162 



ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



heard of but one man who could thoroughly tackle him 

 over weights and make him ring hurriedly for his 

 slippers at the inn and say, ' I think I'll be off to bed.' 



" The last time we saw him was at the Doncaster 

 Meeting. He came in that long trainer's train in which 

 Blair Athol's box was placed before General Peel's, and 

 so many accepted the omen. There was the crush-hat 

 and the salmon-coloured handkerchief looking out of the 

 train, and then old John descended and walked up the 

 line, but took no part as ' Johnnie ' unshipped The Miner. 

 There seemed a worm at the root then, and we felt sure 

 he would never see another St. Leger. He came to the 

 town once more for the Spring Meeting, whose first 

 Hopeful Stakes he had won with Saunterer ; but he was 

 hardly seen out again, and he was on his deathbed ere 

 Stockbridge came round, and henceforth all the entries 

 were made in John Osborne, junior's, name. That con- 

 firmed in words what the racing world had long known 

 too well by report, that the old man's days were 

 numbered. His was a homely style and a homely school, 

 but it was a most efficient one, and few, if any, can boast 

 of having reared up such jockeys as John Osborne, 

 Chaloner, and Harry Grimshaw, who all began their 

 saddle life in his colours." * 



Thus denuded of its inmates by the sale, a fresh start 

 had to be made at Ashgill. Good luck did not come to 

 them at once, for three mares missed their foals and 

 were sold afterwards. One of the new employers was 

 Mr. Harry Bragg, a Newcastle sportsman, whose lots 

 purchased at the sale were left in the stable to be 

 trained; and two yearlings John himself had bought, 



* For permission to extract the above from " The Druid's " work 

 we have to thank Mr. Tresham Gilbey, the proprietor of the copyright 

 of that great writer's series of most entertaining books. 



