith of her fame.
Pretender's Middle Park display had all the more merit.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 171
seeing that Tom Dawson had not as yet got him up to
concert pitch. At Midclleham in the aiitmnn, Pretender
could give his stable companion, the useful Thorwaldsen,
a stone. Belladrum, with his doubtful legs, retired after
the Newmarket Houghton, after having, in a period of
five months, won or walked over for ten races, being
defeated twice, and becoming the winter favourite for
the Derby. He was defeated by Morna in the Cham-
pagne Stakes, and the best he conquered was Scottish
Queen. Mr. Merry never was a man to show the white
feather when he had a good 'un, and such horses as
Thormanby or Dundee would never have been in their
stables when the Blenkiron Plate or the Criterion Stakes
were to be run. It was a flaw in Belladrum's two-year-
old career that he was not brought out for either of these
events.
Pretender went into his winter quarters fourth
favourite for the Derby to Belladrum, Pero Gomez,
and Wild Oats. Although Belladrum was a 5 to 1
winter favourite, a sentimental objection was felt
against him — that of so hot a favourite in the winter
ever winning the Derby. That feeling was fostered by
the failures of such hot favourites as Lady Elizabeth and
The Eake, which latter had much higher credentials
than Belladrum. The latter's extraordinary fighting
action, too, was not considered compatible with staying
powers, while his defeat by Morna in the Doncaster
Champagne was, in certain quarters, not considered the
fluke it was the fashion to esteem it by the colt's
admirers.
The hostihty which set in against Belladrum in the
early spring of '69 reached its cuhninating point at
Warwick Spring Meeting, when he was driven " back
to any price you like." Mr. Merry had hedged his
172 ashgill; or, the life
money, put the horse through the mill and found he
could not stay, or rather that he suddenly had to turn
it up when hard pressed, owing to some impediment in
his throat. The " vets." of the day described it as spasm
of the epiglottis, but Dr. Shorthouse, in his more direct
manner, pronounced it a form of roaring and an
incurable malady.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 173
CHAPTER XI
•
" The Doncaster mayor doth sit in his chair
While his mills they merrily go —
His nose cloth shine with drinking of wine
And he's got the gout in his toe."
The year 1869 was fraught with big events in John
Osborne's history. Only since the previous season had
the Tupgill connection lasted ; and as showing how the
advantage of riding of good animals confers distinction
upon a jockey, we have only to mention that Pretender,
the champion colt of Tupgill, bore him to victory in the
Two Thousand Guineas ; and doing well in the interval
from the great Rowley Mile contest, which reveals the
early spring excellence of a three-year-old, the son of
Adventurer enabled him to gain immortal renown in his
first and only Derby, after one of the most exciting
finishes on record with Pero Gomez. But in other ways
'69 will long be a memorable year.
Towards the end of the first month of this year
died John Jackson, otherwise known as "Jock o'
Oran." The exhausting disease from which he had
long suffered reduced his once manly frame to a
mere shadow, death at last coming as a relief to one
of the jolHest, most liberal, and hospitable " characters "
174 ashgill; or, the life
associated with the ever-moving drama of the Turf. It
was the " Leviathan," then well au fait with the secrets
of Ashgill, as indeed he was with Tupgill and all the
leading northern stables, who told all his friends that
that " pig of a horse," The Miner, would beat Blair Athol
at York. And in like manner, when Beeswing was
favourite for the Great Ebor, inspired doubtless as he
was by Tom Dawson, he did not hesitate to let his
immediate friends know that Mandrake would be
certain to beat her. He was not only a good judge of
racing, but made a judicious selection of mares for his
famous stud farm at Fairfield, where Blair Athol stood
as lord of the harem. Fairfield became a model of its
kind; indeed, it was pronounced, under his segis, to be
the most complete in existence. Occasionally he was
reckless in his purchase of brood mares. Examples of
his indiscreet disregard for high prices were Amatis'
and My Partner. The best animals he owned were
Tunstall Maid, Neptunus, and Saunterer, the latter, as
the reader has already learnt, being one of his purchases
from old John Osborne.
Much of Mr. John Jackson's success in life was due
to his early friendship with old John Osborne, whose
commissions he worked, and whose stable secrets were
not infrequently committed to his safe keeping.
Perhaps the best horse Jackson ever owned — ^we are
quoting now from one who knew him well — was
Saunterer, who, while owned by old John Osborne, ran
seventeen times as a two-year-old, and won on eight
occasions. He first appeared in the " Hopeful " at
Doncaster, when that stake was considered an important
one, and beat Adamas, who was destined to make a
great name for himself. Later he beat Mr. Mellish's
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 175
horse, when there was an autumn meeting at Chester,
and on this occasion he gave him 7 lbs. There was
nothing ver}- wonderful in the perfoniiance of "The
Black" as a two-year-old, and he invariably finished
behind Blink Bonny when they met. One cannot,
however, overlook his running in the two-year-old race
at Ripon, not because there was any great merit in it,
although it was good, but we did not see such first-class
horses at these minor meetings. In the beaten lot there
were such horses as Underhand, Skirmisher, Hun-
tingdon, and Bel Esperanza. Although Saunterer's-
career as a two-year-old was a chequered one, he was
backed at as little as 8 to 1 for Blink Bonny's Derby,
for which he ran Yerj badly. He did not improve upon
this performance in the Gold Cup at Ascot, which
Skirmisher won, but his victorious career soon began.
Vedette, however, gave him a terrible beating in the
Great Yorkshire Stakes, when Skirmisher again proved
superior to him, as he also did in the Doncaster Stakes.
In the Cambridgeshire, on the other hand, his perform-
ance was considered a wonderful one, as he carried
8 St. 12 lbs. home into third place — a feat that only
pales before the brilliant running of Blue Gown in the
same event. Soon after this he was sold for
2150 guineas, and was subsequently known as " Mat's
Black." That Saunterer was a first-class horse there
can be no doubt, but he was not nearly so good as he
was generally believed to have been, and we altogether
incline to the opinion that brought poor Lord Drum-
lanrig to such terrible grief, that in a true run race he
did not stay more than two miles, although he did
manage to beat Fisherman, Ventre St. Gris. and
Arsenal in the Goodwood Cup.
l'^6 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
Another celebrity owned by Mr. John Jackson was
Tim Whiffler, who, although an indifferent two-year-
old performer, did a great thing in the Chester Cup,
which he won as a three-year-old, carrying 6 st. 11 lbs.
In consequence of his heavy weight Mr. Jackson did
not back his colt to win more than £7000, but he was
greatly dehghted with the performance, as it apparently
left the Derby at the mercy of liis stable companion,
Neptunus, who was believed to be the better of the
pair. En route to Epsom they were slipped out at
Doncaster, where they went a rattling gaUop on the
Town Moor, " Nep." performing so well that his ovmer
thought the Derby was over, and we all recollect what
a " cracker " the horse " came " in the betting at
Tattersalls' a day or two before the race. Many think
this feat at Doncaster destroyed his chance, as he only
ran fourth to the moderate Caractacus. Neptunus
proved an unfortunate investment for his owner, but
there can be no doubt he was a really fine animal, as
he gave Montebello no less than 24 lbs. in the North-
umberland Plate, and ran a good second.
The opinion was held that Tim Whiffler was the
best three-year-old of his year, and that if he had been
engaged in the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, and
St. Leger, he would have carried off all three events.
He won the Queen's Vase at Ascot and the Goodwood
and Doncaster Cups, the two latter in a canter, while
in the last-named he gave Buckstone, who had run
The Marquis to a head for the St. Leger, 4 lbs. After
winning the Queen's Vase he was sold to Lord W.
Powlett, and it was in the colours of this nobleman
that he so greatly distinguished himself. Elland was
another good horse he owned. He won the Liverpool
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 177
Cup in a canter, and afterwards was sold, together with
Spht the Wind, to Mr. R. Sutton, and proved himseK
in his new ownership one of the best horses over a
distance of ground that ever trod the turf. Lady
Tatton and Magnifier also won him races, and Repulse,
who was sold to Lord Hastings, carried off the One
Thousand Guineas. In conjunction with Mr. H.
Hargreaves, Mr. Jackson owned several horses, which
ran in the name of Mr. Thompson, the best of them
being the famous Tunstall Maid, Blackthorn, Terrific,
and Sprig of Shillelagh. Tunstall Maid was by Touch-
stone out of Ellerdale's dam, and she won the con-
federacy, the Great Northern Handicap at York. She
was only beaten a length in the Oaks, when Governess
and Gildemiire ran their famous dead heat, but in the
Great Yorkshire Stakes she turned the tables on Gilder-
mire in the most decisive manner, winning in a common
canter, her rival being so much exhausted that she was
pulled up before reaching the winning post.
To the last Jackson vowed there was never a horse
foaled like Blair Athol, and on the formation of his
breeding stud he purchased him for 7500 guineas; or
perhaps it is truer to say that was the price at which he
was valued for Mr. William I'Anson, his then owner
and trainer, who refused to sell the horse outright, and
retained a third share, so that, in point of fact, he only
really owned the remaining two-thirds, for which he
paid 5000 guineas. After Lord Lyon's Derby the report
was circulated that he had not paid in full all the claims
upon him, but this was soon proved to be a scandal, as
Harr}^ Steel, of Sheffield, the well-known penciller,
undertook the settlement of his accounts. At the time
of his death Mr. Jackson was the owner of a very large
N
1T8 ashgill; or, the life
fortune, sufficient, indeed, to provide handsomely for
his widow and children. Long before Ellington's career
he was known as a famous speculator, but when Aldcroft
sent the " Admiral's " outsider home a winner in 1856,
his position was confirmed, and from that time forth he
was regarded as one of the magnates of the Turf.
Saunterer's Goodwood Cup was a tremendous betting
race. Mr. John Corlett, in giving some reminiscences
of the late Marquis of Queensberry, who died on
31st Januar}^, 1900, thus refers to it —
" The last time I saw the Marquis of Queensberry
he told me that he considered that the finest sport in
the world was steeplechase riding, and next to that he
got most fun nowadays out of his bicycle, which he
infinitely preferred to ordinary horse exercise. He was
a bold steeplechase rider, and, like his father, there
was no sport of any description he was not good at. He
succeeded his father at the age of fourteen, whilst still a
midshipman in the Royal Navy, after the extraordinary
gun accident that followed on the Saunterer disaster
at Goodwood, in which he was killed. The earlier
Marquis of Queensberry was one of those men who took
' fancies ' for or against a horse, and thus was often led
into making what is called a ' one-horse ' book. This
game may be carried on with profit and impunity for
years, but the crash is sure to come at last. I have
known men whose only visible means of existence was
the Derby. They would 'pot' one of the favourites,
and the chance was always, of course, against the
backer. The Derby victory of Thormanby knocked out
a whole row of this class of speculators. Lord
Queensberry got it into his head that Saunterer was a
mere miler, and could not stay the Goodwood Cup
LORD GLASGOW
Vignetie from Baiiy's Maj:;iiziiie-
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 179
course. It is true that he was a miler till Mat Dawson
got him, but after that he stayed well enough. Be that
as it may, the Marquis laid all he could against him,
and one particularly rash bet was 10,000 to 500. Mr.
Merry, I beheve, got this. Mat Dawson has often told
me that he implored him to save his money ; but he had
got into the mire, and could not get out of it. With
' Mat ' training and fancying the horse, and Mr. Merry
backing him, a bet of twenty monkeys was not to be
easily hedged, so instead of hedging he hardened to it,
and laid a bit more. Saunterer, who started at 7 to 1-,
won, and Fisherman was second. I need scarcely say
that the account was not settled."
Barely two months later than Jackson died, Lord
Glasgow, to whose memory some notice has already
been given, entered into rest after a fitful career.
" Sleep, then, in peace, departed dust,
And be thine epitaph ' The Just ' :
A name that Malice dare not 'hate,'
Nor Envy's self obliterate ;
A name affection to command
While Truth and Honour rule the land."
Such was " Amphion's " tribute to the memory of one
whose faults were far exceeded by his virtues. Only
a brief interval, and the Earl of Derby was called
to his last account, the two great and high-minded
sportsmen, who had been almost inseparable in life,
hardly being parted in death. Intensely a proud man,
Lord Derby's hauteur arose rather from a gigantic and
cultured intellect than from selfish priggishness.
Whether in the Senate or on the Turf, the Earl of Derby,
who had attained the allotted span of the Psalmist, was
a great, pure-minded nobleman. Lord Lytton thus
happily hit off his features —
180 ashgill; or, the life
" One after one the lords of time advance —
Here Stanley meets — how Stanley scorns the glance ! *
The brilliant chief, irregularly great,
Frank, haughty, rash — the Rupert of debate ;
Nor gout, nor toil, his freshness can destroy,
And Time still leaves all Eton in the boy ;
First in the class, and keenest in the ring,
He saps like Gladstone, and he fights like Spring ;
Ev'n at the feast his pluck pervades the board,
And dauntless game-cocks syml)olise their lord.
Lo, where atilt at friend — if barr'd from foe —
He scours the ground, and volunteers the blow.
And, tired with contest over Dan and Snob,
Plants a sly bruiser on the nose of Bob ; f
Decorous Bob, too friendly to reprove,
Suggests fresh fighting in the next remove.
And prompts his chum, in hopes the vein to cool.
To the prim benches of the Upper School :
Yet who not listens, with delighted smile.
To the pure Saxon of that silver style ;
In the clear style a heart as clear is seen,
Prompt to the rash — revolting to the mean."
It was the ambition of his hfe, never to be realised, ta
win the Derby, a race which was named in compliment
to his grandfather, the twelfth Earl, but the hopes so
dearly entertained were never destined to be realised,
it being a case of " so near and yet so far " when
ToxophiHte ran second for it in 1858. He won the Oaks
in 1851 with the roaring Iris, and the Two Thousand
Guineas with Fazzoletto, the One Thousand with
Canezou and Sagitta, the Goodwood and Doncaster
Cups with Canezou. Several handicaps and
innumerable Produce stakes fell to his lot. The most
successful brood mare he ever possessed was probably
Miss Bowe, one of old John Osborne's first m.ares, who
produced him Iris, Longbow, Boiardo, De Clare,
Strongbow, Tom Bowline, and a few others of lesser
note. The sisters Escalade and Meeanee were not so
The glance of O'Connell. fTlie late Sir Robert Peel.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE
181
successful, as Sortie, Emily, and Lady Augusta were
but indifferent substitutes for the foals of Miss Bowe.
The sum of £94,003 was won for Lord Derby by
the following horses — fifty-four in number. The total
number of horses he had in training from first to last
was 243 : —
Canezou,
£9180 j
Fazzoletto,
6500
Longbow,
6485 i
Boiardo, .
6200
Acrobat, .
5530
Iris,
4595 i
(.'ape Flyaway,
4475
Ithuriel, .
4350 1
Paletot, .
4050
Umbriel,
3600
Sagitta, .
3475
Toxophilite,
3350
Legerdemain,
2825
Dervish, .
2619
Strongbow,
2550
Sortie,
2400
Uriel, .
2290
Target, .
2250
Meteora, .
1963
Escalade,
1900
De Clare,
1600
Hobby Horse,
922
Streamer,
910
Star of India,
845
Bowstring,
775
Aquilo, .
750
Birdbolt,
600
Brachen, .
505
Shooting Star,
£500
Meeanee f.,
500
Psalmsinger, .
490
Professor,
485
Croupier,
Ci'own Pigeon,
440
410
Storm,
400
Abdiel, .
400
Archery, .
Ortolano,
365
300
Meeanee c.
290
The Eanee,
270
Little Isaac, .
200
Zeephon,
Phantom,
200
184
Fortune Teller,
175
Tour de Force,
165
Pirouette,
135
Meeanee,
100
Fandango,
100
Crotchet,
100
Merry-go-round,
100
Caricature,
85
Flash, .
50
Beverley,
Circus, .
45
20
Total,
£94,003
Also in this year of '69, John Stephenson, a Turf
" leviathan " of the day, committed suicide shortly
after Pretender had won the Derby. Among the many
extraordinary " characters " the Turf has produced,
Stephenson had no parallel. " Jock o' Oran " had been
the " Emperor of the King " before retiring in affluence
at Fairfield. Stephenson, however, became the greatest
Eoman of them all — great only in the magnitude of his
laying and backing transactions. Dr. Shorthouse, in an
1^^ ashgill; or, the life
obituary notice, gave a graphic jDicture of him in the
Sforting Times, from which we extract as follows: —
" The deceased was widely known, and better known
than esteemed, for his temper was so uncertain, at times
so violent, and his actions frequently so wayward, that it
was impossible to regard him as a friend, and equally
impossible to have dealings with him for long together.
In large transactions he was strictly honourable; but
in small ones overbearingly and frequently unjust.
Strong in his own strength, he seemed ahnost to despise
and desire to crush little men. Not only was this
conduct strikingly apparent in the ring, but also at the
clubs and at Tattersall's. If a httle man in his hearing
offered to lay a certain price against a horse, ' Stevey '
would immediately bawl him down by offering longer
odds and for a greater amount of money. His aim
seemed to be to keep the great guns all to himself, and
not to permit httle interlopers to intrude upon his
domain. Yet we can remember him when he was a yqvj
small man indeed — we are not speaking of his size, but
of the extent of his monetary transactions — for we
remember him when he used to bet with outsiders for
sums so smaU as half-a-crown and even so low as a
shilling, and at that time he was very violent, noisy,
and impetuous, and not unfrequently fell down in a fit
of epilepsy. In that state, as he was a powerful man,
his struggles were something fearful, and his fits were
generally of long duration. He has lain imconscious for
more than an hour, but as he grew older we believe that
the fits became fewer and farther between, and when
they did seize him they did so with less severity.
Whether his epilepsy was hereditary or not we cannot
say, but it is highly probable, for we have heard that
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 183
his mother was in a mad-house, and epilepsy and
insanity frequently co-exist.
" We know of several instances where he made
mild, meek, little men pay him twice over; and
though they had settled with him not half an hour
before, he has demanded payment a second time,
and has frequently been paid a second time. Indeed,
his demands were made in so imperious a tone,
and his conduct was so offensive and violent if his
victims demurred, that, rather than have a scene, they
have consented to ' pay again.' It is, however, but just
to Stephenson to say that in some of these cases he has
refunded the money, when he afterwards, in his calmer
moments, discovered that he had made a mistake. But
bulhes are always cowards, and he never asked a big
man for payment twice over ; it was only the weak whom
he oppressed and whom he insulted, for his behaviour
before a big swell was not unfrequently of a cringing
nature.
" His powers of calculation, when he was sober,
were prodigious, and he never was wrong; even when
he was drunk (and latterly he very frequently was so)
he made few or no mistakes in his calculations. We
have frequently seen him so drunk that he could not
write down the bets, but he never made a mistake in
the odds, and never got the worst of the transactions.
Another remarkable trait in ' Stevey's ' character was his
unselfishness in large commissions. If he backed a
gentleman's horse to win, say, £20,000 for any parti-
cular race, he was quite willing to let the owner have the
lion's share at the full average price — say, he would let
him have £18,000 at the average odds, and be content
with £2000 for himself. Stephenson was also of
184 ashgill; or, the life
immense service in those contemptible cases where
owners of horses like to mystify bookmakers and the
public. If an owner, either in joropria persona or by
deputy, was ' halting between two opinions ' — either to
back his horse to win or to milk him with a view to
scratching or losing — ' Stevey ' would very soon show
him the way and lead him a pretty dance. His conduct
in these cases was not only unique, but admirable and
enviable.
" We have many times known him stand to lose
several thousands of pounds which, in the course of
a few seconds, he has seemingly thrown into the ocean
in his determination to unravel such mysteries. For
instance, if he thought there was any hanky-panky work
going on, he would begin by offering to lay the owner
(or his deputy) ten monkeys or ten thousand against his
horse, and the next moment offer to take six or seven
monkeys or thousands, and ' carry on ' with his taunts
and his offers till the poor owner became so bewildered
he could no longer keep the secret to himself, but had
to let the cat out of the bag. Then Stephenson would
deal hberally with him, and, if he wanted to back the
horse, lay a good price, and risk the chance of getting
it back or winning anything for himself. The extent
of his speculation was enormous, and his payments'
always prompt and punctual ; in short, he is a loss, and
we ' ne'er shall look upon his like again.'
" Some of the penny scribblers who knew nothing of
the facts of the case, and did not care to take the
trouble to make inquiries, have attributed his suicide
mainly to the fact that he ' had a bad Derby book.' Now
the fact is that he had not a bad Derby book; on the
contrary, he had a pretty good one. He had ' got round '
as nearly as possible, without having laid against several
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 185
of the horses who are likely to start, and some of which
are not unhkely to take a prominent part in the Derby.
It was, therefore, justi on the cards that he would have
* had a skinner.' But even if the worst had come to the
worst, he could not have lost a thousand pounds on his
Derby book as it stood at the time of his death, and such
a sum was a mere flea-bite to a man with his business,
and he could have squared that round in the ' fiddling '
operations of any afternoon at Tattersall's. The real
cause of the disaster was a brain hereditarily predisposed
to disease, and excited into action by the imbibition of
ardent spirits in large quantities. We have many a
time seen him toss off a large glass of neat brandy and
call for another glass instanter. In everything he
seemed to throw himself heart and soul.
" Even the last dread act of all was not half
done, it was thoroughly done; he cut his throat
right across from one ear nearly to the other — a
more frightful gash was seldom seen, and never
before inflicted by any person upon himself. " The
deed, too, was not only determined, but it was
premeditated — nay, even proclaimed. On the day
before, he dined with one of his most intimate friends,
and told liim in the most undisguised language possible
that the next morning he meant to cut his throat. When
his friend remonstrated with him upon the folly of
making jokes upon such serious matters, he told him it
was no joke at all, but that he meant to carry his threat
into execution, and, indeed, admitted that he should
have done so the week before — shaving wandered into the
fields for the very purpose — but that there were a lot of
roughs about who would have picked his pockets, as
there was no ' bobby ' in view who could have protected
his carcase from spohation ; and he significantly added
186 ashgill; or, the life
that he did not wish his pocket-money to be appro-
priated by roughs, as he intended it for his wife. At
the time when he severed himself from the world he
had no less a sum than three thousand pounds in bank
notes in his pockets. That 'trifle' was his 'pocket-
money ' ; but he was otherwise a very rich man, and as
he sprang from nothing, and was a man of only middle
life (45), his career must be regarded as an eminently
prosperous one. But, though prosperous, he was not
happy ; and yet we beheve his domestic life was highly
commendable, and his bliss at home such as any man
need envy.
