AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 287 



kicking out fiercely, and it was said that the lads in the 

 stable often enough teased him to see how far he could 

 kick. He got tired of this sort of treatment, and one 

 day he savaged the stable lad, who, in resentment, 

 damaged the poor brute's eye with a pitchfork, this 

 piece of villainy being found out afterwards by William 

 Osborne. 



If Grand Flaneur did not inherit the stamina of his 

 sire, old Saimterer, he was certainly a credit to him for 

 soundness and speed. Built on a heavy scale, he always 

 had a " leggy " appearance. In his short paces his action 

 did not fill the eye, but when fuUy extended his stride 

 was enormous and his speed terrific in the last furlong 

 of a race. His soundness w^as attested by the fact of his 

 being on active service for eleven seasons, his great 

 forte being speed over five and six furlong " cuts." His 

 waywardness at the post occasionally stopped him. 

 Two Portland Plates to his name are tributes to his 

 speed. He won the first in '73 at 33 to 1, carrying 

 7 St. 3 lbs., and defeating twenty-two others. The next 

 year, with 8 st. 10 lbs. in the saddle, the scrimmage at 

 the last Doncaster bend disappointed him; but in '75, 

 with 7 St. 10 lbs. as his burden, and starting at 100 to 

 8, he won by a head from Queen of the Bees, on whom 

 Archer made one of his most brilliant efforts, the 

 number of runners being twenty-six. Throughout his 

 racing career he was trained by the Osbornes, "Mr. 

 John " being frequently on his back and riding some 

 -of his grandest finishes on him. 



Through his brilliant connection as a horseman with 

 Chippendale, a warm friendship was cemented between 

 Lord Bradford and Osborne, who refers to it as 

 follows : — 



" I used to ride frequently for Lord Brad- 



