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 