" He was violent and impetuous beyond all men we
ever knew. He took nothing quietly. He was a
desperate rider to hounds, and in more senses than one
a ' mighty hunter.' Though not a tall or heavy man,
his strength was prodigious; he had unusual width of
chest, and every time we saw him we were reminded
of the brawny Cleon immortalised in Bulwer Lytton's
imperishable lines which introduce his description of
O'Connell—
" ' But who, scarce less by eveiy gazer eyed,
Walks yonder, swinging with a stalwart stride ?
With that vast bulk of chest and limb assigned
So oft to men who subjugate their kind ;
So sturdy Cromwell push'd broad-shoulder'd on ;
So burly Luther breasted Babylon ;
So brawny Cleon bawl'd his Agora down ;
And large-limb'd Mahmoud clutch'd a Prophet's crown.'"
" An inquest was held on the body, and Mr. George
Lambert, who had been associated with Mr. Stephenson
as a sort of partner, gave the following evidence : —
" ' I wish to state that for the last four years I have
shared with him every year there has been a large profit.
He has sustained no loss. He has died in a good
position. He has won upon everything.'
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 187
" So much for the ' bad Derby book ' having led to
the calamity. After hearing the evidence, the jury
very charitably, and as we think very truthfully, came to
the conclusion that he ' committed suicide whilst in a
state of unsound mind.' "
Poor old Dr. Shorthouse, in his endeavour to solve
" the Derby problem " of '69, clearly demonstrated that
a man is a fool to prophesy unless he knows. Speaking
of the Adventurer colt's Derby prospects, he said —
" Then there is that pretentious gentleman. Pretender.
Well, if there be any truth at all in form, this horse
is vastly overrated. We had the opportunity of taking
his measure, and we did so to an inch and an ounce.
The conclusion at which we arrived was that he was
not within pounds and pounds of Belladrum. We will
confine ourselves within reasonable limits and say that
he is not within a stone of the form shown by
Belladrum; therefore what chance can there be of his
carrying off the Blue Eiband so long as Mr. Merry's
colt keeps well? . . . He also suffers from the
disadvantage of having an old mare (twenty-two years)
for his mother."
SettHng down to our line once more, let the reader
understand that Pretender, after his fine performance
in the Middle Park Plate behind Pero Gomez, did not
have that good colt to oppose him in the Two Thousand
of '69, which is now to be dealt with. Tom Dawson
gave the Tupgill champion a rattling preparation
throughout the early spring, and John Osborne was
engaged to ride him in the first of the " classics." The
colt arrived at Newmarket fit and well for the fray.
At the " Rooms " overnight Martyrdom, who was
Fordham's mount, came with a great rush in the prices
current, threatening at one time to supersede Duke of
1S8 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
Beaufort, who had previously run well over the Rowley
Mile, and Pretender, who had disputed favouritism in
the ante-post betting. Baron Rothschild's candidate —
the colt by Tim Whiffler out of Hermione — ^was a raging
tip at the eleventh hour. Indeed, so completely had
the books been appropriated about him that the
Baron became very angry, as he wanted to invest a
monJiey at a long price. He stated his grievance the
next morning to " Lord Freddy " (Swindells), who gave
him solace as follows — " If the horse were mine, aa
would'ner have him ridden out an' punished him in the
Guineas — aa — aad get him damned well beaten in a
Plate or two, and then they'll be damned glad to turn
the money up, an' a long price 'U be got. It's a damned
shame to interfere so much with owners." Mr. Merry
was not sanguine about BeUadrum, as was confirmed
by his opinion expressed after the race — " If BeUadrum
were only the BeUadrum of 1868, no Pretender would
have beaten him, and no such horses as Perry Down
and Martyrdom would have been within sight of him."
Wonderful, isn't it, what Adrtue there is in an " if " !
" Amphion," the turf laureate of the day, proved
himself a true prophet the Saturday before the Two
Thousand in verse, as follows: —
*' We shall all be <jlad when Johnnie comes marching homey
" But a good lad and true wears the Middleham blue,
And there's nothing but one in the race.
Though the fielders declare for the Israelite pair
And The Drummer runs into a place,
(jo, flash on the wire to the horse-loving shire
The message you longed to send her —
How Johnny has come marching gallantly home,
And hurrah for the young PRETENDER."
But without further diagnosing the pros, and cons, of
the situation so far back as thirty-one years ago, the
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE
189
reader can judge for himself by glancing over the
following ample description culled from the Sporting
Times of
PRETENDER'S TWO THOUSAND.
The Two Thousand Guineas Stakes of 100 sovereigns each, h. ft., for three-
year-olds; colts, S St. 10 lb., fillies, S st. 5 lb.; the second received 200
sovereigns out of the stakes, and the third saved his stake. R.M. (1 mile
17 yards). 77 subs.
Mr. Johnstone's br c Pretender, by Adventurer —
Ferina, 8 st. 10 lb.,
Mr. Merry's b c Belladnim, by Stockwcll — Catherine
Hayes, 8 st. 10 lb., . "
Mr. T. Jenning's br c Perry Down, by Ben Webster —
Airedale, 8 st. 10 lb.,
Lord Calthorpe's ch c Martyrdom (late Martyi-)
8 St. 10 lb., .."....
Count Batthyany's b c Typhon, 8 st. 10 lb.,
^Ir. Padwick's ch c Standard Bearer, 8 st. 10 lb.,
Mr. Bravlev's b c Duke of Beaufort, 8 st. 10 lb.,
^ " 1
Lord Royston's ch c Alpenstock, 8 st. 10 lb..
Sir R. Bulkeley's br c Tasman, 8 st. 10 lb..
Sir J. Hawley's br c Siderolite, 8 st. 10 lb..
Sir J. Hawley's br c King Cophetua, 8 st. 10 lb.,
Mr. Graham's b c Conrad, 8 st. 10 lb.,
Mr. Graham's b c The Drummer, 8 st. 10 lb., .
Duke of Newcastle's b c Prince Imperial, 8 st. 10 lb.,
Duke of Newcastle's b c Tenedos, 8 st. 10 lb., .
Lord Rendlesham's b c Royal Rake, 8 st. 10 lb..
Baron Rothschild's b c by Tim Whiffler — Hermione,
8 St. 10 lb., . ".
Lord Westmorland's b c Brambridge, 8 st. 10 lb.,
Mr. Saville's bl g Neuchatel, 8 st. 10 lb., .
Betting — 3 to 1 each against Duke of Beaufort and Pretender, 5 to 1 against
Martyrdom, 7 to 1 against The Drummer, 8 to 1 against Belladrum, 20 to 1
against Alpenstock, 25 to 1 each against Prince Imperial and Hermione colt,
33 to 1 against King Cophetua, 66 to 1 each against Typhon, Perry Down,
and Royal Rake, 100 to 1 each against Tasman and Siderolite.
J. Osborne 1
Kenyon 2
Butler 3
Fordhani 4
Morris
Parry
Cannon
Custance
J. Snowden
Wells
J. Adams
Page
T. Chaloner
T. French
Heartfield
J. Mann
J. Daley
J. Goater
Maidment
THE RACE.
The numbers of the starters were hoisted at 3.30, ten minutes before the time for
which the race was fixed, and the field was much larger than was anticipated it
would be, no less than nineteen competitors being announced. The Birdcage
enclosure was surrounded by an eager crowd, who were anxious to get a view of
the prominent favourites, but in this they were disappointed, as most of them
were saddled at the Ditch stables. Just before four o'clock the lot placed them-
190 ashgill; or, the life
selves under the command of Mr. M 'George, and the immense body of equestrians
that accompanied them to the post having cantered away in the direction of the
finish, no time was lost in getting the starters in order. After one failure the
I'ace commenced with a beautiful start, for a few strides not one of the competi-
tors having a head the best of it. The moment they had settled down, however,
Brambridge rushed to the front, followed by Conrad, the pair fulfilling their
respective missions by forcing the running, and after they had gone a hundred
yards Lord Westmorland's colt, in the centre, had a lead of two or three lengths
of Conrad, who was lying on the extreme right, but a similar distance in advance
of the general body of horses. The most prominent followers of the leaders were
Perry Down, Tenedos, and Tasman at the head of the right-hand division, Typhon
and Martyrdom in the centre, and Belladrum, Alpenstock, the Hermione colt,
Pretender, and Prince Imperial on the stand side, the last-named occupying the
extreme left-hand position at the girths of the northern horse. At the head of
the ruck came Duke of Beaufort and The Drummer in the track of Martyrdom,
and King Cophetua's colours were discernible on the whiphand, but in the rear
of Count Batthyauy's colt, while soon after they had started Sir Joseph's cherry
jacket and black cap, worn by Wells, were seen toiling in rear in company with
Standard Bearer. At a rattling pace Brambridge and Conrad came sailing away
with a long lead, but after passing the T.Y.C. winning-post the pair began to
compound, and half-way up the Bushes Hill they both retired from the front.
Their disappearance left Perry Down with about a head advantage of Tenedos,
Tasman being dead settled at the brow of the hill, where Typhon, Alpenstock,
and the Hermione colt hung out signals of distress and gradually dropped away,
an example followed by Prince Imperial the moment the descent was commenced.
Perry Down and Tenedos were then lying slightly in advance of Belladrum, with
Martyrdom at his quarters. Pretender, on the left, now lying about a length and
a half in rear of the leaders. For a moment Cannon managed to get the Duke of
Beaufort from the ruck, but he soon disappeared again, and The Drummer as
rapidly beat a retreat after Chaloner's effort to get him within hail of Belladrum.
Mr. Merry's colt (who had been pulling hard at Kenyon) headed Perry Down
half-way down the Bushes Hill, Martyrdom still lying at his quarters, while
Pretender came steadily on by himself, still preserving his line wide on the left.
The moment they reached the Abingdon Mile Bottom, Osborne sent Pretender up
to Belladrum, and Martyrdom being settled the instant afterwards, the race was
virtually reduced to a match between Belladrum and Pretender. The moment
the northerner was fairly on terms with Belladrum he took a neck lead, but the
followers of tlie yellow jacket were frantic with excitement when their beloved
champion was seen to hold his own with the son of Adventurer. The hopes,
however, so suddenly raised were as rapidly dashed, as the first dozen strides up
the hill were disastrous to the son of Stockwell and Catherine Hayes, and Kenyon
was compelled to call resolutely on him. Amid tremendous cheering and excite-
ment the pair came on neck and neck, but Osborne was sitting as calm as a
statue, and to the initiated it was palpable that the victory would be gained by
the northern crack. When within fifty yards of the chair Kenyon made another
brilliant attempt to turn the tide of victory, but Pretender had sufficient in him
to answer immediately to his jockey's "rousing," and drawing away inch by inch
he won very cleverly indeed by half a length. Perry Down finished third, four
lengths in rear of Belladrum, and Fordham, who made determined efforts to
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 191
secure place honours, was defeated for that position by a neck. About three
lengths off came Tenedos fifth, Tasman being sixth, Typhon, a few lengths away,
being seventh, just in advance of Alpenstock, eighth. Some distance ofT came
Prince Imperial ninth, Neuchatel tenth, Duke of Beaufort eleventli. Drummer
twelfth. King Cophetua thirteenth, Conrad fourteenth, and Siderolite fifteenth.
Hermione colt, Royal Rake, Brambridge, and Standard Bearer were the next lot,
many lengths in rear. The winner was most enthusiastically cheered on i-eturn-
ing to weigh in, and tiie good fight Belladruni made of it obtained for both him
and his jockey many deserved plaudits. Net value of the stakes, £4400. Time,
as taken by Benson's chronograph, 1 min. 521 sec.
As was natural, the victory of Pretender created
a volte-face in the quotations on the Derby. Pretender
took the premier place in the betting, Belladrum
still held his own, Perry Down was introduced
to outside notice, and others that followed the
Tupgill colt home over the Rowley Mile being driven to
forlorn prices. But there was yet Pero Gomez to bear
in mind — the colt who had beaten Pretender in the
Middle Park Plate the previous autumn. It was
argued, and not without reason, that the Epsom
gradients might alter the chances of the two placed in
the Tavo Thousand, if not actually reverse the positions,
Pretender's action, it was alleged, being eminently
unsuited to a course with so much descent in it as
Epsom. On all pubhc form there was nothing in the
Derby but Pretender, Pero Gomez, Belladrum, The
Drummer, Wild Oats, and Ladas.
192
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
CHAPTER XII
" The triumph and the vanity,
The raptxire of the strife ;
The earthquake voice of victory,
It is the breath of Life."
The interim between the Two Thousand and the
Derby was fiUed with speculation as to the rival merits
of Pretender over Sir Joseph Hawley's Pero Gomez.
The latter had won the Biennial at Newmarket easier,
it was alleged, than Pretender had won the Two
Thousand, though it was quite true " Pero " had
nothing so hot as Belladnim to follov/ him home in the
Biennial. As before the Two Thousand, the old cry
was raised against Pretender that he was not
fashionably bred, that his mother was a very old mare
and very much the worse for wear when she produced
him, and that his Middle Park display made him 14 lbs.
behind Derby form. John Day, one of the astutest
judges of racing, was of opinion Belladrum would
reverse the Two Thousand running with the Middleham
colt. He had seen every Derby since Mundig's year
(1835), and he had never seen a good pace yet, and
therefore entertained the opinion that Belladrum, who
could canter as fast as some of them could gallop, would
have enough in reserve when he arrived at the distance
to come away and show his tail to his opponents.
■^
M
O
O
7U
<
!
K
PL,
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 193
Pretender included. A plausible argument, forsooth!
but not to be supported by the solid arbitrament of fact.
But " all Yorkshire," as well as Johnnie Osborne,
was on Pretender's back for the Derby of '69. The
poet and prophet of the period sang —
" But north and south are arming for the fray,
The lists are cleared, and lo ! the warrior band.
Oh, happy man, 'Johnnie' leads the way,
' Pero ' and Belladrum on either hand.
Haply, the names recorded thus may stand,
When the fight is over and the trophy won ;
The victor's name runs flashing through the land.
And louder yet and rougher grows the fun,
As London homeward streams beneath the setting sun.
" So may ' The Riband's ' deathless sheen
Upon the victor's breast be seen
Of undistinguishable hue
From that bright vest of bonnie blue
Yet ne'er to fade away.
And bells at ISliddleham awake
The echoes of the moor and brake
With one more peal for Johnnie's sake.
To keep the festal day."— (" Amphion.")
At length the day of battle arrived, the sun shining
upon the scene and lending enchantment to the view.
Pretender was accompanied by his stable companions,
Thorwaldsen and Lord Hawtliorn, Thorwaldsen having
a raw place the size of a man's hand over his hip bone,
caused by his getting thrown in his box. The " crack "
had Tom Dawson's best pohsh on him, and passed satis-
factorily through paddock inspection. Mr. Graham
watched with intense satisfaction his beloved Drummer,
fearing nothing and looking at nothing else. He had
backed his horse at all sorts of prices from a thousand
to one and five hundred to one downwards, so that he
stood to win forty thousand pounds to a mere flea-bite,
o
194 ashgill; or, the life
Ethus had many friends. Sir Joseph Hawley's pair also
claimed notice, The " King " preceding the crack,
and Pero Gomez, about whom John Porter was
satisfied. Then there was Ladas, not improved
much in appearance from the previous year, and
justly esteemed a very dear purchase at 3500 guineas
for the then youthful Lord Roseber}^, destined in
after years to win the Derby with a horse of
the same name when he was the Premier of Great
Britain, and to be the recipient that day of an ovation
from the Epsom multitude, only surpassed when
the Prince of Wales led Persimmon back a victor.
Belladrum, too, was in the party — a handsome horse,
lacking power, and his wind affected, so said Mr. Merry
before the race. Belladrum, nevertheless, was the idol
of the multitude, though Porter and Wells, the one
leading and the other riding Pero Gomez, came in for
much notice. BeUadrum, when he cantered past the
stand, was greeted with enthusiastic cheering. One
break away and the flag was dropped, the field being at
least a hundred yards behind the starting post. Up
the ascent and through the Furzes it was a " jiggety-
jog " pace, but once round Tattenham Corner into the
straight it became terrific contrasting with the snail's
gallop in Lord Lyon's year. " This year," said the
chronicler of the time, " considering the weights the
horses carried, we much question whether a third of a
mile of ground (the last) was ever covered in quicker
time for any race whatever, whilst the horsemanship of
Wells and Osborne was a treat to witness." Before
reaching the distance the issue was confined to The
Drummer, Pretender, and Pero Gomez, the trio
struggling neck and neck at that juncture. " Johnnie "
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 195
€n the Two Thousand hero had a slight advantage till
within fifty yards of the chair, when Wells by a magnifi-
cent effort, answered most gallantly by Pero Gomez,
drew level, and, indeed, appeared to get the better of
Kim, but the son of Adventurer and Ferina was fully
equal to the great and trying occasion, as he gamely
responded to Osborne's determined caU, and won one of
the grandest races ever witnessed by a head, justifying
the short price of 5 to 4 taken about him at the start,
Pero Gomez's quotation being 5 to 1. In such a close
finish the hoisting of the winning number was
anticipated with great suspense, but when No. 4
announced Pretender as the victor the cheering was
terrific; and the Northerners, almost frantic with
delight, surrounded the horse as he returned to weigh
in, and gave way to the wildest excitement. The time
of the race was 2 mins. 52^ sees., and the net value of
the stakes 6225 gs.
After the race, WeUs, who was evidently under the
impression that he had won, rode his horse back
smiling. He was greeted with enthusiastic cheers, for
not only Sir Joseph Hawley's cherry jacket, but
Wells also, was popular with the multitude. Great
enthusiasm was displayed when Johnnie Osborne,
preceded by Martin Starling on his grey cob, rode back
Pretender into the saddling paddock. The success of
Pretender was well received by city men, and by the
mercantile world, with whom his nominal owner, Mr.
Johnstone, was deservedly popular. When they
returned Pero Gomez seemed the lesser distressed horse
of the two, and Johnnie Osborne confessed that he
didn't wish to meet him again when he rode Pretender
in the St. Leger or any other race.
196
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
PRETENDER'S DERBY, 1869.
(Sporting Times. )
The Dekby Stakes of 50 sovereigns each, h. ft., for three-year-olds; colts,.
8 St. 10 lb., fillies, 8 st. 5 lb. ; the second received 300 sovereigns, and the
third 150 sovereigns out of the stakes. One mile and a half. 247 yards.
Mr
Sir
Mr
Sir
c Pretender, by Adventurer-
Pero Gomez, by Beadsman —
-My
J. Johnstone's br
Ferina,
J. Hawley's br c
Salamanca,
Graham's b c The Drummer, by Rataplan
Niece, .....
J. Hawley's b c King Cophetua, .
Mr. Brayley's b c Duke of Beaufort, .
Mr. J. Johnstone's b c Lord Hawthorn,
Mr. J. Johnstone's ch c Thorwaldsen,
Mr. H. E. Surtee's b c The ^gean,
Sir C. Legard's ch c Border Knight,
Lord Calthorpe's ch c Martyrdom,
Mr. Merry's b c Belladrum,
Mr. Savile's b c Ryshworth,
Mr. Savile's bl c Neuchatel,
Lord Rosebery's br c Ladas,
Lord Royston's ch c Alpenstock,
Lord Strafford's ro c Rupert,
Mr. T. Jenning's br c Perrv Down,
Mr. Jos. Dawson's ch c De Vere,
Duke of Newcastle's b c Tenedos,
Sir R. W. Bulkeley's br c Tasman,
Mr. Padwick's b c Ethus, .
Mr. John Denman's br c Defender,
Mr. Johnstone declared to win witli Pretende
J. Osborne 1
Wells 2
Morris 3
J. Adams
Cannon
Hudson
Chaloner
Parry
Snowden
Fordham
J. Daley
Maidment
Hammond
Custance 0'
Mr. W. Bevill
T. French
Butler
Grimshaw
Metcalfe
Ken von
J. Goater
Roper
Betting — 5 to 4 against Pretender, 5 to 1 against Pero Gomez, G to 1 against
Belladrum, 10 to 1 against Perry Down, 20 to 1 eacli against Martyrdom and
The Drummer, 33 to 1 each against Tliorwaldsen and Border Knight, 50 to
1 each against Duke of Beaufort, Ryshworth, De Vere, and Ethus, 66 to 1
against Ladas, 100 to 1 against Alpenstock, 1000 to 8 against King Cophetua,
and 1000 to 5 each against The ^gean, Defender, and Tenedos.
THE RACE.
Preparations having been going on while the first race was run, Mr. Manning
succeeded in weighing out the starters in excellent time, and accordingly tlie
numbers were announced some minutes before the hour (three o'clock) for which
the race was fixed. The eager, surging crowd whicli congregated in front of the
crude arrangement which does duty for a telegraph board were then in possession
of the fact that of the twenty-six animals mentioned on the card, but four, the
Hermione colt, Derventio, Walmer, and Conrad, declined to enter the lists.
Attention was then turned to the paddock, which was already well filled, but a.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 197
tremendous influx of visitors soon rendered it crowded. As may naturally be
supposed, the favourites were surrounded by a perfect host of admirers or
critics, and the attendants of Pero Gomez and Belladrum had great difficulty in
even walking their charges about, the prying curiosity of tlie crowd being so
overwhelming that they were fairly hemmed in on all sides. Both animals,
however, so far as appearances went, were quite equal to the attention, as each
looked the perfection of condition, and exemplified their trainers' skill to the
highest degree. Perry Down was another who had a host of followers, and
■certainly the eulogistic remarks of all good judges were perfectly justifiable, as
the son of Ben Webster looked not only in splendid trim, but had the stamp of a
Derby winner about him. Duke of Beaufort had evidently done an immense
amount of work, while Drummer, perhaps, looked better than ever he did before.
