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, 



