344 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



Fred Webb, who was admitted to be the finest walker 

 in. the profession. 



George Johnson served his apprenticeship at 

 Ashgill from 1874 to 1879, and after^vards acted as 

 head lad to Fred Bates at Tupgill for some years. He 

 used to " do up " Bersaglier, one of the horses which Mr. 

 R. N. Batt entrusted to the Osbornes, and who won 

 the Great Yorkshire Handicap for him in 1876. 

 Johnson was wasting to ride Bersaglier in the Ascot 

 Stakes that year, and after working hard to get do-wm 

 to the weight, he failed by 2 lbs. " Mr. John " could 

 not give the ovenveight away until he saw Mr. Batt, 

 who, on being asked about it, said, " I will not give an 

 ounce away." When " Mr. John " came back and con- 

 veyed Mr. Batt's words, Johnson, who had nothing 

 on his stomach and being released of the mount, 

 indulged in a sandwich to appease the pangs of hunger. 

 Half an hour afterwards Mr. Batt, having failed to get 

 a jockey, said Johnson could ride the horse, but when 

 the lad got into the scales he had gained 6 lbs. in the 

 half -hour as a result of eating the sandwich. To give 

 that weight away was out of the question, so W. 

 Chesterman, who even had to declare 2 lbs. over^veight, 

 got the mount and was beaten half a length by White- 

 bait. Bersaglier was spurred to such an extent 

 between the girths and the shoulders that he could 

 scarcely walk from the course. Johnson declares that 

 he would certainly have won on Bersaglier, as he knew 

 his peculiarities so well. He was a difficult horse to 

 ride, as he bore away to one side tremendously and 

 took a deal of keeping straight. Fred Bates always 

 declares that Johnson was one of the best stablemen he 

 ever came across, a tribute which, in a sense, reflects 