Martyrdom, Border Knight, The ^Egean, Alpenstock, Rupert, De Vere, Tasman,
Defender, Ladas, Ethus, and Mr. Savile's pair — Ryshworth and Neuchatel — were
passed by almost contemptuously, except by their immediate friends, but, with-
out particularising them, all looked in blooming health and fitness. The
Middleham fleet were hunted for in every corner, but only to a select few was it
known that the trio were Ijeing quietlj' saddled just outside the lower end of the
paddock — a very judicious arrangement, as Dawson thus protected the favourite
from the " mobV)ing" he would be sure to have been subjected to had he " shown "
inside the enclosure to undergo his toilet. As they emerged on the course to
take their preliminary canters, Wells on Pero Gomez, Daley on Belladrum, and
Osborne on Pretender were received with loud cheering, the two first-named
coming in for a perfect ovation. The "breathers" were taken without any
especial feature, the style of going of all the prominent favourites being especially
admired, Pero Gomez, perhaps, pleasing his friends most. At twenty minutes
past three the lot reached the starting post, and when Mr. M 'George took them
under his charge the excitement was intense. The first attempt to start them
was frustrated by The ^gean, Thorwaldsen, Drummer, and Defender breaking
away, but they soon rejoined their horses, and after a few minutes' delay in
getting them in order again, the word was given, and a loud roar of excitement
greeted the lowering of the flag. For a few strides The Drummer held a slight
lead, but immediately they had fairly settled in their places Neuchatel, forcing
the pace to serve his stable companion Ryshworth, took up the running, pursued
by Lord Hawthorn, who was obej'ing a similar mission to ensure the speed for
the favourite. Close up with him were Thorwaldsen and Border Knight, at
whose quarters lay The Drummer and The ^-Egean, succeeding them being
De Vere, Ethus, and Duke of Beaufort in a cluster, just in advance of another
division consisting of King Cophetua, Ryshworth, Perry Down, Alpenstock,
Tenedos, and Defender, Pero Gomez being clear of them, but in advance of
Pretender, Rupert, Ladas, Belladrum, and Martyrdom, who were side by side,
Tasman bringing up the rear. With the exception that the favourite ran through
his horses and joined the leading division, nearly half a mile was traversed with-
out any material alteration in their relative positions, the pace being very slow
indeed, m hich enabled all the runners to maintain their places. At the mile-post,
however, Hudson sent Lord Hawthorn along, when he found Neuchatel flagging,
and the pair were then racing away about a couple of lengths in advance of
Pretender, The ^Egean, Ryshworth, Thorwaldsen, Perry Down, The Drummer,
Duke of Beaufort, Alpenstock, and Pero Gomez, the feature of the leading rank
198 ashgill; or, the life
having undergone that change in a short distance, while Rupert had also closed
up with De Vere and King Cophetua. Going through the furzes Ethus dropped
right away in rear with Belladrum, the pair at the top of the hill being at least
fifty yards behind everything, and the further they went the more apparent was
it they were out-paced. From this point the actual contest may be said to have
commenced, as the speed, which had been worse than in many a race for a paltry
plate, was greatly increased, and then the "tailing" commenced in earnest,
Ladas and Tenedos being observed toiling hopelessly along. Neuchatel soon
disappeared from the front, but Lord Hawthorn held his position with a slight
advantage to Tattenham Corner, where a scrimmage occurred, owing to Thor-
waldsen swerving across in front of Duke of Beaufort, who " tripped " and nearly
came down. To avoid a disastrous collision Wells was compelled to pull Pero
Gomez right out of his track, and thread his way into the straight on the outside
of his horses, and Mr. Bevill was also compelled to steady Alpenstock, to prevent
him striking into Mr. Brayley's colt. This unfortunate contretemps, although
luckily it was not attended with any serious results, created such confusion that
it was a matter of some difficulty to tell what led fairly round the obnoxious
bend. However, when fairly in the straight, it was discovered that Lord
Hawthorn had beaten a retreat, The Drummer, with Perry Down, and Rupert
on his left, occupying the lower ground, King Cophetua, The .^Egean, and
Pretender lying in the centre, with Ryshworth and Pero Gomez on the right
hand or upper side of the course. Martyrdom, though completely settled,
struggled on in the wake of the left division, and Duke of Beaufort was
striding along just in rear of the favourite, followed by Alpenstock. These
formed the front rank, and The Drummer, almost immediately after they
were in the line for home, took up the running. The Mgea,i\ retiring
directly, King Cophetua being in trouble a few strides further on, and
Perry Down, although apparently going strong and well, stopped as if he was
shot. Before reaching the distance Ryshworth had signified that he had "had
enough of it," and for a moment Rupert and Duke of Beaufort lying on either
side of Mr. Graham's colt, showed such a formidable front that the fielders
were screaming with excitement. When the trio had fairly fought out their
struggle, to the manifest advantage of The Drummer, Pretender and Pero
Gomez, who had been momentarily overlooked, shot to the front opposite the
Stand, and in a moment the final issue became a match between the celebrated
pair. The Two Thousand hero had a slight advantage till within about fifty
yards of the chair, when Wells, by a magnificent effort, answered most gallantly
by Pero Gomez, drew level, and, indeed, appeared to get the best of him, but the
son of Adventurer and Ferina was fully equal to the great and trying occasion, as
he gamely responded to Osliorne's determined call, and won one of the grandest
races ever witnessed by a head. The Drummer, although hard pressed by Duke
of Beaufort, Rupert, and P^yshworth, obtained place honours by a length, but the
other three, clear of Mr. Graham's hardy representative, were so nearly level that
it was impossible to assign either of them the fourth position. Alpenstock, about
four lengths awaj', was seventh. Martyrdom being eighth. King Cophetua ninth,
Thorwaldsen tenth, Perry Down eleventh. Defender twelfth, and De Vere thir-
teenth. Then came Lord Haw thorn. Border Knight, Tasman, Ethus, Tenedos,
The ^gean, and Neuchatel in a cluster. Belladrum and Ladas were pulled up
before reaching the post, but Lord Rosebery's colt was credited with the twenty-
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE
199
first position. Perry Down pulled up very lame indeed, and this would account
for the sudden manner in which he retired when going so well. The hoisting of
the winning number was anticipated with the greatest suspense, but when No. 4
announced Pretender as the victor, the cheering was terrific, and the Northerners,
almost frantic with delight, surrounded the horse as he returned to weigh in, and
gave way to the wildest excitement. Pero Gomez and Wells came in for their
share of the applause, which was never more deserved. The time, as taken by
Benson's chronograph, was 2 min. 52.J sec. Net value of the stakes, 6225 sovs.
C5
00
^Newminster
1848
TTouchstone
1831
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1833
'Emilius
1820
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1840
I
[ Venison
1833
Francesca
1829
rPartisan
1811
1
Partiality
1830
Fawn
1823
fMiddleton
1822
1
Favorite
1821
/-Camel
'• Banter
/-Dr. Syntax
I Daughter of
.Orville
I Emily
/-Partisan
^Daughter of
/•Walton
V Parasol •
/- Smolensk o
V Jerboa
/■ Phantom
I Web
f Blucher
V Scheherazade
("Whalebone
\ Selim mare
f Master Henry
(^ Boadicea
f Paynator
\ Beningbro'm
/ Ardrossan
I^Lady Eliza
/Beninbro'
^^ Evelina
(Stamford
(^ Whiskey mare
f Walton
\ Parasol
/Orville
(^ Buzzard mare
/Sir Peter
(Arethusa
/Potsos
\ Prunella
j Sorcerer
( Wowski
/Gohanna
\ Camilla
f Walton
(^ Julia
/ W^axy
(^Penelope
I Waxy
\ Pantina
/ Selim
\ Gipsy, by Trumpator
" We cannot remember," said the S2)orting Times,
" an occasion when the last three furlongs were covered
in quicker time than by the leading horses this year,
thus affording a striking contrast to the snail's gallop
of Lord Lyon's year, when the two leading horses
seemed a surprisingly long time in accomplishing their
task. This year they came along at a terrific pace, and
considering the weights the horses carried, we much
question whether a third of a mile of ground was ever
200 ashgill; or, the life
covered in quicker time in any race whatever, whilst
the horsemanship of Osborne and Wells was a treat to
witness. It is our opinion that but for a disappointment
in the race, the second horse would have won. Many
persons (including the trainer of Pero Gomez) assert
that he did actually win by a neck, but in this they
are evidently mistaken."
" Of the race itself," said " Outsider " in the Sporting
Times, 29th May, 1869, " of course, it will be asserted
by many, and chiefly by those who either went for him
or were on him, that Pero Gomez ought to have won,
and would have won but for the scrimmage at
Tattenham Corner. I don't believe it for a moment.
Firstly, because I am assured by one who narrowly
watched it, the scrinmiage did not affect the horse's
chance in the least; and, secondly, as I stood by both
horses in the weighing-in paddock after the race, it
was evident which had the more taken out of him and
which was the more punished. It seemed to me that
Osborne might have got a deal more out of his horse,
which was never headed, and won by a good head, but
that Pero Gomez had the last ounce exhausted from
him by Wells. As to the time the race was run —
2 mins. 52^ sees. — considering the horses started lower
down than usual, and about 300 yards further than in
Kettledrum's year, it was very good, for since the race
has been timed in 1846 only thirteen have done it
quicker, and on two of those occasions by only half a
second. The Flying Dutchman, West Australian,
Thormanby, and Wild Dayrell all took two seconds
longer ; and, as I said before, I do not believe a start was
ever made so far back before."
Sir Joseph Hawley lost popularity by his action on
settling day after Pretender's Derby. The facts of the
Visnette from Baiiy's Magazine
Sir JOSEPH HAWLEY
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 201
case are as follows : — At twelve o'clock, or even later, on
the Derby settling day. Sir Josei:)h's commissioner
entered the Victoria Club and informed its members
" that his principal declines to ' part,' and that he claims
the bets on Pero Gomez." Sir Joseph forwarded the
following note to Messrs. Weatherby: —
"6 Old Burlington Street, May 31, 1869.
"Having heard a rumonr that Mr. Sadler, the nominator of
Pretender for the Derby, died before the race was run, I give notice
to you not to pay over the stakes till the matter is cleared up.
"Joseph Haayi,ev." .
This move of Sir Joseph's was justly stigmatised
at the time, all the more so that Mr. Sadler, the breeder
of Pretender, had been at Epsom and saw the colt beat
Pero Gomez. The rumour was characterised as " wicked
and wanton," and it seems extraordinary that a level-
headed man like Sir Joseph should have made himself
the cat's paw of some mendacious scoundrels, from whom
the rumour emanated. The obloquy heaped upon the
owner of Pero Gomez had been stimulated by his
scratching of Blue Gown for the Guineas, this act being
done on the statement that, if the horse won, a certain
section of the bookmakers would find it difficult to settle
their accounts; accordingly the pen was put through
the horse's name, much to the disgust of the public
who had backed him.
The " Pretender panic," so far as regarded the
" settling," soon blew over, though not before Sir Joseph
had made himself at the time one of the most unpopular
sportsmen in the country. A caustic poem, entitled
" Sir Joseph Scratchhawley," was published in the
Sforting Tijnes after the Derby. Tliis led to an action
at law, instituted by Sir Joseph, against Dr. Shorthouse,
202
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
the proprietor of the paper. The libellous nature of
the contribution was proved, and the Doctor was com-
mitted to prison for a period.
In connection with the "Derby Dispute," the
Sfortsman gave the f oUovdng account : —
" Outside Tattersall's always presents a curious scene
on the Monday after the Derby, but never was the
appearance of the crowd like that of yesterday. There
was, as usual, a motley throng of the minor betting men,
the smaller backers, the hangers-on of the Turf, and the
regular loafers and idle folks generally. Nothing was
talked about but the latest Derby sensation, and the
panic that had arisen in the East appeared to have
extended to the far West. Books and pencils were
flashed, but for the moment the occupations of both
were gone. Backers of Pretender in vain essayed to
soften the strong hearts of layers into a distribution of
' coin.' Layers now and then attempted, with equal
want of success, to tempt backers into speculation on
future events. Gentlemen coming down in cabs,
especially if they wore an air of importance or
mystery, were eagerly interrogated as to the latest
news. The seediest lounger, on whose outer man
his ' uncle ' would have declined to have lent
twopence, talked over the matter as seriously as
his neighbour who had thousands depending on
the issue. Curiosity in what was going on inside
the sacred portals of Tattersall's was intense. The
doorkeeper was regarded with something of awe,
and the poUceman on duty received homage as a useful
and meritorious pubhc servant. He who was fortunate
enough to get a peep inside when the gate was opened
was envied; he who could point out the dignitaries in
the passage was generally supposed to be in a position
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 203
to die happy. Within, the state of matters was for a
time similar to that which prevailed at the club, and
the only object of interest was a written protest of Sir
Joseph Hawley. It is evident that Sir Joseph Hawley
had been led into some extraordinary error, or been the
victim of a very discreditable hoax. The latter appears
the more probable theory. For it is almost impossible
to conceive that he would have taken such a step as to
protest against the payment of stakes, unless evidence
that was at least apparently conclusive had been pre-
sented to him."
Wells on " Pero " rode his second Leger winner,
the first being Saacebox for Mr. T. Parr; he had
also won up to this period three " Derbies " on
Beadsman, Blue Gown, and Musjid. Fordham had
ridden second in the Leger three times, viz., on Buck-
stone, Paul Jones, and Martyrdom. Of Mr. Merry it
was said that he had not a shilling on Pero Gomez until
when, disliking Pretender in the paddock, he took £300
to £100 about his colt. There was an on dit circulated
that Mr. Jardine gave John Osborne £1000 for winning
the Derby on Pretender. While on his way to Ascot
with the remainder of Tom Dawson's team. Pretender
had a narrow escape of being burned to death. At
Retford the axle of the horse van became hot, and the
train was much delayed in consequence.
It does not serve our purpose to dwell upon the
interval between the decision of Pretender's Derby
and the St. Leger, beyond mentioning that the son
of Adventurer progressed in so satisfactory a manner
in his preparation for Doncaster that he became a
raging hot favourite. Evidently, from the foregoing
detailed and graphic report of the Derby, mainly
extracted in extenso from the Sjwrting Times, Pero
~^^ ashgill; or, the life
Gomez head been disappointed in the struggle round
Tattenham Corner, and it would appear, even at this
distant date, that Pretender was somewhat lucky
to triumph at Epsom. On the flat, long, tiring course
at Doncaster, Pero Gomez completely reversed the
Derby running as between the pair, depriving the
Tupgill candidate of the coveted triple crown in most
decisive fashion. Osborne attributes the reversal of form
to the difference in the state of the going, for, whereas
the galloping was on the top of the ground at Epsom, it
was heavy at Doncaster. At all events, Pero Gomez
beat Pretender out of place, and estabHshed himself
m the severer ordeal over the Town Moor as a better
stayer than Adventurer's son.
The disgrace of Pretender, the success of Pero
Gomez, and the defeat of Martyrdom were the staple
topics of conversation after the Leger. The Tupgill
people to a man appeared to be utterly confounded and
totally unable to explain in any way the wretched
running of their idol.
John Fobert, with whose name that of The Flying
Dutchman and many good horses is identified, died 29th
May, 1869, being succeeded at Spigot Lodge by Arthur
Briggs. It was reported at the time that Fobert died
worth £35,000 and left no will, hence the whole of his
property went to his brother, with whom he had
not been on speaking terms for years. There is grave
reason to doubt that Fobert died a wealthy man.
The opening of the year '69 was also marked by the
death at Nenagh, Ireland, of Johnny O'Brien, one of
the most extraordinary adventurers that ever figured on
the Turf. The son of a laundress at Leeds, his effrontery
and speculation on the Turf were so successful that he
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 205
ultimately became the owner of an extensive stud of
horses. At the outset of his career he employed Tom
Dawson as trainer. In 1846 he won the Goodwood
Stakes with Jonathan Wild and the Goodwood Cup with
Grimston, being accredited with winning £50,000 over
the double event. Amongst other good animals he
owned were The Traverser, The Liberator, and Erin-go-
Bragh. Launching out as a man of fashion, he cut a
great figure for a time, but liis conduct to one of the
members of the Cinque Ports led to his being ostracised
from the racing world. Misfortune overtook him at-
last with his speculations ; he lost his wealth as rapidly
as he gained it, eventually smking into mendicancy.
Indeed, he died in such straitened circumstances that
a subscription was raised in Nenagh to defray the
expenses of his funeral.
Still another noteworthy event occurred this year
of '69. The glances of a fair lady made an inroad into
John Osborne's affections; and he determined to go
through the world thereafter in double harness. He
wooed, won, and wedded Miss Bradford, of Westbourne
Park, London, the union having been ever since of the
happiest character.
Bidding farewell to Pretender and John's connection
with him as a jockey, here follows his own curt
description of the two races: —
" There was nothing extraordinary happened
in the Two Thousand. Belladrum made most of
the running, and I won cleverly."
In describing Pretender's Derby triumph he
"extended" himself a httle more, stating —
" WeU, I had a nice place round Tattenham
Corner, where, from all accounts, Pero Gomez
206 ashgill; or, the life
was disappointed in coming round. I took up
the running half-way between Tattenham Corner
and the winning chair. Then Pero Gomez came
up past the stand, and was beaten by a short
head. Wells always said the head was the other
way; but, fortunately, the judge didn't say so.
That was my first and only win in the Derby."
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 207
CHAPTER XIII
"The turf hath bubbles like the Stock Exchange,
And these are of them."
Beginning in 1846, John Osborne in 1869, now in
his thirty-sixth year, had already been a professional
horseman quarter of a century. As the subsequent and
meteoric career of Fred Archer proved, it did not appear
a great performance on the part of " Our Johnnie," for
such was the term of endearment applied to him in the
North, to achieve in two decades and a half a win in
the One Thousand, three in the Two Thousand, two in
the St. Leger, and one in the Derby, Pretender being
the only Derby winner he ever rode, notwithstanding
that during his prolonged career he figured in no less
than thirty-eight races for what Dlsraeh dubbed the
" blue riband " of the Turf. But in extenuation of this
apparent bald performance, so far as regards the classic
races, it must be borne in mind that, unlike Archer,
George Fordham, Fred Webb, Wells, Doyle, Jim
Snowden, Tom Cannon, or others of his distinguished
contemporaries in the pigskin, he had not the choice
of mounts which assisted these undoubtedly great
jockeys in paving their way to the altitudes of fame.
His time and energies were much occupied by his duties
in looking after the horses at Ashgill — duties in which
^0^ ashgill; or, the life
he was assisted by his brother Robert, who looked after
the clerical and commercial departments, while stay-at-
home William was out with the nags on Middleham
Moor by dawn every day. Indeed, it was not until Mr.
Johnstone, the nominal owner of Pretender, jointly with
Mr. Robert Jardine, gave Tom Dawson instructions to
retam a second call after Ashgill claims on his services
that he became so closely and directly identified with a
powerful stable. Tupgill had now become a strong force
in the North, backed up, as it was, by men of great
wealth hke Mr. Jardine and Mr. Johnstone, the latter
of whom did not long survive the Pretender triumph,
though the septuagenarian, nay, fast approaching
octogenarian, now Sir Robert Jardine, Bart, (who for
a considerable period was a great breeder, and whose
horses were trained for years by Fred Bates at Middle-
ham), is yet to the fore enjoying a ripe and dignified
old age on his magnificent Scottish estate at Castlemilk,
Lockerbie, N.B.
One can plainly trace the present decay of
Middleham as a once great centre of training to the
withdrawal of that support and influence accorded
to it by men of the stamp of Lord Eghnton, the
Earl of Glasgow, and Acbniral Harcourt in the distant
days, and to others of opulence. The trend of money, so
far as regards the breeding, rearing, racing, and training
of thoroughbreds in our days is towards Newmarket.
Richmond, which could send forth a Voltigeur, a
Vedette, a Van Tromp, and a Fandango, is also on the
same hne of deterioration. To the blandishments of life
in town, the quick transit of trains from the Metropolis
to Newmarket and back, and the more luxurious habits
and tastes of the modern owners, who prefer the
surroundings of Sandown, Kempton, or of Gatwick to
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 209
those of Doncaster, York, or even a place like Richmond,
where some of the greatest horses of the past have run
for fifty and hundred pound plates, may be ascribed the
decline in the North. Were the sinews of war forth-
coming now as they were in the days of " The Fl}dng
Dutchman " Earl, or of the Dundases at Richmond, or
of John Scott at Whitewall, proof would not be wanting
that good horses could yet be brought out in the North
as well as in the South. Truly enough the old adage that
" money makes the mare to go " comes in here. The
Dawsons, in the far north at Gullane ; Old Croft, who
could train the first four in Theodore's St. Leger; and
Tom Dawson, at Middleham ; together with " The
Wizard," and old William I' Anson, at Malton, demon-
strated that, with wealth behind them, they were indeed
" Masters of the Horse." Sic transit gloria mundi I
Quarter of a century is a big span in a jockey's
lifetime. But ours is yet the pleasant task to show that
John Osborne had only got half through his professional
pilgrimage; that there were yet other great triumphs
in store for one who is yet hale and hearty in 1900 — still
up with the lark in the morning, looking after his
Brecongill team, riding not only at exercise in his sixty-
eighth year, morning after morning, but actually taking
part in trials with his " feathers," not one of whom yet
can give him an ounce either over a half-mile sprint
with a yearhng, or over the pumping two miles from
the foot to the top of Middleham Moor.
But to our moutons again, with John loquitur —
"Agility was a two-year-old in '69, and
belonged to Mr. ' Launde,' and won several good
races, including the Park Hill at Doncaster, and
ran a dead heat with Enterprise for the
Doncaster Stakes. She ran until she was five
210
ashgill; or, the life
years old, breaking down in the autumn. Mr.
Clare Vyner gave £3000 for her as a brood
mare, but there was not much out of her, Lizzie
Lindsay, the dam of Crowberry, being the best/*
Agility's career extended over four seasons, and her
record was winning twenty-one out of the fifty-three
races in which she started, the aggregate of her winnings
being £6382. After four years' stud life, the sister to
Apology died, Mr. Vyner, who had purchased her at
Mr. Gee's sale, having the comparative satisfaction for
his outlay in her daughter, Lizzie Lindsay, who never
could race much, but left Crowberry as her best son,
he distinguishing himself by siring that smart horse,
King Crow.
