AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 195 



on the Two Thousand hero had a slight advantage till 

 within fifty yards of the chair, when Wells by a magnifi- 

 cent effort, answered most gallantly by Pero Gomez, 

 drew level, and, indeed, appeared to get the better of 

 Kim, but the son of Adventurer and Ferina was fully 

 equal to the great and trying occasion, as he gamely 

 responded to Osborne's determined call, and won one of 

 the grandest races ever witnessed by a head, justifying 

 the short price of 5 to 4 taken about him at the start, 

 Pero Gomez's quotation being 5 to 1. In such a close 

 finish the hoisting of the winning number was 

 anticipated with great suspense, but when No. 4 

 announced Pretender as the victor the cheering was 

 terrific; and the Northerners, almost frantic with 

 delight, surrounded the horse as he returned to weigh 

 in, and gave way to the wildest excitement. The time 

 of the race was 2 mins. 52^ sees., and the net value of 

 the stakes 6225 gs. 



After the race, Wells, who was evidently under the 

 impression that he had won, rode his horse back 

 smiling. He was greeted with enthusiastic cheers, for 

 not only Sir Joseph Hawley's cherry jacket, but 

 Wells also, was popular with the multitude. Great 

 enthusiasm was displayed when Johnnie Osborne, 

 preceded by Martin Starling on his grey cob, rode back 

 Pretender into the saddling paddock. The success of 

 Pretender was well received by city men, and by the 

 mercantile world, with whom his nominal owner, Mr. 

 Johnstone, was deservedly popular. When they 

 returned Pero Gomez seemed the lesser distressed horse 

 of the two, and Johnnie Osborne confessed that he 

 didn't wish to meet him again when he rode Pretender 

 in the St. Leger or any other race. 



