AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 29 



Iii the spring of 1837 John Osborne, senior, entered 

 upon the occupation of Ashgill, and remained its tenant 

 until his death, from cancer, in 1865. The first three 

 animals he owned were Wrestler and Orcus, whom he 

 bought from the Duke of Leeds, and Miss Bowe, the 

 dam of Longbow, sire of Toxophilite. Orcus proved a 

 useful but unlucky purchase, for after winning three 

 races in 1837, he fell in a race at Manchester and 

 succumbed to the accident soon afterwards. Miss Bowe 

 also distinguished herself that year by beating General 

 Chasse by a head, weight for age, at Manchester, after 

 which performance Lord Stanley, subsequently the 

 great Lord Derby " the Rupert of debate " then a 

 young man, and who was the life-long friend of the 

 choleric but eccentric Lord Kelburne (who in turn 

 assumed the higher title of Lord Glasgow), purchased 

 Miss Bowe for 400 guineas. At this period John Fobert 

 at Spigot Lodge was the neighbour of old John Osborne, 

 and making his mark as a trainer. Fobert's great patron 

 was Sir James Boswell, of Auchinleck, N.B., where it 

 was customary for his horses to be quartered in the 

 winter, then to be travelled south to Middleham in 

 the spring to be prepared for their engagements. 

 General Chasse 7 stood at Ashgill when he w 7 as trained 

 for the St. Leger, and so did Lord Sligo's Bran, the 

 latter being trained by Murphy. Between Fobert and 

 Murphy there existed a deep-rooted rivalry arising from 

 Bran beating General Chasse' in the St. Leger. That 

 " The General " was a nailing good horse at the time 

 was proved by his victory over Touchstone in the 

 Liverpool St. Leger, the horse further confirming his 

 excellence when he vanquished Camel's illustrious son 

 as a four-year-old over the same course. So it may be 

 gathered that old John Osborne began his career at 