By no means a good-looking mare, her comimon
quarters and drooj^ing tail being redeemed by well-
placed shoulders and great depth of girth. Agility made
a name for herself on the Turf. In her two-year-old
season she won the Seaton Delaval Stakes at Newcastle,
beating a goodly field, which included Falkland, who
defeated her by a neck the next year on the old New-
castle Town Moor, but she turned the tables upon him
at Stockton, when she beat him in a canter. La Risle
sandwiching the pair. Then, after a desperate pinch,
she beat Rosicnician by a head for the York Cup. Wells
objected to her on the ground of a jostle. Singularly
enough, Billy Piatt, the then middle-weight Ashgill
jockey, lodged an objection against her, which was
sustained. At the following Doncaster Meeting
she easily defeated Gamos (winner of the Oaks)
in the Park Hill Stakes, and at a later period
of the afternoon dead-heated with Enterprise in
the Doncaster Stakes, winding up the season well
by conceding Falkland 6 lbs., and beating him
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 211
by a length and a half in a Free Handicap at New-
market Houghton Meeting, this perfomiance clearly
proving that his victory over her in the spring
was quite untrustworthy. Three " brackets " was her
record as a three-year-old in 71, supplementing these
the next season by taking several Queen's Plates the
following year, in addition to the York Cup, in which
she triumphed over Albert Victor by a head, upsetting
the odds of 4 to 1 laid on him. Her short but useful
career ended in the Queen's Plate at Edinburgh. She
broke down so badly in this race that it was impossible
to train her thereafter.
Continuing the tete-a-tete, our hero relates —
" Passing over 70 and '71 as uneventful for
the stable, we come to 72, when we had Thorn,
Mendip, and Grand Flaneur as two-year-olds.
Arthur Briggs, who trained for Mr. R. N. Batt,
the owner of Thorn, died in the spring of this
year, and Mr. Batt's horses came to Ashgill. We
tried Mendip and Grand Flaneur, both good
horses. They began coughing before getting to
Newcastle, and both were beaten. Grand
Flaneur was bred by Mr. ' Sandy ' Young, of
Eichmond, and was got by Saunterer out of Miss
Digby, by Touchstone. He belonged to a
Scottish gentleman, who died in July, and the
horse was sent up for sale at Newmarket. It took
five of us to buy him, viz., Mr. Thomas Dawson,
my brothers William and Robert, Mr. Harry
Bragg, and myself. You ask, ' How was that ? '
Well, we all had a fancy for him, and we all joined
in buying him, and got him for 50 gs. ! So we
each had a ' tenner ' share. We ran him in a
race that autumn, the winner to be sold for
212 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
300 sovereigns at Shrewsbur}^; he won it, and
was bought in. The following year, as a three-
year-old, he won the Portland Plate at
Doncaster, and won it a second time two years
later. We put him in the Trial Stakes at
Stockton, which he won, and Mr. Brag's: boug-ht
him, so that the partnership of five of us was
dissolved. He was cut in the autumn as a four-
year-old, owing to showing a lot of temper. He
; was a peculiar horse. He often used to beat
himself before he started. If there was not a
big field of starters he couldn't beat anything.
Often enough he had to be whipped away from
the starting post. He was Mr. Bragg's property
for the whole of his racing career after Stockton.
He ran for about eleven seasons, winning many
races in the North. I believe the small ' punters '
nicknamed him the ' Relieving Officer,' as he
often got them out of a bad day. He was a horse
with a tremendous fine turn of speed to finish
with in a five or six furlongs' race.
" Thorn was a very good-looking horse, with
rather weak, curby hocks. His first race was in
the ' Gimcrack ' at York, and he was second to
Kaiser for the Doncaster Champagne Stakes.
) Then he won at Ayr and a weight for age race
at Shrewsbury, but was disqualified. As a three-
year-old he won the Lambton Stakes at Durham,
the York Cup, beating Uhlan, the Bradgate Park
Stakes at Doncaster, and was beaten in the
Doncaster Cup by Uhlan, but he was running
out of his distance then — two miles and five
furlongs. I rode Thorn in the great majority of
his races. He was a very generous horse, but
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AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 213
veil coiilcbi't make him do his best in a trial,
especially in the latter part of his time."
Truly enough, as our hero remarks, Thorn was a
handsome horse, showing all the truth of mould and
power of his Alice Hawthorn descent. He was got in
1870 by King of Trumps out of Lady Alice Hawthorn
(bred by Mr. T. Hewitt in 1859), got by Newminster;
her dam Lady Hawthorn by Windbound, out of Alice
Hawthorn by Muley Muloch out of Rebecca. Mr.
R. N. Batt's connection with Ashgill and the Osbomes
lasted over several seasons; Thorn, without doubt,
being the best horse he ever owned, more than paying
his way during an active career. He ran eleven times
as a two-year-old, making his first appearance at
Newcastle in 72, when with 6 to 4 on him he was
unexpectedly beaten by a filly by Lambton out of
Rapparee's dam. Unsuccessful at Pontefract, he ran
second to the smart Coeur de Lion for the Prince of
"Wales Stakes at York, but gave " Johnnie " a winning
mount in the Gimcrack Stakes that same meeting on
Knavesmire; Agility that same day also scoring
for him a bracket in the York Cup, the Ashgill
filly, then more than useful, defeating Albert Victor
in a desperate finish by a head. Reappearing for the
Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, Thorn was second
to Kaiser, but captured the Bradgate Park Stakes
next day, ridden by Busby, one of the Ashgill jockeys
at that period. As a three-year-old he came out in
stronger colours, winning seven out of his twelve essays.
Beginning in the spring, he took the Tyro Stakes at
Durham; the Derby Trial at Newmarket, beating
Bertram by a head; then went to Ascot, Busby
winning the Gold Vase on him, with smart animals
like Hannah, Struan, Dutch Skater, Lihan, and others
214 ashgill; or, the life
in his wake. At Newcastle lie gave Osborne two
successful rides in the Stephenson Biennial and the
North Derby, Lily Agnes making her first ajDpear-
ance at this meeting with John on her back, and
winning by six lengths, " Lily " thus at the very outset
foreshadowing a brilliant career as a racer, apart from
her renown as the dam of Ormonde when her racinsr
days were ended.
Thorn beat Uhlan by half a length for the York
Cup, upsetting the odds of 100 to 30 laid on him;
won the Eghnton Stakes at Doncaster, where he
also fhiished third to Uhlan and Lilian, in Busby's
hands, for the Doncaster Cup. His attempt in
the Cambridgeshire won by Montargis was a failure
under the weight, and with an eight-lengths defeat
from Flageolet, he went into winter quarters. His
four-year-old career was not so conspicuous, the French
horse Boulet, by Monarque, beating him a head at
24 lbs. for the year between them. Lowlander Avas
his conqueror at Ascot, this fixture being memorable
for its great race for the Gold Cup, in which that
great horse Boiard dehghted the Frenchmen by
defeating such equine constellations as Flageolet and
Doncaster, who, three parts of a length away, dead-
heated for second place, with Gang Forward, Marie
Stuart, and Kaiser behind them — truly a race worthy
of the gods ! But the Frenchman's wings were clipped
the following day in the Alexandra Plate, when King
Lud gave him 1 lb. and a neck beating in an equally
memorable race over three miles, the Frenchman
splitting Lord Zetland's grand stayer and Flageolet.
The very following race. Thorn, ridden by Chaloner,
was easily beaten by Lowlander for the Ascot Plate.
At Doncaster he won the Cleveland Handicap, steered
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 215
by Osborne, beating Thunder, conceding 7 lbs. The
pair met again at Doncaster in the Alexandra Plate — •
Thunder at 8 st. 13 lbs. and Thorn at 8 st. 12 lbs. —
when Jim Goater on the former beat " Johnnie " on
Mr. Batt's four-year-old by a head, Kaiser, Syrian, and
other useful ones being behind the pair, who were
almost one and the same horse.
Success also marked Thorn's five-year-old season;
and as a six-year-old. Apology this year (1876) gave
Osborne a comfortable win in the Ascot Gold Cup,
when she defeated Craigmillar, Balfe, and others -of
class. Thorn doing service by taking the Stewards'
Cup at Newcastle. Across the Irish Channel at Down
Royal Meeting, Thorn gave him two brackets in the
Belfast Handicap; also carrying the crusher of 11 st.
12 lbs. in Her Majesty's Guineas. He won the Stockton
Stewards' Handicap by a head from Madge Wildfire,
and had a great finish at Doncaster, beating Kaleido-
scope, then a three-year-old, with Fred Archer up,
and conceding 26 lbs., by a head, for the Alexandra
Plate. Mrs. Batt was so delighted with "Johimie's"
magnificent riding of her husband's horse on this
occasion that she could hardly restrain herself from
embracing him after he had passed the scales. The
Caledonian Cup at Kelso, in which he beat Lord
Roseber}^'s The Snail — a Northimiberland Plate wimier
— and a walk over for Her Majesty's Plate were
included in his performance this season, the racecourse
seeing no more of him, as he broke his leg when taking
a gallop on Middleham Moor shortly afterwards. The
loss was a great one to Mr. Batt, as the son of King
of Trumps would have been of great value as a sire
to the generous-hearted Irish sportsman, whose love
for him was only surpassed by that of his wife.
21^ ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
Mr. R. N. Batt became a patron of Ashgill in the
year 1869. Descended from one of the best and
oldest families in the Green Isle, his estate, wliich lay
in the neighbourhood of Purdysburn, some six miles
out of Belfast, has been described as " one of the most
beautiful places that lies under the sun." A man of
quiet, unassuming manners, and a good sportsman, he
was a distinct contrast to Mrs. Batt, who was a high-
spirited, dashing Irishwoman, fond of driving, of sport
generally and the Turf in particular. Moreover, during
the period that her husband raced thoroughbreds she
was a heavy speculator, unhappily not with the most
agreeable returns, the result being that the estate
became encimibered and the once beautiful home of the
Batts descended to the purposes of a lunatic asylum.
Mr. Batt went abroad at the end of his racing career,
wliich extended over about a dozen years. Mrs. Batt
w^as a fearless coachwoman. Nothing delighted her
more than standing up in her Stanhoj)e phaeton,
driving a pair of spirited, dark brown, exceedingly
high steppers to and from Belfast. Quite a sporting
appearance was given to the turnout by the brass-
ornamented harness, with bright yellow pad cloths in
keeping with the Batt colours, " orange and black
hoops." At the time Mr. Batt owned Thorn he ran a
two-year-old named Meta, both animals being trained
by the Osbornes at Ashgill. For the following
anecdotes connected with the relationship between the
Batts and John Osborne we are indebted to Mr. R.
Greer, the well-known horse dealer, now of Newcastle-
on-Tyne, but formerly a resident on the estate at
Purdysburn, and therefore well-known to and by the
Batts. To one of The Maze Meetings, Belfast, John
Osborne took Thorn and Meta to fulfil their engage-
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 217
Tiients, the former going for the Queen's Plate and
Meta to fulfil her liabilities in the Downshire Stakes
iind the Purdysburn Stakes.
Mr. Greer relates — " I can well remember Mr. and
Mrs. Batt being at the meeting in great style. The
good lady, who used to bet heavily, had a plunge on
Meta the first day for the Downshire Stakes, which
were so-called after the Marquis of Do^^mshire. There
was a field of fourteen runners. As they came into
what is called ' The Dip,' John Osborne was lying
absolutely last on Meta, and looked hopelessly out of
it. There were but a couple of furlongs yet to cover.
One would have certainly thought, so close was the
finish, that it was going to be a dead heat amongst
three of the others, and that Osborne Avasn't in the
race at all. When they came to the bottom of the
rise ' Johnnie ' began to ride gently, and, creeping up
inch by inch, he won, amid great excitement, by a
head. The three next horses were locked together,
' heads,' or little more, separating them from Meta.
After ' Johnnie ' had weighed in, he walked up to the
grand stand with his greatcoat on. As he passed,
Mrs. Batt remarked —
" ' Osborne, you did keep me in suspense there.'
" ' Yes, ma'am,' replied the jockey, with a merry
twinkle in liis eye, ' but after all, there's nothing like
having a " bit " up your sleeve.'
" The next day nearly all the same horses ran again
for the Purdysburn Stakes, Meta carrying a 14 lbs.
penalty for her win in the Downshire Stakes. Thus
penalised, her chance looked a hopeless one against
the three others that had finished so close to her on the
first day, and, as a result, each of them was a better
favourite than Meta, about whom Mrs. Batt was
2i8 ashgill; or, the life
enabled to have another ' plunge ' at the remunerative
odds of 6 and 7 to 1. Again at the 'Dip' Johnnie
was last, but coming through from that point on Meta,
he won in a canter by several lengths. Mrs. Batt had
gone in for a large stake, and after the race she
observed — ' That was a very large bit you had up your
sleeve yesterday, Johnnie.'
"Thorn," concluded Mr. Greer, "was the greatest
picture of a horse at that time that eyes ever beheld.
The next occasion Mr. Batt raced a horse at The Maze
was when Osborne brought Waveney over. Mr. Batt
asked what Waveney could do. John's reply was, ' I
may forge him into a place, but that is the best I can
do,' and sure enough Waveney was second, being
beaten by a very smart one from The Curragh called
Minnehaha."
Perhaps Thorn's best performance was in the race
to which Osborne has referred, viz., the Stewards' Cup
of 1876 at Stockton, in which he conceded 3 st. to a
useful filly, Madge Wildfire, whom he beat by a short
head, our hero riding one of his electric finishes on Mr.
Batt's horse in this instance. Thorn, that afternoon,,
bore no less a burden than 10 st. 7 lbs. Patiently
handled and beautifully nursed to the last few strides,
John then brought him on the post with a mar-
vellously well-timed effort. Probably this was equal
to any of his finest displays, revealing, as it did,,
his judgment, patience, knowledge of pace and
power of pushing and screwing home a heavily
burdened anmial. The untoward accident to Thorn
while at exercise on Middleham Moor in the
autumn of 1876 resulted in his thigh being broken.
He was carted off the Moor and lay a helpless cripple
in his box for some weelvs, suffering greatly. The bones
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 21&
of the injured limb would not knit, and, after
veterinary skill and the loving attention of the Osbornes
had proved unavailing, he was mercifully despatched.
A beautifully bred horse, being by King of Trumps out
of Lady Alice Hawthorn, Thorn could not have failed
to be popular and valuable at the stud.
Reverting for a few moments to 71, that season did
not pass without our hero distinguishing himself as the
coachman of Bothwell in the Two Thousand Guineas.
Bothwell, bred by Mr. Lamert, was by Stockwell out
of Catherine Logie by The Flying Dutchman, Mr.^
Jardine gave 600 guineas for him at Ascot, whence he
went to Tupgill to be trained by Tom Dawson. He
came out with a reputation in his first season, taking the
eyes of the critics at Ascot, being then and there voted
a formidable rival for next year's " classics " to Mr.
Merry's King o' the Forest. By no means a powerfully
built colt, some judges pronouncing him somewhat
coarse, yet Bothwell was nicely moulded and balanced
all over for any sort of course or work. He gave promise
when backward by running Corisande to a neck for the
New Stakes, beating a big field. Few denied the
sterling merits of this performance, but in the next two
months he did not thrive so well, as was evidenced when
he was nearly beaten by Whaddon at York August, a
performance other disappointments would barely excuse,
for he seemed to lack the speed to get out of a difficulty
when he was once in it. This reflection also stood
against him in his Middle Park Plate race, when he was
so outpaced at the start that he never got on terms with
his horses; and it was only the great severity of the
course that enabled him to catch General, Corisande,
and Noblesse in the " Criterion " and finish at the latter's
neck. John loquitur —
ashgill; or, the life
" Yes, I rode Bothwell when he won the Two
Thousand. He was tried a naihng good horse in
the spring as a two-year-old. He belonged to
Mr. Jardine, now Sir Robert, but ran in Mr.
Johnstone's name. Bothwell ran a good horse
as a two-year-old. He beat Sterling ; was second
at Ascot, and won the ' Gimcrack ' at York. He
had only done about eight or ten days' work
before he won the ' Gimcrack.' He was also
second in the ' Criterion.' In the Two Thousand
they started Fishennan to make strong running
for him, as they had no doubt about him staying
that day."
BOTH WELL'S TWO THOUSAND, 187L
The Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, a subscription of 100 sovereigns each, h. ft.,
for three-year olds ; colts, 8 st. 10 lb., fillies, 8 st. 5 lb. ; second to receive 200
sovereigns out of the stakes, and third to save stake. R.M., 1 mile 17 yards.
Mr. T. Dawson's Bothwell, by Stockwell — Katherine Logic, J. Osborne 1
Mr. Blaydon's Sterling, by Oxford — d. by Flatcatcher —
Silence, ......... Cannon 2
Mr. Merry's King o' the Forest, by Scottish Chief— Lioness, Snowden 3
Prince Batthyany's Macalpine, ..... Morris
Mr. Beverley's Blenheim, ...... Grimshaw
Lord Bradford's Festival, ...... Goater
Mr. Crawfurd's Dalnacardoch, ..... Chaloner
Mr. T. Dawson's Fisherman, ...... Hudson
Mr. Delamarre's Clotaire, ...... Carver
Mr. Jones' Digby Grand, ...... Fordham
Count F. de Lagrange's General, ..... Custance
General Peel's Draco, ....... French
Mr. Saville's Ripponden, ...... Maidment
Betting — 55 to 20 against King o' the Forest, 11 to 2 against Sterling, 11 to 2
against Bothwell, 100 to 15 against General, 100 to 3 against Dalnacardoch,
40 to 1 against Draco, 50 to 1 against Macalpine, 66 to 1 as^ainst Ripponden,
66 to 1 against Blenheim.
As usual a large nmiiber of both horsemen and
pedestrians assembled at the starting post long before
the starter had taken charge of the horses, which, on this
occasion, numbered a baker's dozen. Several breaks
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 221
away were witnessed, and it was upwards of quarter of
an hour behind the stated time when the signal ran
along the immense hue of spectators, " They're off!" and
the flag was seen to fall. The second string of the
Middleham stable (Fisherman) jumped off with the lead,
making play at a good pace, Eipponden and Bothwell
being close up second and third, having as their followers
Blenheim, Digby Grand, SterUng, and King o' the
Forest, with Festival and Clotaire leading the remainder.
Before quarter of a mile was covered Fisherman
increased his lead, and w^as coming along the flat clear
of his field, the second division being almost in compact
order, and the rear division, who appeared outpaced
from the start, being a long way behind. After going
half a mile, General held out signals of distress, he
being quickly followed in retirement by Blenheim and
Clotaire. Fisherman, on descending the hill, had
evidently accomplished his task and retired, whereupon
the " yellow and scarlet " of Mr. Savile, with Rippon-
den, was left in the van, and at one period it looked
as though this rank outsider was going to win, but
before the cords were reached he retired in favour of
the three favourites, Sterling for a short time having
the lead. Bothwell, however, soon took command, and
althou2:h both Snowden and Cannon rode their horses
desperately to overhaul the Middleham champion, each
failed, as Johnnie Osborne, apparently at ease on
Bothwell, did not call upon him until within fifty strides
from home, when he gallantly answered and, stalling off
Sterling, won cleverly by a length; three lengths
separating second and third; E-ipponden was fourth;
Macalpine, fifth; Digby Grand, sixth; Dalnacardoch,
seventh; and General, eighth; then following at an
interv^al of several lengths Fisherman, Festival, Blen-
222 ashgill; or, the life
heim, and Draco, with Clotaire last. Time, 1 min.
57f sees.
Bothwell started a 5 to 2 favourite for the Derby,
and in Osborne's guidance ran unplaced to Favonius,
Albert. Victor, and King o' the Forest, the latter beating
Iiim out of place for the Prince of Wales Stakes at
Ascot. Osborne's association with him as a horseman
€nded with his complete failure to show the Two
Thousand fonii behind Hannah in the St. Leger.
Thereafter Bothwell's career was a long, chequered, and
inglorious one, as he failed even in £50 plates, though
when he came into the hands of the late Tom Green,
who trained for many years at Beverley, he paid his
way as a " plater," one of his last performances in this
line being a win in a £50 plate at Spennj^moor, County
Durham. An apathetic end in the cab ranlcs was, we
fear, the degrading fate at last of Stockwell's son.
S]3eeding on, we come to another important period
in the history of the Osborne brothers. Entering upon
the eighth decade of the century, we find they trained
many good horses, nor did John fail to add to his
reputation as a jockey. Noteworthy in '72 amongst
the animals he steered to victory was the roaring Prince
Charlie. Appended is a description of
PRINCE CHARLIE'S TWO THOUSAND, 1872.
The Two Thousand GuiyEAS Stakes, a subscription of 100 sovereigns each, h. ft.,
for three-year-olds ; colts, 8 st. 10 lb., fillies, 8 st. 51b.; the second received
200 sovereigns out of the stakes, and the third saved his stake. Rowley
Mile (1 mile 17 yards). 81 subs.
Mr. Jos. Dawson's ch c Prince Charlie, by Blair Athol
— Eastei-n Princess, 8 st. 10 lb., . . . J. Osborne 1
Mr. Savile's Cremorne, 8 st. 10 lb., . . . . Maidment 2
Lord Falmouth's b c Queen's Messenger, 8 st. 10 lb., T. French 3
Duke of Beaufort's b c Almoner, 8 st. 10 lb., . . T. Cannon
Mr. W. S. Crawfurd's ch c Wellingtonia, 8 st. 10 lb., . T. Chaloner
Mr. Bruton's br c Landmark, 8 st. 10 lb., . . . Morris
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 223
■Sir J. Hawley's bl c Bethnal Green, 8 st. 10 lb., . Huxtable
Mr. T. Jennings' b g Lighthouse, 8 st. 10 lb., . . T. Jennings
Mr. G. G. Keswick's b c Helmet, 8 st. 10 lb., . . Fordham
Baron Rothschild's b c Laburnum, 8 st. 10 lb., . . Parry
Mr. T. E. Walker's b c Statesman, 8 st. 10 lb., . . Jeflfrey
Lord Wilton's b c Wenlock, 8 st. 10 lb., . . . Custance
Lord Zetland's b c King Lud, 8 st. 10 lb., ... J. Goater
Mr. T. V. Morgan's ch c Xanthus, 8 st. 10 lb., . . Hunt
Betting — 2 to 1 against Prince Charlie, 3 to 1 against Cremorne, 10 to 1 each
against Laburnum and Ahnoner, 100 to 8 each against Queen's Messenger
and Statesman, 100 to 7 against Wenlock, 20 to 1 against Helmet, 40 to 1
against Bethnal Green, 66 to 1 each against Wellingtonia, Landmark, and
Xanthus, 100 to 1 against King Lud, 200 to 1 against Lighthouse.
THE RACE.
