^^^ ashgill; or, the life 



"They do not vegetate on every gooseberry bush. 

 Eagles do not bring forth doves." Though talent may 

 run in families, it is not alv^ays hereditary— 



"With different talents formed 

 We variously excel." 



Each generation has boasted its favourite since 

 Frank Buckle flourished in the period extending from 

 1783 to 1832. And be it said here, that Frank Buckle 

 throughout his career enjoyed a reputation for skill 

 in his profession, and spotless integrity in his conduct, 

 that runs parallel with the character of John Osborne. 



Constant practice from early childhood is a great 

 factor in acquiring the art of horsemanship ; but if the 

 genius for jockeyship be not inborn, any amount of 

 practice will fail to produce the beau ideal There is 

 an impalpable animal magnetism between man and 

 horse which is really a gift and cannot be acquired. 

 Looking through the vista of the past, we may recount 

 the names of great horsemen in Francis Buckle, Samuel 

 Chifney (the younger), Harry Edwards, J. B. Day, 

 Wm. Scott, Tommy Lye, Job Marson, Sam Rogers, 

 Elnathan Flatman, Francis Butler, Alfred Day, " Tiny " 

 Wells, Thomas French, and Thomas Aldcroft. Coming 

 to a later epoch, George Fordham was facile ^rinceps ; 

 and in his period stand out masters in Fred Archer, Jim 

 Snowden, Fred Webb, John Watts, Tom Cannon, 

 Harry Custance, Charles Wood, and last, though not 

 least, John Osborne, who, in point of age, if not in 

 absolute artistic eminence, stands out 'primus 

 Homanorum. 



In judging the subtleties of jockeyship, one is almost 

 inclined to beheve in the Pythagorean idea of the trans- 

 migration of souls, for it is often evidenced that a horse 

 runs much more generously in the hands of a certain 



