AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 283 



gained by Mr. Whittaker's Experiment considerably 

 augmenting the stable winnings in a few instances, as 

 also did old Grand Flaneur, and Laurel Leaf, one of 

 " Mr. John's " own animals. 



Grand Flaneur's end was as tragic as it was 

 dramatic. His owner, Mr. Harry Bragg, like John 

 Osborne, senior, was disposed to make his horses 

 " sweat to win t' brass." Being a gelding, the son of 

 Saunterer was useless for stud purposes. The handi- 

 cappers were so severe on the old slave in his decline 

 that he was given no chance, and losing his speed with 

 the weight of years, he was not good enough to win 

 selling races. Mr. Bragg had an idea of making a 

 " flapper " of him at meetings not " under the rules." 

 However, better counsels prevailed, and he gave him 

 as a present to the late Dr. Luke Armstrong, of 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne. The worthy doctor had specially 

 built a smart hansom cab, in which the gelding was 

 driven about Newcastle streets for a brief period. 

 However degraded was the old warrior's position in 

 the shafts, the doctor was very proud of sitting behind 

 a winner of two Portland Plates (a performance never 

 before or since equalled) as he went the round of his 

 numerous patients. One day his pride and confidence 

 were shattered. In a fit of temper, Grand Flaneur 

 kicked out furiously, smashed the hansom almost to 

 atoms, and it was only by the narrowest shave that the 

 doctor escaped with his life. Grand Flaneur thence- 

 forth was released from cab life. 



He was sent to the late Mr. James Anderson, a 

 well-known citizen of Newcastle-on-Tyne, who mixed 

 his passion for hunting with an extensive connection as 

 a wholesale wine and spirit merchant. One afternoon 