Immediately after the decision of the previous race the "Birdcage" was literally
besieged with a crowd of persons anxious to get a glimpse at the competitors a's
they were receiving the finishing touches to their toilettes ; indeed, we never
remembered the enclosure to have been so crowded. Prince Charlie, in the
absence of Cremorne, who was saddled at the Ditch stables, was the lion of the
party, and he was fairly mobbed as Johnnie Osborne mounted and walked down
towards the post. The son of Blair Athol was sent out in splendid condition,
looking as bright as a star, and as he leisurely wended his way towards the
starting point, he did not seem to object in the least to the obtrusive attentions
he received from the crowd of horsemen who accompanied him. Whatever
opinions might have been formed against him on the ground of his roaring
propensity, there was but one general expression of admiration elicited on all
sides at the grand appearance and racing-like quality he possessed. Laburnum
looked much fitter than he did when stripped for the Biennial at the last
meeting, and the followers of the stable were very sanguine that he would be
able to wipe out the defeat he then sustained. Bethnal Green was evidently
scarcely wound up, but he looked fresh and well, and when he settled down into
a smart canter as he went to the post his fine action attracted some attention.
Almoner was quite up to the mark, and his admirers were enthusiastic in their
praises of his healthy appearance and condition. When a hasty glance had been
bestowed on those saddled in the enclosure at the Cesarewitch stand, a violent
stampede was made by a large number of horsemen for the Ditch stables to get
a view of Cremorne and Queen's Messenger, who were saddled there, and both
were greatly admired, and certainly better-trained or handsomer horses were
never seen, Mr. Savile's colt being especially liked. Helmet looked as fit as
could be wished, but he was not much fancied, nor was Statesman, who did not
gain any friends. Wenlock looked remarkably well in condition, and, taken
generally, the impression he created was a favourable one ; but after the inspec-
tion it was admitted on all sides that, so far as appearances alone were concerned,
the two favourites were fully entitled to the positions they have occupied in the
betting for some time past. No time was lost in getting the competitors to the
post, and after a few minutes' delay in clearing away the crowd of equestrians
who accompanied them, the signal was given on the first attempt to a beautiful
224 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
start at 2.56, sixteen minutes after the period for which the race was fixed. The-
lot ran in a line for a few strides, and then Queen's Messenger, in the centre
of the course, took up the running, followed on the left by Almoner, in close
attendance on whom were Xanthus, Laburnum, Landmark, and Wellingtonia,
Bethnal Green and Statesman lying well up with the leader, with King Lud
and Wenlock next on their whip hand, on the right being Cremorne, Prince
Charlie, Helmet, and Lighthouse. The last named dropped away to the rear
after going three hundred yards, although the pace was very moderate ; but
no other material change occurred until half a mile had been traversed, when
both Helmet and Xanthus were done with immediately the speed was slightly
improved, and two hundred yards further on Landmark dropped awaj^ and
this movement was succeeded by the retirement of both Laburnum and
Almoner as they neared the Bushes. In coming over the crest of the
hill Queen's Messenger was still leading, but the moment they commenced
the descent both Cremorne and Prince Charlie drew up nearly level with
Lord Falmouth's colt, and it looked as if the favourite was about to take the
command, as he slightly headed Mr. Savile's colt, but Osborne kept him well
together, and he did not get fairly in front. At this point of the contest
both Wenlock and Bethnal Green showed very prominently, but Statesman
failed to maintain his place further, and retired in hopeless difficulties. French
had been driving Queen's Messenger along for some little distance, and by doing
so he not only kept the lead, but hoped the horse's fine staying qualities would
enable him to wear down his opponents ; but the speed to this point had been so
inditferent that the two favourites had simply been waiting on him, and the
instant they closed up Lord Falmouth's colt was in trouble, and his chance of
victory effectually disposed of. King Lud was running a beaten horse, but he
struggled on with wonderful gameness, and Wenlock, as they approached the
Abingdon Mile dip, looked positively dangerous, so much so, indeed, that his
backers shouted excitedly, but he was done with immediately Custance called
upon him, as also was Bethnal Green, who ran prominently as they came down
the hill. On the retirement of Queen's Messenger Cremorne took the command,
having Prince Charlie at his side on the whip hand, and Maidment getting the
first run in the Abingdon Mile dip, odds were offered on him as he commenced
the rise for home with half a length advantage. The favourite, however, breasted
the hill like a lion, and his commanding stride enabled him to get on terms with
Cremorne without the slightest exertion, and this advantage still favouring him
he forged ahead, and was nearly his length in front about fifty yards from home.
As a last effort to avert defeat Maidment called upon Cremorne most vigorously,
and so grandly did he answer that he succeeded in diminishing his opponent's
advantage rapidly, but Prince Charlie was fully equal to the occasion, and
shaking off his opponent's desperate challenge he won very cleverly indeed by a
neck. Queen's Messenger struggled on to the end, and just defeated King Lud
by a head for place honours, finishing four lengths in the rear of Mr. Savile's
colt. Wenlock, close up with King Lud, was fifth, Bethnal Green being sixth,
and Wellingtonia seventh, three or four lengths away following at intervals
Statesman eighth. Almoner ninth. Landmark tenth, Helmet eleventh, Xanthus
twelfth, and Laburnum thirteenth. Lighthouse being absolutely last, beaten off'
a long way. The winner was greeted with tremendous cheering on returning to
the enclosure, the plaudits being again and again renewed when Osborne had
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 225
veighecl in, showing how popular the victory was with the local people. Net
value of the stakes, £4350. Time, as taken by Benson's chronograph, 1 minutti
4'J seconds.
John thus recounts his experiences —
" I rode Prince Charhe in the Two Thousand
Guineas when he won them for Mr. J. Dawson.
There would be fourteen starters. I always was
waiting on them and he on them at the finish.
He was rather severely punished, and never liked
the spurs again. He ran in the Cambridgeshire,
and Flageolet beat him in the Free Handicap
Across the Flat. He and Thunder were very near
together. His biggest performance was at the
Royal Down Meeting at The Maze, winning with
11 St. 6 lbs. ; His Lordship — a winner of Queen's
Plates — 6 St. 2 lbs., being second, and beating
Madge Wildfire, giving her 3 st. At Stockton
Madge Wildfire won the Harewood Plate in a
field of nineteen runners, and also won at York
soon after, so it was a great performance of
Prince Charlie's. The only race I rode him
after v\^as in Cremorne's Derby in '72. He
couldn't act round Tattenham Corner, losing
ground there. A real good horse at his distance
was Prince Charlie. Yes, he was a roarer; he
certainly made a noise."
In his day Prince Charhe was the idol of the people.
A writer of the period said of him — " Amongst roarers
he was something more than a prince; he was an
emperor." Sufferer as he was from the wind infinnity,
liis was a marvellous performance — to run second to
Wenlock in the St. Leger. A giant in build and the
" mould of form " in shape and make, he was also a
horse of most lovable temperament. The attempt to
Q
^^^ ashgill; or, the life
nobble him for the Two Thousand Guineas was
happily frustrated in time. A firm of bookmakers made
him a " dead mark," and never left him. One day the
late Mr. T. V. Morgan, who had horses in the stable,
was ridmg by a back way to Newmarket Heath He
came across one of Mr. Dawson's employees in close
conversation with one of the carcase-mongering book-
makers. In a moment Mr. Morgan grasped the
situation, and the man was promptly discharged. The
" tapping of the leg " had already begun. It was sweet
to behold the agony of the bookmakers who had laid
33 to 1 to lose thousands for the Derby taking back
their money at 5 to 2. A third party in it was at the
time m very prosperous circumstances, but the
nobbling " affair marked his decline. Prince Charhe
was a horse that was run with scrupulous honesty;
had it not been so, it would have been said that
Nemesis had overtaken all concerned ui the
conspiracy. Poor Mr. Jones, his breeder and owner,
having lost a large sum of money through standing
security for a friend, committed suicide. Mr J
Dawson, Mr. T. V. Morgan, Mr. Formby, and Tom
French, who rode the " Prince " in most of his races,
are all dead. Another jockey who had charge
of hhn was seen borrowing half-crowns at Archer's
funeral. Prince Charlie's match with Peut-Etre
w^as a sensational one, and created a scene of excite-
ment on the Heath that had never been equalled.
While he was the most remarkable roarer the Turf ever
knew, he was the speediest horse perhaps that ever ran,
hence his name of " Prince of the T.Y.C.," a description
which he well deserved. Tom French was wont to say
he was the kindest horse in the world, and knew the
winning post as well as he did. There was always a
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 227
suspicion about his wind. Mr. Jones, his breeder, was
a farmer near Ely. When Prince CharHe pulled up
after winning the Criterion, he ran up excitedly to
Tom French and asked, " Does he make a * noise ' ? "
" Does he make a noise? " rejoined the jockey, pointing
to the old gentleman, " he does not make half so much
noise as you do." He ran twice at two years of age,
winning the Middle Park Plate and the Criterion,
in the latter of which he beat Cremorne, as he did in
the Two Thousand Guineas. In the Derby, however,
Cremorne turned the table upon his Rowley Mile
conqueror. In handicaps over the T.Y.C., Prince
Charlie would give three stones and a beating to horses
of his own age. About 74 our Gaelic neighbours were
very jubilant over the victories of some French over
Enghsh horses. Still more were they cock-a-whoop
when Peut-Etre won the Cambridgeshire and took an
enormous sum of money across the Channel. A bom-
bastic challenge was issued by the Frenchmen to run
any horse at weight for age at a mile, or any three-year-
old at even weights. This was taken up for Prince
Charlie, the match being for £500 a-side. It was run
over the Eowley Mile, on the last day of the Houghton
Meeting of 1874. Tom French was now dead, and the
steering of Prince CharHe was entrusted to Parry.
Peut-Etre, who had beaten forty-one horses in the
Cambridgeshire, was ridden by Tom Chaloner. When
Prince Charlie gave " Mr. Frenchman " a most decisive
beating there was a scene of tremendous enthusiasm
on the Heath. Mr. Jones jumped on Prince Charhe's
back and rode him back through the town, the excited
crowd following and cheering in the most frantic
manner. For a season Prince Charlie looked like making
a, great name for himself at the stud; then winners
228 ashgill; or, the life
dropped off. On the death of his owner he was sold for
a miserable sum, and the Yankees took him. As a
sire in America he did wonders, the Yankees asserting
that his son Salvator, who won the Great Futurity
Stakes, was at that time the best animal that the world
had seen. Prince Charlie died in America in 1890, and
as the sire of many famous winners, his death was
regarded by our mercurial cousins as a national calamity.
o
o
o
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 229
CHAPTER XIV
" Eheu ! fugaces, Postume, Postume
Labuutur auni."
Now appeared on the scene at Asligill two animals,
in Lily Agnes and Apology, destined to immortalise
themselves not only on the Turf as high-class racers,
but as matrons throwing the grandest of stock. Lily
Agnes arrived in her new Yorskhire home in the
autumn of 71 as a yearling. She was put through her
facings as a two-year-old just before the Newcastle
Summer Meeting, the tale tellers being Organist and
Euphrosyne, who had been the trying tackle of Thorn
and Grand Flaneur the year before. Lily Agnes beat
Organist a head, with Euphrosyne a length away, the
last-named being a four-year-old at the time.
John loquitur —
" That trial opened our eyes you can well
imagine, although we expected they could go
a bit before we tried them. On her first appear-
ance at Newcastle soon afterwards, Lily Agnes
won the Tyro Stakes by six lengths. After we
got round the old Morpeth Turn on the Town
Moor she appeared dead beat; I gave her a
smack with the whip, and she at once ran
through her horses like a flash. Organist won
^^^ ashgill; or, the life
the Seaton Delaval Stakes, the chief two-year-
old race of the meeting, that same week. As a
two-year-old Lily Agnes won four times, and as
a three-year-old she won at Croxton Park; she
was beaten at Chester, through a false run race.
Then there was her Northumberland Plate of
74, carrying 6 st. 10 lbs. as a three-year-old— a
good performance over the two miles. She won
the York and Doncaster Cups at the August
meeting. Her Ebor Handicap as a four-year-
old, carrying 8 st. 8 lbs., was a smart perform-
ance. She would leave us the following year
in 76, just before the Northumberland Plate,
and then was trained by Charles Lund. The
party connected with the mare came for her to
Middleham on the Monday night of the
Northumberland Plate week, the race being run
on the following Wednesday, and took her away
from Ashgill — I don't know for why, though it
was said afterwards that Mr. Snarry, or those
connected with the mare, thought Mr. Bragg
had got all the money in the market both in
Newcastle and London. That's what I was told.
She hit her leg a short time before the
Northumberland Plate, in which she only made
a moderate show. After Charles Lund got her
she won the Roxburgh Handicap at the close
of the year. She then went to Mr. Snarry's
place as a brood mare, and then was sold to
the Duke of Westminster.
" Organist we had as a two-year-old, and he
was sold in the spring of the following year to
Mr. Vyner. Tom Hughes, of Epsom, had him
after Mr. Vyner was done with him; then he
AND TBIES OF JOHN OSBORNE 231
came into the hands of Mr. James Ridley, and
his son got him later on.
"Apology was by Adventurer out of Man-
dragora. In the early spring of 72 as a two-year
old she came to Ashgill. You know she belonged
to Mr. King, who raced as Mr. 'Launde.' He
was a fine old gentleman, very blunt. He rarely
went to see any of his horses run, being like Mr.
Bowes in that respect. I fancy he went to see
Manganese run for the Ascot Cup, and he was
at York when Ely beat The Miner. He used
to have ' a bit on ' for some of the people round,
about. A generous, good man, he died in 75.
He had been a breeder for many years, as was
his father before him. He started him with
Lunatic, and I fancy Bessie Bedlam was her
first foal. He would breed from that dam. His
father also bred at Ashby, and won the
Doncaster Cup one year.
"Apology was tried a fortnight before the
Goodwood Summer Meeting. We tried her with
Euphrosyne, who beat her. She ran at Good-
wood, and was nowhere. She was beaten at
Stockton, York, and Doncaster, George
Frederick beating her at the last-named place.
Then she won the Home-bred Produce Stakes
at Newmarket in the Houghton week. In the
following year of 74 I rode her, when she won
the One Thousand Guineas, and also when she
won the Oaks. She did not run again until Trent
beat her at York in the Great Yorkshire Stakes.
Her next race was the St. Leger."
York August Meeting of 74 supplies a few interest-
ing features in connection with Ashgill and the
232 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
Osbomes. Holy Friar, on the second day, gave John a
comfortable ride home for the Prince of Wales Stakes,
in which Mr. " Launde's " hitherto unbeaten son of
Hermit and Thorsday had Maud Victoria, the Viridis
hlly, Kadmos, and Thirkleby behind him. On the third
day he also steered Holy Friar to victory in the
Gimcrack Stakes, beating Activity and Veranger, the
latter one of Mr. Vyner's. The very next event he won
— a match of 50 sovs., T.Y.C., on Mr. Herbert's Lady
Knowsley against Mr. Ranki's Sans Souci, the betting
being 4 to 1 on the former, and the latter ridden by
Mr. G. S. Thompson, then a prominent gentleman
jockey. In a desperate finish, John squeezed Lady
Knowsley home by a short head.
The succeeding race was the Great Yorkshire Stakes,
which kept up its reputation of being one of surprises.
The appearance of Apology naturally invested the
contest with importance after her triumphs in the One
Thousand and the Oaks. Most danger was apprehended
from Mr. Marshall's Trent, who had disposed of
Rostrevor the previous week at Stockton, that being
considered a rather smart perfomance. Built on a small
scale, Trent was almost a pony as compared with Mr.
" Launde's " slashing mare. Odds of 9 to 4 were laid on
Apology, who made the running at a very bad pace,
foUovv^ed by Trent, Daniel, and Volturno, until haK a
mile from home where Trent and Daniel joined Apology,
who, though she very soon disposed of Daniel, was still
being taclded by Mr. Marshall's colt, the result being
that Apology was dethroned, a.mid a furore of excite-
ment, by a head. The defeat materially affected her
St. Leger market status, for after 900 to 200 had been
laid twice, 1000 to 200 was noted against her, George
Frederick, the hero of the Derby, as a consequence of
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 233
her retrogression advancing to 75 to 40. The jockeyship
of Cannon and Osborne in this Great Yorkshire Stakes
was, according to the reports of the time, worth going
a hundred miles to see.
Doubtless Apology was not herself in this race. It
had been the original intention to start her for the York-
shire Oaks, but on the morning of the race it was found
she was slightly amiss, and she was not altogether
recovered when she stripped for the Great Yorkshire
Stakes, which has invariably been looked upon as a
good test for the St. Leger, but often enough it has
joroved otherwise. Stockwell managed to win the double
event, and so did Achievement. Rifleman won the Great
Yorkshire Stakes, but succumbed to Saacebox in the
St. Leger, who had finished behind him on Knaves-
mire. It was in the Great Yorkshire Stakes that Blair
Athol sustained his only defeat in England, his victor
being The Miner, ridden by Osborne. Over Knaves-
mire The Wizard was easily beaten by Saturn, but
positions were reversed in the Leger, and so they were
destined to be in regard to Trent and Apology in the
following September. Atlantic, who had won the Two
Thousand Guineas this year, was believed to be 10 lbs.
in front of Trent, and naturally he became a strong
candidate for " Sellinger " honours.
Lily Agnes at this same York August Meeting
proved herself a good mare by beating Kaiser in a
common canter for the Cup, she being in receipt of
20 lbs. for the vear between them. Mr. Snarn^ was
■disgusted when he sent her to York to be sold as a
yearling at not getting a bid for her, and so she came
into the hands of the Osbornes, though she improved so
much towards the end of her first vear that he refused
3000 guineas for her. Robert Peck did not send
234
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
Doncaster to run for the York Cup, convinced that he
had no chance of beating Lily Agnes, through whom in
Blantyre and Louise he had a direct line.
Up to this stage of his career Holy Friar had main-
tained an unbeaten certificate, and was looked upon with
some degree of confidence to maintain his reputation in
the Middle Park Plate, even with a hard nut Hke
Galopin to crack. Apology had won the One Thousand
Guineas and the Oaks, and with Holy Friar having won
on six consecutive occasions, the Yorkshire clergyman
who owned both was in great form.
At this time Mr. "Launde" and his bishop
had a few words, the latter thinking it inconsistent
for a clergyman to run racehorses, though people
of ordinary common sense know perfectly well that
it is not incompatible with his clerical office for a
clergyman to be the owner of thoroughbreds and to
run them as straight and honestly as Mr. " Launde "
always did. The bishop, it seemed, did not object to
Mr. " Launde " racing until his horses began to win
some good stakes.
Admiral Rous's opinion of the merits of Lily Agnes
was sho^\TL when, in the apportionment of the imposts,
he made her give weight to Atlantic, thus establishing
her in the " old Salt's " estimate as the best animal of her
age. Atlantic had beaten Pique in a canter, giving her
21 lbs. Pique proved herself very smart that year,
winning many races — amongst other performances,
splitting Glenalmond and Rostrevor in a Biennial, and
winning the Great Yorkshire Oaks in a canter, second
to her being NeUa, ridden by Osborne. Ashgill was at
its zenith this year of 74, for amongst its inmates were
animals of the class of Thorn, Grand Flaneur, Holy
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 235
Friar, Hieroglyphic, Apology, Lily Agnes, Benedictine,
Chimes, Nella, and Islam, aU able to win races.
Next shifting the scene to Doncaster September
Meeting of 74, we found Thorn beaten by Blenheim
and Wallsend in the " FitzwiUiam," but John came out
on top by winning the Champagne Stakes on Mr.
Vyner's Camballo. Thorn, on the St. Leger day, gave
him a three-quarters of a length victory over Thunder
and others in the Cleveland Stakes ; then he triumphed
in the very next race— the St. Leger— on Apology ; and
W. Piatt steered Lily Agnes home from Lilian in Her
Majesty's Plate. Thorn the following day, in John's
hands, succumbed by a head to Thunder ni the
Alexandra Plate ; but in the succeeding event— a sweep-
stake of £470— he scored on Holy Friar, who defeated
CambaUo, the Champagne winner, by half a length, thus
gaining for himself the reputation in the minds of many
^ood iudges of being the best two-year-old of the year.
Grand Flaneur failed in the Portland Plate. John rode
Chimes into second place behind the smart Aventuriere
in the Park Hill Stakes ; and Lily Agnes wound up a
great week for the stable by capturing the Doncaster
Cup by a neck from Scamp, with Lihan a bad third—
W. Chaloner having the mount on Mr. Snarry's mare,
as John himself could not get down to the weight.
236 ashgill; or, the life
CHAPTER XV
" On like an arrowy meteor flame,
The stride of the Leger winner came."
At the outset of 74 Admiral Rous enlivened the dull
season by a manifesto on Turf prospects, which forms
interesting reading at the present day. It was levelled
at those who would enforce by legislation their own
peculiar dogmas in rearing the racer, which happened
to be at variance with the then existing recognised and,
so far, prosperous methods pursued in such affairs. The
Admiral admitted, in opening the subject, that the
season of '73 had expired without a symptom of decay,
but expressed alarm at " the black cloud on the horizon "
which threatened the Turf. He combated the asser-
tion that in breedino; strena;th and endurance were not
thought of, speed for short races being all in all at the
time he was writing. He warned his critics that
strength and endurance were the summum honum of all
breeders, and that there were two thousand more horses
running over long distances and carrying heavy weights
than twenty years before ; that breeders were not such
fools as to carry on their trade at a loss, and that in
Trance and Germany the cleverest and most successful
sportsmen ran two-year-olds for the earliest spring races
without damage to their future prospects. Much
rilolo. by E. Ha~ckins &■ Co., BnX'hto
ADMIRAL ROUS
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 237
importance lie attached to the early education of race-
horses, by which suj^eriority and value were detected.
He cited Lord George Bentinck's policy of trying his
yearlings over and over again three furlongs, and then
sold the beaten lots, by which he escaped a ruinous
expenditure ; and in like manner he calculated that M.
Lefevre, the great French breeder, saved £10,000 per
annum. Good-looking ones, he argued, ought to be
thrown up after their trials and not brought out before
October, but the minor stock should be engaged early
and got rid of. It was the abuse of a long preparation
and running two-year-olds during the whole season that
was destructive. The " height of impertinence " in
dictating to any horse owner how he is to amuse himself,
so long as he runs on the square, whether over long or
short courses, was descanted upon, followed by a slap
at a noble lord who had proposed a law that three-year-
olds should not be allovv^ed to run under a mile, he
having an idea that short races encouraged the breed
of roarers. This, the Admiral refuted on authority, and
designated the noble lord's proposition a strange attack
on the rights of public property and presumj)tuous to
dictate to men as good as himself how they were to
manage their studs. He upheld the practice of running
two-year-olds at the coiTuiiencement of the season. It
was childish, he held, to object to 22nd March, when
every sensible man tried his yearlings before Christmas.
