AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 213 



you couldn't make him do his best in a trial, 

 especially in the latter part of his time." 

 Truly enough, as our hero remarks, Thorn was a 

 handsome horse, showing all the truth of mould and 

 power of his Alice Hawthorn descent. He was got in 

 1870 by King of Trumps out of Lady Alice Hawthorn 

 (bred by Mr. T. Hewitt in 1859), got by Newminster; 

 her dam Lady Hawthorn by Windbound, out of Alice 

 Hawthorn by Muley Muloch out of Rebecca. Mr. 

 R. N. Batt's connection with Ashgill and the Osbornes 

 lasted over several seasons; Thorn, without doubt, 

 being the best horse he ever owned, more than paying 

 his way during an active career. He ran eleven times 

 as a two-year-old, making his first appearance at 

 Newcastle in 72, when with 6 to 4 on him he was 

 unexpectedly beaten by a filly by Lambton out of 

 Eapparee's dam. Unsuccessful at Pontefract, he ran 

 second to the smart Cceur de Lion for the Prince of 

 Wales Stakes at York, but gave " Johnnie " a winning 

 mount in the Gimcrack Stakes that same meeting on 

 Knavesmire; Agility that same day also scoring 

 for him a bracket in the York Cup, the Ashgill 

 filly, then more than useful, defeating Albert Victor 

 in a desperate finish by a head. Reappearing for the 

 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, Thorn was second 

 to Kaiser, but captured the Bradgate Park Stakes 

 next day, ridden by Busby, one of the Ashgill jockeys 

 at that period. As a three-year-old he came out in 

 stronger colours, winning seven out of his twelve essays. 

 Beginning in the spring, he took the Tyro Stakes at 

 Durham; the Derby Trial at Newmarket, beating 

 Bertram by a head; then went to Ascot, Busby 

 winning the Gold Vase on him, with smart animals 

 like Hannah, Struan, Dutch Skater, Lilian, and others 



i 