Equally silly it was to attempt to damage a race like
the Middle Park Plate on the plea that it affected the
Derby betting, and that two-year-olds were reserved
for this particular race. Nothing, he added, would be
so fatal to the Turf as the interference of Parliament,
which was powerless to dictate the terms upon which
the use of the horse shall take place. It was the then
238 ashgill; or, the life
anticipated appeal for such interference when Parlia-
ment assembled that constituted " the black cloud on
the horizon" to which the Admiral referred at the
outset of his letter.
In reply to certain correspondents who commented
on the Admiral's letter, he insisted, when the charge
was made of the decline of the English thoroughbred
as against the Anglo-Arab, that we possessed finer
horses than in the old days, basing his assertion upon
the horse having the best speed being the finest animal.
With regard to speculation on races his views were —
" My friends speculate on races ; even young ladies lose
betting gloves. It is a great comfort that there are
many excellent men who keep horses in training for
patriotic purposes, but it is no sport to them when they
are beaten. I have known magnates of the Turf who,
after many years of success, gave up racing the very
season they lost their money and converted their stables
into a remunerative breeding establishment. The late
Lord Glasgow was a shining example. Racing had
always been and would always be in the United
Kingdom a gambling speculation. From Queen
Elizabeth's to Queen Anne's reign many of the noblest
were reported to have been ruined by horse racing.
"When Hambletonian beat Diamond in 1799 it cost the
losers £500,000. Individual betting has fallen from 50
per cent, in my time. Turf morality is much improved,
and the greatest gamblers are men who never keep a
racehorse or subscribe to a Plate, and who send from
£5000 to £10,000 into the market to back a Derby
horse. The stigma of excessive gambling is credited to
the Turf — * Out of evil cometh good.' The prosperity
of the Turf was secured by active speculation. Breeders
go to an enormous expense for improvement of the
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 239
breed. Suppress betting by legal enactment, the game
is up, thoroughbred stock would be depreciated 60 per
cent., and our racecourses ploughed up."
September has been unanimously voted the " mares'
month," from it being a common occurrence for fillies
to be seen at great advantage at this period of the year.
This often had been upheld in regard to the St. Leger in
such instances as those of Caller Ou, Achievement,
Formosa, Hannah, and Marie Stuart in the preceding
tv^elve years or so. In Apology's year, of which we are
now speaking, the St. Leger was an acknowledged con-
test between the North and South, but never in the long
and stirring history of the race was the feud more
accentuated than on the present occasion with George
Frederick and Apology, the hero and heroine of the two
opposing forces. Since Caller Ou's sensational victory
in '61, when she started at the extreme outside price of
100 to 1, the favourites had had it pretty much their
own way, although in '70 Hawthornden upset calcula-
tions by starting at 1000 to 35, and winning handsomely
indeed, whilst Wenlock had bowled over the flying
Prince Charlie two years previously. Generally
speaking, in the period from '66 to '74, the former being
the year when Lord Lyon gained the three great
" classics," the Derby winners had the worst of the deal
in the Leger. In '67 the short price of 5 to 4 was taken
about Hermit, who, though he somewhat saved his
reputation by running second, struck his flag to the
great mare Achievement. In '69, as the story has been
told in these pages, 6 to 5 on was the starting jDrice of
Pretender, on whom our hero had the mount, and he
was " lost " at Doncaster by Pero Gomez, who had
succumbed in the Derby by a short head to the bearer
of the " all blue and silver." In '73 Doncaster, who had
240 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
previously walked in over the Epsom course, succumbed
by a head to his stable companion, Marie Stuart. With
these recent memories of three Derby whinners in
Hermit, Kingcraft, and Doncaster succumbing on the
Town Moor after their Derby triumphs, the fielders in
Apology's year operated boldly against George
Frederick, trustful of a similar fate awaiting him to
that which befell the three great horses just named.
The two favourites were George Frederick and Apology,
but Matthew Dawson was deemed to have a formidable
team in Leolinus, Trent, and Atlantic, the latter's
chances, however, suffering from the drawback of
bursting a blood vessel whilst at exercise, otherwise
he would have undoubtedly carried the full confidence
of the great and departed trainer. The St. Leger had
been a singularly unfortunate race for Matthew
Dawson, for, although he had trained a winner
of nearly all the great races, fortune failed him at
Doncaster. When at Eussley, as trainer for Mr.
Merry, he got within a head of the Marquis,
that finish bringing vividly to the recollection of
" old stagers " the dead heat between Charles XII.
and Euclid in '39, and Russborough and Voltigeur
in 1850. Mr. Merry had certainly won the St.
Leger twice, but Matthew Dawson was in neither
instance the trainer. He had long before resigned his
charge when Marie Stuart won in '73, whilst, when
Sunbeam was successful in '58, he had hardly assumed
it. Matthew Dawson's ill fortune in the St. Leger was
further evinced when he was at Eussley, for with Lord
Falmouth's pair. Kingcraft and Wheatear, he ran
second and third respectively to Hawthornden, an
outsider whom few dreamt of as likely to defeat the
Derby winner. He suffered a still further disappoint-
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 241
ment with Julius, of whose running up to within
a few hours of the race some doubt was entertained.
The horse had been pricked in some way or other, and
up to the time he was led out of his stable to proceed
to Doncaster the injured parts were being constantly
fomented to allay inflammation that had set in. Julius
twisted a plate in that race, and seeing that he had
managed to run the Derby winner to a neck for second
place, he certainly must have proved in more favourable
conditions a dangerous opponent to Achievement.
We now give, in extenso, a description of four races
in 74 with which our hero was most brilliantly
identified.
APOLOGY'S OAKS, 1874.
The Oaks Stakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for three-year-old fillies, 8 st. 101b.
each; second to receive 300 sovs. and the third 150 sovs. out of the stakes.
One mile and a half. (189 subs.)
Mr. Launde's Apology, by Adventurer — Mandragora, . J. Osborne 1
M. Lefevre's Miss Toto, by Lord Clifden — Baroness, . Fordham 2
Mr. East's Lady Patricia, by Lord Clifden — Lady Longford, Goater 3
Lord Falmouth's Blanchefleur, by Saunterer, . . . F. Archer
Mr. Wright's Princess Theresa, by Birdcatcher, - . Heslop
Mr. Savile's f. by Skirmisher— Vertumna, . . . Maid ment
Mr. Thompson's Memoria, by Speculum,
Lord Ailesbnry's Aventuriere, by Adventurer,
Mr. Bowes's Polonaise, by Adventurer, .
Sir J. Hawley's Devastation, by Defender,
Mr. Bennett's Lady of the Lake, by Broomielaw,
Betting— 7 to 4 against Miss Toto, 5 to 2 against Apology, 5 to 1 against Lady
Patricia, 10 to 1 against Princess Theresa, 100 to 6 against Blanchefleur,
100 to 6 against Memoria, 20 to 1 against Vertumna filly, 100 to 3 against
Lady of the Lake, 40 to 1 against Aventuriere.
THE RACE.
The lot at once arranged themselves in line, with Lady Patricia on the inside and
Aventuriere on the extreme outside, and without a moment's delay the cry was
raised "They're ofif." The outside pair. Devastation and Aventuriere, first
showed in front, whilst Memoria, who started slowly, brought up the rear.
After going about a hundred yards, however, and settling into their places,
R
Griffiths
T. Chaloner
Morris
Cannon
Custance
242
ashgill; or, the life
Lady Patricia took the lead and carried it on for half a furlong, with Apology
second and Miss Toto third. Before the top of the hill had been reached,
however, Johnnie Osborne evidently thought the pace was too slow for the North-
country mare, and he at once took her to the front, at the same time materially
improving the rate of progress, her nearest attendants being Lady Patricia and
Miss Toto, the former of whom had the berth next the rails, this trio coming on
some three lengths in front of Vertumna filly, Lady of the Lake, and Blanchefieur,
who were the next lot, and already having a very extended tail behind them.
In this order they ran through the furzes on to the Bushes Hill where Miss Toto
dropped back for a short distance, but she soon resumed her place at the quarters
of Lady Patricia, Polonaise and Devastation by this time being a long way
behind. A hundred yards before reaching Tattenham Corner Apology increased
her lead to a good two lengths from Miss Toto, who had passed Lady Patricia.
C(iming round the turn, however, Miss Toto dropped away a second time, leaving
Apology with a three lengths' lead. As the lot entered the straight for home,
the whole were busy with the exception of Osborne on Apology, but the last
named, evidently to make matters safe, kept Mr. Launde's filly to her work,
and though Fordham rode hard on Miss Toto he could never get near Apology,
who won a somewhat iininteresting race by a couple of lengths. Lady Patricia,
was a bad third, with Blanchefieur fourth, Aventuriere fifth, the Vertumna filly
sixth, Memoria next, the last named for some distance after rounding the turn
held Apolog}', but tiring away dropped back in double quick time and finished
seventh, then came Lady of the Lake eighth. Devastation ninth. Princess Theresa
last of all. Time, 2 min. 48^ sees.
APOLOGY'S ST. LEGER, 1874.
TuE St. Leger Stakes of 25 sovs. each, for three -year-olds ; colts 8st. 101b.,
fillies 8 St. 51b. ; second to receive 200 sovs. and the third 100 sovs. out of
the stakes. 1 mile 6 furlongs 132 yards. (197 subs.)
Mr. Launde's Apology, by Adventurer — Mandragora,
Sir E,. Bulkeley's Leolinus, by Caterer — Tasmania, .
Mr. Marshall's Trent, by Broomielaw — The Mersey,
Mr. Cartwright's Volturno, by Macaroni,
Mr. East's Lady Patricia, by Lord Clifden,
Lord Falmouth's Atlantic, by Thormanby,
Mr. Harrison's Sweet Violet, by Voltigeur,
Mr. Merry's Blantyre, by Adventurer, .
Sir J. Astley's Scamp, by The Rake,
Mr. Keswick's Rostrevor, by Thormanby,
Count Lagrange's Boulet, by Monarque, .
M. Lefevre's Feu d'Amour, by Monarque,
Mr. Merry's Glenalmond, by Blair Athol,
J. Osborne 1
T. Osborne 2
T. Cannon 3
Constable
J. Goater
T. Chaloner
Snowden
Hopper
Parry
Huxtable
Butler
Custance
F. Webb
Betting — 4 to 1 against Apology, 5 to 1 against Trent, 11 to 2 against Feu
d'Amour, 11 to 2 against Glenalmond, 100 to 15 against Atlantic, 7 to I
against Leolinus, 100 to 3 against Scamp, 40 to 1 Lady Patricia.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 243
THE RACE.
Not a few pretended to detect signs of lameness in the Ashgill mare. Glenalmond
was evidently the rogue of the lot, as he figured in a very close hood and blinkers,
besides having had a bottle of genuine old Irish whisky administered to him
prior to leaving the paddock with a view of imbuing him witli a little Dutch
courage. Volturno ran with his legs swathed in bandages, as did also Apology,
on whom it was noticed Osborne was riding without spurs. The thirteen runners
quickly proceeded to the St. Leger starting post. Scarcely had they been
•assembled a few moments when a cry was raised that a start had taken place ;
but such was not the case, for what would have been undoubtedly a brilliant
break away was marred by the refusal of Boulet to go away with his horses, and
many of the jockej-s felt so confident that a genuine start had been effected that
fully a quarter of a mile was covered by some of the competitors before they
could be pulled up, Blantyre being amongst the most obstinate of the lot to
return to the starting post ; and when he was at length brought back his
impatience to get away for another minute or two prevented ISIr. M 'George
lowering his flag, which, however, he eventually did to a capital start just
thirteen minutes behind the appointed time, and amid a loud roar from the
assembled thousands, which might be heard extending and dying away in the
distance, the race for the St. Leger of 1874 had been begun. For a stride or two
Blantyre was quickest on his legs, but he was instantly passed by Boulet, whose
mission was to cut out the work at his best pace and as far as he could with a
view of serving his stable companion Feu d' Amour. Almost level with the
Frenchmen raced the Goodwood Stakes winner Scamp, and at the girths of the
last named again came Blantyre, this quartette having had the inside position
next the rails when the flag was lowered. Then came a cluster of horses, com-
prising Atlantic, Leolinus, and Trent, Lady Patricia coming on a couple of
lengths further off a like distance in front of Apology, whilst Volturno, who was
flanking the line on the right at the start, was left to bring up the rear. Crossing
the road, scarcely three furlongs from the start, and by which time the thirteen
had begun to settle down into their places, it was observed that Scamp had given
way in favour of Mr. Merry's pair, who were now going on at the heels of Boulet,
whilst Atlantic and Leolinus had drawn from the ruck and taken fourth and fifth
places respectively, closely attended by Trent, Scamp, Rostrevor, Sweet Violet,
and Lady Patricia, the last named having quitted the company of the favourite
and Volturno, who came along together a couple of lengths last. Sweeping up
Primrose Hill, which was very densely packed with spectators, the "baker's
dozen " presented a very pretty sight as they lay in a perfect cluster, except that
Boulet, who was still showing the way at a cracking pace, had got clear of the
ruck, which for a tail had Apology and Volturno side by side about as far in the
rear as the Frenchman was ahead — something like a good length. This pretty
sight, however, was lost to view the next moment behind the furzes, but when
they reappeared about fifty yards or so beyond the mile starting post it was
seen that though Boulet had increased his lead to fully a couple of lengths,
and two yellow jackets had given way in favour of Leolinus and Trent,
the pair going on second and third, followed by a group composed of Atlantic,
Scamp, Blantyre, Glenalmond, Sweet Violet, and Volturno, Lord Falmouth's
colt just showing his head clear of them, whilst Feu d' Amour and Apology
244 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
lay together in the rear, but not so far away as to cause uneasiness to the
backers of either. In another hundred yards, however, a manifest change
took place in the positions, for Johnnie Osborne, evidently having a feeler
at his field, let Apology out, and before the Rifle Butts had been reached she
had drawn clear past the group previously mentioned and taken fourth place
close up with Trent, whilst Sweet Violet as rapidly dropped away as if
already in difficulties. A rouser from Snowden, however, made her soon
recover her place, and the excitement began to increase every moment when
it was observed that Scamp, Blantyre, Glenalmond, Atlantic, and Rostrevor
were beginning to close with the leader. Lady Patricia and Volturno having
again become the whippers in. From the Rifle Butts on to the Red House
(six furlongs from home) Boulet began to show signs of distress, and as he
gave way, Leolinus and Trent were left side by side barely clear of Apology, the
Ashgill filly having for her nearest attendants Lord Falmouth's colt (Atlantic)
and Glenalmond, though but a short distance separated the last named and
Feu dAmour, Blantyre, and Sweet Violet, who came on abreast each other.
Just at this junctui-e it was observed that something was wrong with Atlantic,
who a moment ago lay well forward and was now absolutely being stopped, his
backers at once dreading that he had broken down, which was correct so far, that
when he afterwards was walked back to the paddock it became known that he
had bui-st another blood vessel. As the lot swept round the Red House turn
Apology came with another dash, and before the heads of the lot had been fairly
straightened it was seen that she held a slight lead from Leolinus, who lay next
the rails, and Trent, who occupied a position in the centre of the course, the two
coming along clear of Feu d' Amour, Glenalmond, Rostrevor, Scamp, and Sweet
Violet, who ranged themselves side by side half-way across the course, thereby
barring the way to the others who followed, all of whom, however, were seen to
be busily at work before the bend was reached about a couple of distances from
home. At this juncture both Rostrevor and Sweet Violet began to give wa}',
and though both Scamp and Feu dAmour hung on for another hundred yards or
so their riders also began to be busy, and for a second or two the hopes of the
backers of Russley were sustained when they observed Webb on Glenalmond
coming along in the track of the leading trio and apparently going well. Before
the distance had been reached, however, he too began to feel the efi'ects of the
struggle, and though called upon vigorously for a short distance he dropped even
further astern, and Apology came along with a good half-length lead from her
right and left supporters to the half -distance, where Cannon on Trent and
T. Osborne on Leolinus commenced to ride in earnest. Their efforts, however,
were of no avail so far as winning honours were concerned, as Apology coming
along quitted the pair a dozen strides from home and won very easily by a length
and a half amid such a burst of cheering as was never heard on Doncaster Town
Moor. No less than five lengths behind Leolinus, who finished second, came
Trent third, fully an equal distance in front of Scamp, fourth. Behind the last
named Sweet Violet finished fifth, about a couple of lengths clear of Blantyre,
the Frenchmen (Boulet and Feu d' Amour), and Volturno, these four being almost
in a cluster. Then came Glenalmond, pulling up, tenth, Rostrevor eleventh,
and Lady Patricia, who occupied the undistinguished position of whipper in.
Atlantic walked home some time afterwards bleeding very freely from moutli
and nostrils, he having broken a blood vessel. The time of the race was
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE
245
3 minutes 19 seconds. On the return of the winner to the paddock John Osborne
and the mare met with a tremendous reception, no end of congratulations being
showered upon him amidst a scene of tumultuous applause that scarcely sub-
sided when the bell rang for the succeeding race.
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"And what a St. Leger was Apology's, and what
hours of confusion and chaos were passed through on the
St. Leger morning! George Frederick arrived on the
]\ionday afternoon, when, according to the chronicler
of the time, Doncaster judgment was pronounced
against him, no one who had seen him giving him a
good word, and some remarks being exceedingly severe.
Then an hour or so afterwards came Apology, who,"
continues " Van Driver " in Baily's Magazine, from
whom we are excerpting, " was in worse form ; but still
there was no enthusiasm about her, and the critics were
all of the captious order. Neither of them improved
24G ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
their positions in the market, and George Frederick^
after he had cantered on the Tuesday morning, became
an even worse one. And while the favourites were in
this doubtful plight, curiously enough nothing else was
in any better. The offers of the bookmakers were still
' 10 to 1 bar 2,' and there was practically no third
favourite. Mr. Cartwright professed not to understand
it ; the two special correspondents who had been down
to interview George Frederick were ready to stake
their reputation on his being sound and well, and
Custance, who was to ride him, said he was delighted
with his mount. Surely here was an array of confidence
and talent that ought to have brought George Frederick
to 6 to 4 at least! But they did not. The more his-
owner professed, the worse favourite became his horse ;
the more the two zealous Specials, arcades amio, both
in print and in private life, staked their reputations,
etc., the more did the bookmakers lay. It was not
treating Mr. Cartwright or the Specials well or with
respect, we must say, but the fact was, whenever these
Turf instructors' names were mentioned, the bookmakers-
contemptuously sprung a point against the unfortu-
nate George Frederick, and said something about the
specials which we shall not sully our pages by
repeating.
" So things went on all through the Tuesday.
People came back from the Town Moor and dined,
with a good deal of George Frederick on the brain,
but nothing transpired about him till late in the
evening, about an hour before the closing of the rooms,
when three members of the Jockey Club — who had
sought inspiration, it may be supposed, from some
unfailing oracle — made their appearance on the scene,
headed by Sir Frederick Johnstone, and that honour-
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 24T
able gentleman commenced straightway such a fusilade
against George Frederick that it was soon seen that it
was all up with him. Mr. Cartwright looked on, in
gloomy silence, the quondam favourite's backers in mute
dismay, while the gentlemen bookmakers seemed
pleasantly conscious of ha\dng performed a virtuous
action. Whether they knew something or only did it
for a lark and meant to have backed him back the
next day — whether remorse visited their pillows and
uneasy dreams of George Frederick winning in a
canter murdered sleep, we cannot say, but when their
servants brought them the morning ' S.B.' with the
news that George Frederick was scratched, w^e are
warranted in supposing that their feelings were much
relieved. For it was true. ' His leg had filled in the
night,' and it was Mr. Mannington's opinion that it
would ruin the horse to run him. So Mr. Cartwright
proceeded to Messrs. Weatherby's office and struck him
out, and when the commissioner, whom he had told
the previous day that he intended to have a ' thou.'
on the horse called for his instructions (the said
commissioner having backed the horse for £600 for
himself), this was the news that awaited him, and then
'to breakfast with what appetite he may.' It was
hardly believed at first, and Custance was amongst the
sceptics ; but the real truth soon forced itself upon our
unwilhng minds. The Derby winner scratched! We
had a great idea that he would not wdn, but we expected
at least a run for our money.
"Of course there were all sorts of things said —
witty things (more or less), angry things, unwarrant-
able things. A time-honoured joke on the owner's
name w^as brought to bear on the situation, and
jocose inquiries as to whether Mr. Cartwright
248 ashgill; or, the life
had not taken the first morning train en route to the
Principahty were rife. The aristocratic bookmakers
were congratulated on their superior prescience, and
received the compliments of their friends with modesty.
The bookmakers tried to look not unduly elated, but
they are bad hands at concealing their emotions; and
Mr. Steele was so pretematurally solemn that a child
might have known that he had George Frederick in his
pocket. Some kind inquiries were made after the two
special commissioners, and some people seemed anxious
to offer them some marks of their esteem, but they were
not to be found. Few people comparatively paid atten-
tion to Mr. Rudson's or Lord Scarborough's 3^earlings
(though Mr. Chaplin, by the by, found time to give
1500 gs. for a Miner colt, and a very good-looking one) ;
and it was only the Apology sensation that knocked
George Frederick so clear out of our heads as he was
out of the race.
" For Apology was, if you please, scratched too, or,
if she was not, it was a mere question of time. She
had pulled up lame after her morning gallop, and there
was a Newmarket trainer of credit and renown ready
to make what Mr. Riderhood called an ' Alfred Davy '
of the fact, if necessary. Mr. ' Launde ' had been
telegraphed to, and the order for striking the mare out
of the Leger was expected every moment. She was at
50 to 1, she was at 100 to 6, she was at 100 to 8, she
was at 100 to 10. And all this was taking place about
an hour before the time set for the races to come off,
and everybody was (metaphorically) standing on his
head, and bookmakers were rushing about offering
insane prices; and, as we have said before, it was a
scene of chaos and confusion. What it all meant was
this — The mare had been pulled up rather suddenly in
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 249
Tier morning canter, and she pecked from crossing her
legs, or something, and because Osborne jiunped off
her back to see what was the matter and she was led
back to her stable ; hence arose this groundless panic —
the rumours that she was dead lame, the scratching,
and all the rest of it. A panic, we know, is most
catching, and both backers and layers for two hours that
afternoon were like a flock of frightened sheep, ready
to follow any one's lead. It was just possible, too —
for even the cleverest and sharpest may be deceived —
that the bookmakers thought she was as ' safe ' as
George Frederick. Only on that supposition can we
explain their action. The prices we have above
mentioned might have been, and were, had at different
intervals during the two hours or hour and a half before
the race. Even when seen in the paddock, and after
she had cantered, 5 to 1 might still have been got. She
evidently did not move with freedom on the hard
ground, but in other respects she looked pounds better
than she did at York. 5 to 1 against the Leger
favourite ! Was ever heard such a case ? To show how
unreasoning and unreasonable was the panic — in the
false start — because she was rather slow in beginning —
some bookmaker shouted ' 10 to 1 against Apology! '
Whether he was taken or not we can't say, but the
mare was not entirely deserted by her friends. It
required some amount of courage, though, to back her
in the face of this opposition. The shouting gentlemen,
with their books and pencils, had been so right about
George Frederick, why should they not be right now?
So some of her former staunch supporters, among them
Mr. Chaplin, forsook her, to their cost, and those who
Avere on her and could not lay off looked upon their
money as gone.
250 ashgill; or, the life
"Atlantic was voted tlie gentleman of the lot of
thirteen that emerged from the paddock, headed by
Volturno, and the two French horses, Feu d' Amour and
Boulet. Atlantic looked wonderfully fit, and so, indeed,
did Leolinus and Trent; and Sir Eichard Bulkeley's.
colt divided many suffrages with Lord Fahiiouth's. Feu
d' Amour, who had Custance on him, was as narrow as
a rail, but when extended his action left little to be
desired. The best movers, though, were Atlantic and
Trent; and the latter, as was generally anticipated,
skipped over the hard ground Hke a bird. There was
one break-away, which would have been a start but for
Boulet (it was then the rash, bookmaker offered 10 to 1),.
and when Mr. M'George did lower his flag, John
Osborne and Apology were nearly in the same position
as when the former rode Lord Chfden in the Leger of
'63. As they swept up the hill out of sight, with Boulet
making the running and Atlantic going like great guns,.
Johnnie Osborne was still in the rear, but when they
could be seen again he had brought the mare through
her horses, and at the Eifle Butts, v^here Atlantic was
seen to compound (he had broken a blood vessel going
up the hill). Apology was in the first four. At the Eed
House she was with the leaders, at the bend she was
in front and it was all over. Amidst tremendous
cheering, and a scene of wild excitement, she headed
Leolinus easily and won without an effort by a lengtE
and a half.
" Such enthusiasm — and we have seen a great deal
on the Town Moor — was never before exhibited in
our recollection. The cheering was renewed again and
again as Osborne rode the good mare back to the
paddock ; it swelled to a louder volume when the ' all
right ' was pronounced, and we really thought it never
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 251
would cease. Of course, the reason for this great
enthusiasm was obvious. The mare had been knocked
out, bandied about like a shuttle-cock, suspected of
being ' safe ' as George Frederick, reported to be struck
out, deserted by many of her friends — to all appearances
a beaten animal before the flag fell. And well she had
triumphed. Undoubtedly not up to the mark, and not
liking the hard ground, she had yet won the fastest
Leger on record in a common canter, and had left the
horse who beat her, when unfit, in the Great Yorkshire
standing still. No wonder, then, that all Yorkshire
cheered her, her jockey, and her venerable owner, who
was not present to see her run ; but above all, like good
sportsmen as they are, they cheered Apology."
In his own way, John Osborne recited his recol-
lections of the incidents connected with the filly's
sensational victory, as follows : — •
" Between the August and September for the
race, I thought she could be made a deal better
than her previous running had borne out, and,
indeed, had a high opinion of her winning
prospects. We had nobody about us that betted
much, yet for all that she was well backed.
Everything went all right with her during her
preparation. On the St. Leger morning she
walked as freely as any animal possibly could.
I got on her back to give her a breather in the
early morning on the Town Moor. To my utter
astonishment she trotted lame, and on examining
her we couldn't find where the lameness was.
The news of her apparent lameness spread hke
wildfire. All sorts of rumours got aJDOut, so I
heard, and I suppose the people said she wouldn't
run after having been found lame; but there
^^^ ashgill; or, the life
never was really any doubt about her running—
not a word of truth in that rumour. We wired
to Mr. King to say she was not all right, but
there was no message back from him until after
the race. Mr. King was not at Doncaster to
see her run, but Mrs. King was, and when some-
one told her that Apology was struck out, Mrs.
King said, ' I'm sure he will run her, for every-
body has backed her.' Often enough it has been
said since that Mr. King wired, ' Let the mare
run on three legs.' He never sent any such
telegram, and it was from what Mrs. King said
that that idea was spread about. No message
came from Mr. King until after the race. Mr.
King's man wired the result of Apology's victory
to Mr. King, but before Mr. King got that
result he wired to us, ' Win or lose, run her for
the Cup.' I received that message when I got
off the course that night after the race: that
was Mr. King's message to me. Then I wrote
to him that night — explaining everything, and
advising him not to run her for the Cup, and,
of course, I had a message back to strike her
out of the Cup. The telegraph office was four
miles away from Ashby, and when he sent to
know the result he sent that message, 'Win or
lose, run for the Cup,' with the man that went
to get the result of the race. Therefore it is pure
fiction about receiving a message from Mr. King
to run Apology ' on three legs.' The only time
she ran again that season was when she was
beaten in the Free Handicap at Newmarket.
"On the death of Mr. King, Apology was
thrown up for a time. She ran then as the
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 253
property of Mr. Seabrook, but really she was
still the property of the widow, who had the
choice of two mares, and of course she chose
Apology. She did not show any great form as
a four-year-old, except running CarneHon to a
neck for the Jockey Club Cup. She was just
coming into form at the end of the season. As
a five-year-old she ran badly in the Ebor
Handicap, but won the Queen's Plate at
Manchester, beating Lady Patricia; and the
following week at Ascot, beat Craig Millar and
several others for the Gold Cup. She only ran
once after that, winning the Queen's Plate at
Newcastle. Her leg gave way just before Good-
wood, and she never ran after. She went to the
stud, and Mr. Clare Vyner bought her.
Esterling and Aperse are the best of her
produce. Apology was a real good mare.
" Holy Friar, also the property of Mr.
Launde, was also a good two-year at Ashgill in
'74. He wasn't beat until his race in the Middle
Park Plate, for which he was fourth. Some
people say he won. I was asked the question
about Pontefract time by a Newmarket man,,
who used to travel for Mr. Eothschild. He said
he had often heard people arguing whether he
won the Middle Park Plate.
" ' Do you think he did ? ' he asked.
" ' No, he did not win,' was the reply.
" He didn't run straight. He shot out to the
right, instead of going straight. I thought he
was third, but still I had overlooked Per Se. I
was certain that Plebeian and Galopin had
beaten him. People talk about that race yet.
254
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
He broke down the following year, then sold to
Mr. Carew Gibson, and died young."
THE MIDDLE PARK PLATE.
(October 14, 1874.)
'The Middle Park Plate of 500 sovs., added to a sweepstake of 30 sovs. each,
20 ft., for two-year-olds; colts, 8st. 91b., fillies and geldings, 8 st. 61b.;
penalties and allowances ; second to receive 200 sovs. and third 100 sovs. out
of the stakes. Bretby Course, 6 furlongs. (145 subs.)
Mr. T. Brown's b c Plebeian, by Joskin — Queen Elizabeth
Lord Dupplin's br f Per Se, .
Prince Batthyany's Galopin, ....
Mr. Launde's ch c Holy Friar,
Mr. W. S. Cartwright's or f Maude Victoria, .
Mr. Chaplin's br f Stray Shot,
Mr. W. S. Crawfurd's b c Semper Durus,
Mr. H. Delamarre's br f Palmyre, .
Lord Falmouth's br c Dreadnought,
Lord Falmouth's b c Garterly Bell,
Mr. T. Fetherstonehaugh's ch c Horse Chestnut,
Mr. F. Gretton's br c Chester,
Lord Hartington's br f Chaplet (3 lb. extra), .
Mr. W. S. Mitchell-Innes's ch c Saint Leger, .
Mr. Jenkins's b c Killiecrankie,
Mr. Launde's b or br c Chartist,
M. Lefevre's br c Punch, ....
Captain Machell's b c Telescope (4 lb. extra), .
Mr. Merry's br c by Brother to Strafford — Makeshift,
Baron Scheckler's b c Perplexe,
Prince Soltykoff s b c Balfe, .
Mr. Somerville's b c Fakenham Ghost,
Mr. Terry's ch c Woodlands, .
Mr. Baltazzi's Insolvent,
!Mordan 1
T. Cannon 2
Morris 3
J. Osborne 4
Constable
Maidment
Chaloner
Carver
F. Archer
Lynch
Parry
Huxtable
Jeffrey
Wood
Hunt
Griffiths
Fordham
Martin
Webb
Hunter
Custance
T. Osborne
Goater
Hibberd
Betting — 2 to 1 against Holy Friar, 6 to 1 against Galopin, 9 to 1 against Punch,
10 to 1 against Plebeian, 12 to 1 against Per Se, 16 to 1 each against Horse
Chestnut, Telescope, and Makeshift colt, 25 to 1 against Balfe, 33 to 1 each
against Fakenham Ghost and Woodlands, 40 to 1 each against Chaplet and
Perplexe, and 66 to 1 against Stray Shot.
THE RACE.
The lot, after some delay, got away to a beautiful start, and were in a cluster for
a short distance, but on settling down into their places Galopin on the left took a
slight lead of Holy Friar who was running wide on the right, having at his
quarters Per Se, while in the centre of the course came the Makeshift colt,
Perplexe, and Plebeian, with Fakenham Ghost and Punch on the extreme left,
Chester, the whipper in, being soon tailed off. Thus they came for quarter of a
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 255
■mile -when Holy Friar headed Galopin, the pair being hunted by Per Se, with
Plebeian, Punch, Fakenham Ghost, and Balfe in close attendance till rising the
Bushes Hill when Holy Friar was joined by Per Se, Galopin, and Balfe, amongst
whom a most exciting race ensued, Plebeian ultimately winning by a head
from Per Se, who beat Galopin a like distance for second place, close up with
Galopin being Holy Friar who was fourth, Balfe fifth, Chaplet sixth. Punch
seventh. Horse Chestnut eighth. Stray Shot nioth, the last two being Chester
and Chartist. The winner was objected to on the gi'ound of a jostle, l)ut the
objection was overruled by the Stewards and the race awarded to Plebeian.
Time of the race, 1 min. 25 sees.
A grander lot of two-year-olds than the twenty-four
which constituted the above race most probably had
never before been seen in any two-year-old event, and
certainly never since ; nor, indeed, was there ever a more
splencUd finish. After it was over Achiiiral Rous
'enthusiastically exclaimed, " As long as I hve this race
shall not be done away with ! " this resolve of the " old
■Salt's " coming as a counterblast to the efforts previously
made to strike it out of the calendar. It was computed
that some of the runners were backed to win £80,000,
and probably never was there a Middle Park Plate on
w^hich so much money was betted. Between the first
;iive horses, viz.. Plebeian, Per Se, Galopin, Holy Friar,
•and Balfe there was not half a length, and four of
them were nearly running a dead heat. In writing of
the race at the time, Mr. John Corlett expressed the
^opinion that although Plebeian had a head the best of
it, he had no doubt Per Se ought to have won. Not
only did Plebeian drive her on to Galopin, but the pair
had her so close between them that Cannon couldn't
use his whip. That there would be an objection every
one who saw the race was prepared to hear. As
Admiral Ecus and Mr. Chaphn had both backed Per
Se, Lord Falmouth, the only steward, called in Sir
John Astley and Mr. Crawfurd to assist him in
iadjudicating on the matter. The case was not heard
256 ashgill; or, the life
until after the races. Never was more excitement mani-
fested over an objection, not even in the memorable
Catch 'em Alive case. Sir Frederick Johnstone had
backed Per Se to win £15,000, whilst Lord Dupplin
had supported his own filly to win £16,000. As the
bookmakers took the odds freely that " the second gets
it," the backers were enabled to hedge their money to
great advantage, Sir Frederick Johnstone and Lord
DuppHn, it is said, being in a position to lay £4000 to
£1000 against Per Se. The judges occupied nearly
two hours in hearing the evidence of the jockeys. At
length Mr. Crawfurd emerged from the room, but
nothing could be gathered from his solemn face as to the
decision. Presently Sir John Astley appeared and
quickly said, " The winner gets it," and up went such
a shout as had never been heard in the streets of New-
market. The judges held the opinion that Per Se had
not been sufficiently interfered with to prevent her
winning the race. When Mr. Tattersall sold Plebeian
the previous year he prophesied that he was selling the
winner of the next Middle Park Plate, and so he was
attested a true seer. John Osborne, on Holy Friar, in
forcing the pace as he did, tried to cut down the field,
as Newry did the previous year. If he hadn't done that,
the probabihty is, according to Mr. John Corlett's-
views, that he would have finished second and Galopin
first. Galopin's form in the Derby the following year
fully confirmed the estimate.
The action of Mr. Henry Chaplin threatened the
continuation of the Middle Park Plate. Just prior
to this race of 1874 he moved and carried, in the Jockey
Club, a resolution that it was not desirable that th&
largest sum given in added money by the Club should
be for a two-year-old race. The only way to get out
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE
257
of the difficulty was to give a larger amount of money
to some other race, but for want of funds that was not
found to be practicable at the time, therefore it seemed
that the fate of the Middle Park Plate was sealed.
Mr. Blenkiron and Mr. Gee came to the rescue by
subscriptions, each being willing to contribute the
necessary £500, and to the spirit of these two worthy
departed breeders is due the existence of the great
two-year-old race ever since.
DONCASTER CHAMPAGNE STAKES, 1874.
The Champagne Stakes of 50 sovs. each,
8 St. 101b., and fillies, 8 st. 81b.; second
(5 furlongs 152 yards). (34 subs.)
Mr,
h. ft., for two-year-olds; colts,
to save stake. Red House in
Vy tier's Camballo, by Cambuscan — L
8 St. 101b.,
Mr. Savile's Earl of Dartrey, 8 st. 101b.,
Lord Fitzwilliam's Breechloader, 8 st. 101b.,
M. Lefevre's Regalade, 8 st. 8 lb. (carried 8
Mr. Somervile's (Edipus, 8 st. 101b.,
Mr. Gretton's Alpha, 8 st. 101b., .
Sir G. Chetwynd's Chyrpe, 8 st. 8 lb..
St.
ttle Lady,
91b.),
J. Osborne 1
Maidment 2
Parry 3
distance
Giordan
Cannon
F. Webb
Betting — 7 to 4 against Camballo, 100 to 30
Regalade, and 6 to 1 against Breechloader
a bad third.
against Alpha, 9 to 2 against
Won hard held by a length ;
On the Thursday of this memorable Doncaster
Meeting, Osborne and Goater had ridden a tremendous
finish for the Alexandra Plate, the former on Thorn,
four years, 8 st. 12 lbs. (including 7 lbs. extra),
and the latter on Mr. M. Dawson's Thunder, four
years, 8 st. 12 lbs. — Kaiser, four years, 8 st.
11 lbs., also being in the field of ten runners.
The betting was — 5 to 1 each against Kaiser,
Precentor, and Oxford Mixture; 100 to 15 against
Thorn; 10 to 1 each against Thunder, Syrian,
Blenheim, Princess Theresa, Day Dream, and Dukedom.
At the distance. Thorn, Dukedom, and Syrian, followed
closely by Thunder, drew quickly away from the others,
258
ashgill; or, the life
a grand race home ensuing with the lot, but Goater,
bringing Thunder with a well-timed rush in the last
few strides, won by a head.
In the very next race — a sweepstake of 10 sovs.
each, with 200 sovs. added, 6 furlongs — Osborne on
Holy Friar (9 st. 1 lb.) defeated Camballo, who was
steered by Mr. G. S. Thompson, by half a length; and
seeing that Camballo had won the Champagne Stakes
at this meeting, the remark, " What a lucky man Mr.
' Launde ' is to possess such a couple of clinkers as Holy
Friar and Apology," was well justified.
That Thorn and Thunder were about the same horse
the race proved. On the preceding day they met in the
Cleveland Handicap (one mile), the same respective
jockeys up, and Osborne beating Goater by half a
length — Thorn being in receipt of 7 lbs. from Mr. M.
Dawson's four-year-old. As was seen in the Alexandra
Plate, they met at 1 lb. difference. Thunder turning
the tables upon his conqueror over the mile by a head —
the form on the two days as between them coming out
as true as a die.
Continuing, our hero relates —
" Camballo was a real good horse — not a
quick beginner, but when in action he was a fine
mover, and could stay. He carried me home in
the Two Thousand of 75 very easily. He
belonged to Mr. Clare Vyner — a real, kind,
liberal-hearted gentleman, fond of all sports, at
least, when I say sports, that is racing, hunting,
and shooting. I had been riding part of his
horses for some time, even when he first began
to race. One of the first he had a share in was
Golden Pledge.
" Now it was the ' Special Commissioner '
Mr. CLARE VYNER
Pho'o, by A. Bassaito, London
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE
259
who said in his article in the paper the other
day that Claremont won that Two Thousand.
He said he saw it, and he was certain Claremont
won. Why, Camballo made most part of the
running, and won easily ; it was never in doubt.
Camballo won by two lengths, Picnic was
second, Breechloader third, and Claremont
fourth. Camballo was trained by Mathew
Dawson, and I rode him the first time he ran.
He won every race up to the Chesterfield, when
Balfe beat him, I think. Camballo was amiss
when I steered him in Galopin's Derby. He-
ran nowhere in the Grand Prize, in fact he
really had no chance to get round before Ascot.
He was amiss before the Derby, and ran badly ;
he had never got fairly round. It was only
decided on the morning of the Derby whether
he had to run or not. He had been coughing,
and was amiss."
CAMBALLO'S TWO THOUSAND, 1875.
The Two Thousand Guineas of 100 sovs. each, h. ft., for three-year-olds; colts,
8 St. 101b., fillies, 8 st. 51b.; second to receive 200 sovs. out of the stakes,
and third to save stake. R.M.
J. Osborne 1
Fordham 2
Custance 3
T. Chaloner
F. Archer
Salter
F. Webb
Maidment
Glover
Mr. Vyuer's Camballo, by Cambuscan — Little Lady,
M. Lefevre's Picnic,
Lord Fitzwilliam's Breechloader,
Mr. W. S. Crawfurd's Craig Millar,
Lord Falmouth's Garterly Bell,
Sir F. Johnstone's Town Crier,
M. Lefevre's Gilbert,
Captain Machell's Claremont, .
Captain Machell's The Leveret,
General Peel's c by Trumpeter, dam by Melbourne — Miss
Whipp, Morris
Mr. Savile's Earl of Dartrey, W. Piatt
Prince SoltykoflPs Balfe, ....... Cannon
Mr. A. Baltazzi's c by Scottish Chief — Artemis, . . Goater
Betting — 100 to .30 against Camballo, 5 to 1 against Craig Millar, 13 to 2 against
Balfe, 7 to 1 each against Picnic and Earl of Dartrey, 20 to 1 each against
Leveret and Claremont, and 40 to 1 against Miss Whipp colt.
260 . ashgill; or, the life
THE RACE.
The lot lay well together for a distance, but on settling down Town Crier took a
clear lead of Earl of Dartrey and Claremont, close up with whom were Craig
Millar and Camballo, Ralfe having a place on the extreme left, and the French
pair next. Nearing the Bushes, Town Crier gave way to Claremont on the
extreme right, and Claremont was left in possession of a slight lead until half-
way down the Bushes Hill. Here Camballo, full of running, headed Claremont,
and headed the hill clear of everything. Fordham, however, came with a rush
in the last few hundred yards but never got up, and Camballo won in a canter
by two lengths from Picnic, who beat Breechloader a neck for second place ;
Claremont fourth, Balfe fifth, Craig Millar sixth. Leveret seventh, the last two
being Earl of Dartrey and Town Crier. Time of the race, 1 min. 46 sees.
The Rev. Mr. King — though it was only under the
nom de cours of Mr. " Launde " that the highly-respected
vicar of Ashby-de-la-Launde was familiar to the
sporting world, and then as the owner of the whilom
Derby favourite, Holy Friar, and the Oaks and
St. Leger heroine, Apology — died on Sunday afternoon,
9th May, 1875. Though he had been ailing for a long
time, the more immediate cause of death arose from
fracture of the thigh which befell him nearly twelve
months previously. After Mr. King won the St. Leger
of 1874, the then Bishop of Lincoln, within whose see
Ashby-de-la-Launde was situate, addressed a somewhat
serious remonstrance to Mr. King against him
associating himself with Turf matters, to which the
reverend gentleman responded by resigning his living,
addressing in reply a most caustic, gentlemanly
reminder to his lordship, of which the following is an
extract : —
" It is true that now for more than fifty years
I have bred, and have sometimes had in
training, horses for the Turf. They are horses
of a breed highly prized, which I inherited with
my estate, and have been in my family for
generations. It may be difficult, perhaps, to
decide what constitutes a scandal in the Church,
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 261
but I cannot think that in my endeavours to
perpetuate this breed, and thus improve the
horses in the country — an object of general
interest at the present moment — I have done
anything to incur your lordship's censure. I am
fully aware — as I think your lordship must be,
too, by this time — that legal proceedings upon
your part would be powerless against me, and
if, therefore, I resign the living which I hold
within your lordship's diocese, it will not be
from any consciousness of wrong, or from fear of
any consequences which might ensue in the.
ecclesiastical Courts, but simply because I
desire to live the remainder of my days in peace
and charity with all men, and to save your lord-
ship the annoyance, and the Church the scandal
of futile proceedings being taken against one
who has retired for some time from parochial
ministrations, and is lying on the bed of sickness
at this moment."
Mr. " Launde " in his time possessed first-class race-
horses, but he failed to carry off the big tliree-year-old
events until the year when, with Apology, he won the
One Thousand, the Oaks, the Coronation Stakes at
Ascot, and the St. Leger. By his death. Holy Friar
was disqualified for the Derby, the Bentinck Memorial
Stakes, and the Rous Stakes at Goodwood, the Zetland
Biennial and the Great Northern Leger at Stockton,
the Great Yorkshire Stakes, the Doncaster Stakes, and
the Don Stakes at Doncaster, the North Derby at
Newcastle-on-Tyne, and the Lambton Stakes at
Durham. The nominations of Hypocrisy, Apology,
Militant, Monk (by Hermit — Thorsday), Analogy, and
262
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
Hieroglyphic, which he owned at the time of his death,
also became void.
Apology's record during her career was running
twenty times, winning eight races of the value of
£14,445 ; and with the winnings of her sister, Agility,
Mr. " Launde " netted an aggregate sum of nearly
£21,000. It was through John Osborne's advice that
Mandragora was retained at Ashby by Mrs. King.
Mr. King's connection with Ashgill and the
Osbornes was unbroken until his death, the year after
Apology won the St. Leger. Considering the limited
extent of the worthy cleric's stud at Ashby, he had a fair
share of Fortune's favours, alike as a breeder and racer
of thoroughbreds. Lunatic was his beginning. She was
a half-sister to Bedlamite, and was presented to him
by his father, Colonel King, after his racing career was
ended. Lunatic was mated to Filho da Puta, and Bessy
Bedlam, who proved a smart mare, was the result.
Colonel King received Bessy Bedlam as a present from
his son, and a useful present it was, for she won a few
good races for him. Lunatic, indeed, was the tap root
of the parson's Turf fortunes, her daughter Moonbeam
by Tomboy breeding a few winners, but she did not
reallv distins^uished herself as a matron until she threw
Manganese by Birdcatcher.
Manganese's first essay in the Hopeful at Doncaster
was a failure, as she ran unplaced, but coming out
soon after at Beverley, and ridden by Robert Osborne,
she won the Bishop Burton Stakes on the Westwood,
which lies on the margin of the old minster town,
sacred to "Percy's shrine." Sixteen times old Man-
ganese faced the starter in her two-year-old season,
her best performance being when she won the Portland
Plate at Doncaster. Starting a 15 to 1 chance, she
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 263
won from the foiir-year-old Falcon, who was conceding
2 lbs. only for the two years' difference in their respec-
tive ages. She completed her two-year-old work by
succumbing by a head to Shelah, who was in receipt
of 32 lbs. in the Nursery over the Ditch Mile, her
impost being the steadier of 8 st. 10 lbs. over that
trying course. We have heard from Jolni Osborne's
own hps that it was his custom midway through the
" fifties " to go across to Mr. King's place at Ashby-
de-la-Launde on the mission of mixing a little hunting
with the equally congenial task of breaking in the
yearlings and handhng the foals. On his return to
Ashgill in the spring of 1856, he found that Manganese
had developed two curbs and had been well blistered
in his absence, but " Old Jolin's " careful nursing had
served to keep her sound. In the stable at the time
Vv^as a faithful " tale teller " in Cherry Brandy, who
rarely, if ever, led them astray. Lord Glasgow,
anxious to get a true gauge of Brother to Bird on the
Wing, a candidate for the Two Thousand, got the
services of Cherry Brandy with that object, the result
being that the latter was well beaten by the mmamed
one. Soon afterwards, Manganese was asked to give
Cherry Brandy 7 lbs. more than had been conceded to
Lord Glasgow's fancy, and coming with flying colours
out of the trial, old John Osborne entertained rosy
dreams of winning the One Thousand of that year, in
which Mincepie was the heralded champion of Dane-
bury and John Day. Manganese's bad hocks led John
Day still more strongly to fancy his own; but as
Brother to Bird on the Wing had run very well in the
Two Thousand, and knowing that Manganese was 7 lbs.
the better of the j^air, the confidence of Ashgill was
confirmed rather than shaken. John Day had expressed
264
ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
the opinion, which filtered into old John Osborne's ears,
that Manganese was only half-trained, and in that
behef he gave orders to his jockey to "cut her down
with a strong pace from pillar to post." But little did
the Danebury trainer know what a nailer they had
from the yet humble Ashgill stable. " Cut her doon ! "
exclaimed old John Osborne — " Out her doon, did he
say? We'll see aboot cuttin' doon. Noo, Johnnie, my
son, they want a pace; let 'em have one, and mind
w^hat aw tell thee," was old John's orders to Johnnie
as he sallied from the Birdcage on the parson's filly.
Full well were the orders carried out, for Manganese
had the Danebury filly sobbing at the distance, and she
won " Johnnie " his first classic by half a length. Her
One Thousand and Portland Plate victories were her
best performances, and finding that she was deterior-
ating as a racer, her career on the flat ended in 1858,
when she began her matronly duties at Ashby. Her
alliance with Rataplan brought the chestnut Mandra-
gora in 1860 — a small-sized, but " mouldy " filly, who
never realised the expectations that were pardonably
entertained of one of such high lineage. Her trial as a
two-year-old proved her worthless for racing, a like
disappointment resulting from her trial in the spring
as a three-year-old. Mr. King had almost made up his
mind to part with her for £30. On the recommendation
of old John Osborne, she was put to Weatherbit (owned
by " Old Jolm "), who was doing service at Mr. Jaques'
at Easby Abbey, and Mandrake at once established
Mandragora's value as a brood mare.
Manganese's best at the stud were The Miner, by
Rataplan; and his sister. Minaret, the latter proving
herself a smart two-year-old, but training off she went
early to the stud, her best being Mintdrop, the dam of
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 265
Peppermint and of Clinkumbell. With luck on his side
in an ordinary year, The Miner would have been a
classic horse. His defeat in the Three-Year-Old Produce
Stakes by Ely, who was conceding 3 lbs., Osborne
ascribes to the pace not being forced by anything in the
race. His promising career as a Cup horse was cut
short by a breakdown in the Cambridgeshire.
PRODUCE OF MANDRAGORA.
Bred by Mr. W. H. Brook in 1860, got by Rataplan, her dam Manganese,
by Birdcatcher, out of Moonbeam, by Tomboy.
1864 — ch c Mandrake, by Weatherbit.
1865- -bl or br c Skedaddler, by Skirmisher.
1866 — ch f Misadventure, by Adventurer.
1867 — b f Ability, by Adventurer.
1869— br f Muddle, by Moulsey.
1871 — ch f Apology, by Adventurer.
1872 — ch c (died), by Adventurer.
1875— b f Agile, by The Palmer.
1877 — ch f Lizzie Lindsay, by Scottish Chief.
1877— b f by Scottish Chief.
Barren in 186S, 1874, and 1876, and died in 1878.
Mandrake, as a yearling, came into Sir Robert
Jardine's ownership for 450 guineas. As a two-year-
old he paid his way by winning the Glasgow Stakes at
Ne^vmarket Houghton. In his three-year-old season he
won the Ebor Handicap and the Liverpool Autumn
Cup, adding further to his fame in the succeeding
year by beating the flying Achievement in the Ascot
Biennial and Juhus in the Doncaster Cup, these two
last exploits placing him on the high pinnacle of being
almost as good as anything of his year.
At York August Meeting of 1875 an artistic finish
was seen between Custance and Osborne, the former
on Louise Victoria and the latter on Thunder, in Her
Majesty's Plate — two miles. The actual strength of
the field was five, though no one cared to look further
2GG
ashgill; or, the life
for the winner than Mr. Cartwright's mare and Mr.
Vyner's game old horse. Slight odds were laid on the
mare for the very reason that Thunder was running out
of his distance, but so close and exciting was the finish
that few, if any, after the event had been decided, would
have had the temerity to lay 5 to 4 on the winner again.
Knowing the failing of Mr. Vyner's horse, Custance
kept forcing the pace on the mare, with Thunder lying
off until quarter of a mile from home, where Osborne
brought him up alongside of her. Custance now began
to bustle her up, with Johnnie sitting still as a statue.
Struggling on in the gamest manner possible, Louise
Victoria would never permit Thunder to leave her much,
and at the half-distance the latter began to feel the
pinch of the pace. Then the two artistic horsemen sat
down in earnest — no flogging with whips here — but
each jockey squeezing the last inch out with hands,
knees, and heels. Two or three strides from home
Thunder seemed to have won his race, but Custance
with one grand, final effort caused Mr. Cartwright's
mare to respond in a remarkable manner, and with such
effect that the shortest of heads was recorded in her
favour, though it was not until the winner's number had
been hoisted that uncertainty was dispelled, the struggle
home having been one of the finest ever witnessed on
a racecourse.
Though Osborne was " done " by " Cussy " in this
instance, in the second previous race to the one just
described— the Filly Sapling Stakes— he came off
trumps in a grand finish against Charley Wood. The
latter was on Mr. W. S. Mitchell-Innes's Goddess, who,
as the Nutbush filly, had done Mr. H. Chaplin good
service the previous season ; and " Johnnie " rode Mr.
Johnstone's Sister to Tipster. Odds of 5 to 2 were laid
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE
267
on Goddess, but didn't the fielders jubilate when they
saw " Johnnie," through a piece of smart horsemanship,
defeat the favourite a head. The " demon of Ashgill "
thus demonstrated that none of the younger generation
of jockeys could take liberties with him.
In the Ebor Handicap the same day the Ashgill
party made a mistake in assuming the superiority of
Apology (J. Osborne), four years, 9 st., over Lily Agnes,
four years, 8 st. 9 lbs., W. Wood (then attached to the
Ashgill stable, and who for a time was the successful
" coachman " of Grand Flaneur in many of his races)
being on the last named. Apology ran as the property
of Mr. Seabrook, which was the assumed name of Mrs.
King, the widow of Mr. King. Aventuriere was
favourite at 4 to 1, Harriet Laws second in demand at
6 to 1, with Apology quoted at 7 to 1, and Lily Agnes
at 10 to 1, the result being that Lily Agnes won in a
canter by a length and a half from Mr. Winter's Dis-
tinction, four years, 7 st. 7 lbs. (carried 7 st. 8 lbs.), with
Mr. Bowes' Polonaise, four years, 6 st. 12 lbs. (carried
6 St. 13 lbs. — F. Archer), third. Apology, who ran
through a lot of beaten horses, finishing sixth, just
behind Aventuriere. The dav after her Ebor victory,
Lily Agnes and Thunder struck their colours to Lord
Falmouth's three-year-old Spinaway in the York Cup,
Archer being on the last named, Mr. G. S. Thompson
on Thunder, and Osborne on Lily Agnes. It was
quite reasonable that Thunder, after making such a
fine front of it the previous day, should be made
favourite for this event. That he " ought " to have won
few who witnessed the race disputed. The horse
stopped to kick at the post in Mr. Thompson's hands,
and the other pair got a lead of nearly a furlong before
he took it into his head to gallop. As it was, he was
2G8 ashgill; or, the life
only defeated by a length and a half, Spinaway having
settled the Ebor winner a distance from home. It
may be further imagined how poor Thunder's chance
was impaired in this York Cup when it is stated that,
in addition to losing the distance mentioned at the
start, Mr. Thompson got his feet out of the stirrup
irons. Spinaway, who had won the Yorkshire Oaks
on the previous Tuesday, was one of the most " useful "
animals Lord Falmouth owned at this period, but it
must be admitted she was fortunate to beat Thunder,
her stable companion, in this York Cup.
The autumn of 1875 saw Mr. King's stud brought
under the hanmier. Mrs. King retained Apology,
unfortunately one would say, as the mare lost her form
and never really returned to it. There was brisk
bidding for the brood mares. When Mandragora was
brought into the ring Mr. Chaplin at once put her in
at 1000 guineas, but was soon opposed by Mr. Vyner,
Mr. Carew Gibson, and M. de Montgomery, who was
acting for Baron Rothschild. Mr. Vyner bid up to
2600 guineas and retired, and as M. de Montgomery
bid 2900 guineas it seemed ahiiost certain the mare
would go to France. Tom Blackman now chimed in
and opened his mouth to the extent of 3000 guineas.
Mr. Gibson then took up the running again, but was
beaten off, and the hammer fell to Mr. Blackman's bid
of 3250 guineas, and she went into Mr. Gee's stud.
By no means a bad price was tliis for a fifteen-year-old
mare. For her daughter the varminty Agility, and
own sister to Apology, the bidding was equally
spirited, Mr. Gee at last getting her for 2500 guineas
for the Dewhurst stud. Preventative, by Adventurer
out of Manganese, half-sister to Mandragora, was
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 2G9
bought to go to Australia for 1250 guineas, after Lord
Rosebery and Mr. Carew Gibson had tried to keep
her in England.
In no part of the kingdom did Osborne find warmer
admirers than in Newcastle, both in the old town, and
later at Gosforth, to which lovely demesne the races of
the " camiie toon " were transferred in 1882. In
evidence of their admiration of the " Bank of England
jockey," his Newcastle friends, with others, presented
him with the following illuminated address in 1875 : —
TO JOHN OSBORNE, BRECONGILL, MIDDLEHAM.
We, the undersigned, on behalf of the several subscribers to " The
Osborne Testimonial Fund," desire to express the feelings of admiration
and respect with which you are regarded.
For upwards of quarter of a century you have been connected
as jockey and trainer with the national sport of England. Several
of us have been intimately acquainted with you during the whole
of that period, and it is with pleasure we utter our testimony to
the honourable feeling and strict integrity which have ever marked
your doings.
You may look upon your career with the consciousness so dear to
the heart of every Englishman — that you have always striven to do
your duty. From the days when you were a youth you wore the
" chocolate " of Ashgill on the Black Doctor, Acyranthus, on Lambton,
and on Exact, up to these later times when you have been returned the
winning rider in many of the great races of the turf. The same strong
determination to do your very best with every mount entrusted to you
has been warmly recognised in you.
To only a few of your wonderful feats as a horseman we now refer,
but we cannot omit bringing back to memory the St. Leger in which
Lord Clifden, after appearing to be hopelessly out of the race, was by
your judgment, patience, and resolution, brought home a winner; nor
may we forget your brilliant finish on Pretender for the Derby of 1869,
your wonderful riding of that same horse in the Two Thousand Guineas,
your victories on Vedette, Bothwell, and Prince Charlie, for the Two
Thousand Guineas of '57, 72, and 73, and last on Camballo, or your
well-earned success during the season of 1874, your name will ever be
270 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE
associated with the prowess of Apology in the One Thousand Guineas,
and the St. Leger of hei- year.
Yours is a profession in which it happens that even the just and
upright man may fall under suspicion, but so well ordered has been
your conduct that at no time has the slightest whisper of falseness been
heard against your name. It is in recognition of a life so manly, so
blameless, that the subscribers to this testimonial now address you, and
we trust for many years to come we may yet see you in the active
discharge of the duties of your profession, the same modest, straight-
forward, unpretending man of principle that we have always known
you. We trust that in your public life you will continue to experience
the success which your sterling abilities cannot fail to command, and
that in your domestic relations happiness and peace may attend you.
Signed on behalf of the Subscribers —
'O
H. F. C. Vynee, Newby Hall.
R. C. Vyner, Fairfield.
Mr. "Laundb."
R. Jardine, Castlemilk.
R. N. Batt.
James Snarry.
Wm. Greaves.
Viscount Lascelles.
Richard Johnson.
Henry Bragg, Hon. Treasurer.
Joseph James Walton, Hon. Secretary.
Newcastle-on-Tyne, June SOth, 1875.
Death has been busy with the majority of those
whose names are affixed, those now no more being
Mr. H. F. C. Vyner, Mr. " Launde " (Mr. King), Mr.
R. N. Batt, Mr. Greaves (the Pontefract Giant), Mr.
Richard Johnson, Mr. Henry Bragg, and Mr. Walton.
Old "Judge" Johnson, Mr. Harry Bragg (of Grand
Flaneur and Victor Emanuel fame), and Mr. J. J.
Walton, a well-known North-country pressman, had
each a " Life " which, if told, would make a world of
Turf experiences. De mortuis nil nisi bonum.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 271
Throughout the season of 76 Thorn and Grand
Flaneur were still doing good service for Ashgill.
Speaking of the patronage of the Vyners, it is a fact
that John Osborne, senr., trained horses for Mr. Clare
Vyner. Mr. Robert Vyner afterwards came on the
scene, there being a sort of confederac}^ between the two
brothers and Mr. Charles Newcomen. The}^ also
engaged William Sanderson in the capacity of private
trainer, and he had a few horses of theirs under his
care at Hambleton. Mr. Clare Vyner continued his
patronage of Ashgill to the last, and, like his still living
brother Robert, proved a most loyal supporter of the
Osbornes.
Speaking of Glastonbury, owned by Mr. Clare
Vyner, John remarks —
" He was very bad as a two-year-old. The
next season he won three races, taking the Great
Northern as a four-year-old, and the next season
in 78 the Northumberland Plate. Rarely a year
passed away about this period without me having
a mount in the so-called ' Pitman's Derby ' on
Newcastle Town Moor, but somehow or other I
could never ride the winner of a race which often
enough I tried to win. Glastonbury's career
ended after his accident at Goodwood, being no
use for racing afterwards. Mr. Clare Vyner
made a present of him to his neighbour. Lord
Leconfield, for a hunting sire.
" In '78 we had Sir Amyas Leigh, who, as a
two-year-old, won the Seaton Delaval at New-
castle; also Palmbearer, second in the Derby;
Lartington, a Manchester Cup and Cumberland
Plate winner ; and Fabius, winner of the Salf ord
Borough Handicap.
2~2 ashgill; or, the life
"Lartington won us a few races. He was
bred by Mr. Deighton, about Barnard Castle
way. Mr. Harry Bragg bought him as a
yearUng, and he was the joint jDroperty of him
and Mr. John Martin.
" Victor Emanuel was always a useful horse.
You remember he won the first Northumberland
Plate run at Gosforth Park in '82, that being the
first meeting held there, the Company leaving
the old Newcastle Town Moor, where the races
had been held for so many years. After Mr.
Bragg's death in '83, 'Victor' was bought at
the sale for 2000 guineas by Lord Zetland. His
best performance was at York, giving a lot of
weight to BaHol. I rode him in the Ebor at
York, and Billy Piatt steered him in the
Northumberland Plate."
Ashgill had a useful team of horses running in
1879. Notable amongst them was Mr. R. N. Batt's
Castlereagh, who gave our hero a comfortable winning
mount in the Great Northern Handicap at York
Spring, Grand Flaneur also carrying him to success in
the Lonsdale Plate at Doncaster Spring, with Palm-
bearer winning the Spring Handicap and the Chester-
field Handicap at the same meeting. Castlereagh did
not run in public as a two-year-old, but in '78 made
his mark as a stayer and a colt of good class. That
year he won the Lambton Stakes at Durham, the North
Derby at Newcastle, and the Great Yorkshire Stakes,
but failed to get a place in the St. Leger. When in
receipt of a stone he beat Touchet for the Edinburgh
Gold Cup ; was second in the Great Metropolitan ;
and finished up in brilliant form by taking the Great
Northern Handicap at York.
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 273
In 79 John Osborne nearly brought off a great
cou]) with Palmbearer, owned by Mr. Trotter and
trained at Ashgill, by riding him into second jolace
behind Sir Bevys, on whom Fordham gained his first
and only Derby. That same Epsom Meeting he rode
Mr. I'Anson's Coromandel II. into second place behind
Lord Falmouth's beautiful filly Wheel of Fortune in
the Oaks. In Sir Bevys's Derby Lord Eosebery's
Visconti was third. The " Primrose Earl " betted in
those days, and his colt at one part of the race had an
even money chance of winning the £50,000 for which
he had backed him. With Sir Bevys out of the way,.
John Osborne was heard to say after the race that
Visconti would, in all probability, have beaten him, for
he had Pahnbearer beaten a long way from home, and
staying on, as Mr. Trotter's colt did, it was open to
doubt whether singlehanded he would have been able
to make Visconti strike his colours. At Doncaster
Spring Meeting Palmbearer had displayed staying
powers which induced his owner to nm him on the
off-chance for the Derby. The stable commission
amounted to 200 to 1 for a win, and 1000 to 30 for a
place. For Osborne to get second in the Derby with a
200 to 1 chance, and the same position on a filly that
started at 40 to 1 for the Oaks may fairly be said to
be provoking hard hues.
Others of the team that did the stable yeoman
service in the season of 79 were Bargee, Hazelnut, Fairy
Queen, Experiment, Lartington, Brown George, The
Rowan, Evening Chimes, Arne, Gildersbeck, Horizon,
Garterless, Fabius, Omega (a game good little horse),
Crookston, Skehnorhe, and Leven, all of whom
reached the winning post and paid their way.
The Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot this season will
T
274 ashgill; or, the life
long be memorable for the great race between Chippen-
dale, three years, 8 st. 8 lbs., and Silvio, five years, 9 st.
12 lbs. — Osborne riding Lord Bradford's colt, and
Archer Lord Falmouth's five-year-old, v^ho was a
favourite mount of the latter's, and had carried him
home successfully in the Derby of two years before. It
was a most exciting set-to between the two great jockeys,
John just defeating his younger rival by a head, to the
great delight of his patron, Lord Bradford. This, one
of the several tussles Osborne had during his career
with Archer, revealed the fact that when it came to
fine, resolute riding, " The Pusher " was as good as
" The Tinman."
After the race a story was told at Newmarket which,
in a measure, throws some light upon Chippendale's
defeat of Silvio. Archer about this period had been
carrying everything before him, and became so conceited
that no man believed more in Mr. Archer the man than
Fred Archer the jockey. He was heard to say at
Manchester there was no steward who dare suspend
him. He had the bad taste to hector George Fordliam
at the starting post for the Royal Hunt Cup.
" George " took it very quietly. " You have taken a
liberty with me. Mister Archer," he said, " and I will
teach you to act differently. I may not do it now; I
shall probably wait till you are on something that you
fancy yourself about ; you must not take a liberty with
George." The right moment came. Archer was on
the crack mount Silvio. Fordham was riding in the
same race, and he made the running. Presently Archer
came up on Silvio and called out, " Pull on one side."
Fordham did not pull on one side. Archer then tried
to come round, but Fordham saw, he thought, some
better going in the middle of the course and made for
it. In all that he did there was not the slightest room
AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 275
for objection, and yet he most effectually prevented
Archer winning the race. Never was a jockey so
thoroughly paid with his own coin. " I do not think
Archer will ever take a liberty with ' George ' again,"
said Fordham, as he dismounted. " Never was there
a fairer or more generous rider than Fordham," added
John Corlett, who related the above anecdote at the
time. In riding, he never even availed himself of the
advantages he was entitled to, nor could he ever be
induced to make an objection unless the case was most
outrageous. So much could not be said o 
