AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 269 



bought to go to Australia for 1250 guineas, after Lord 

 Rosebery and Mr. Carew Gibson had tried to keep 

 her in England. 



In no part of the kingdom did Osborne find warmer 

 admirers than in Newcastle, both in the old town, and 

 later at Gosforth, to which lovely demesne the races of 

 the " cannie toon " were transferred in 1882. In 

 evidence of their admiration of the " Bank of England 

 jockey," his Newcastle friends, with others, presented 

 him with the following illuminated address in 1875 : 



TO JOHN OSBORNE, BRECONGILL, MIDDLEHAM. 



WE, the undersigned, on behalf of the several subscribers to " The 

 Osbonie Testimonial Fund," desire to express the feelings of admiration 

 and respect with which you are regarded. 



For upwards of quarter of a century you have been connected 

 as jockey and trainer with the national sport of England. Several 

 of us have been intimately acquainted with you during the whole 

 of that period, and it is with pleasure we utter our testimony to 

 the honourable feeling and strict integrity which have ever marked 

 your doings. 



You may look upon your career with the consciousness so dear to 

 the heart of every Englishman that you have always striven to do 

 your duty. From the days when you were a youth you wore the 

 " chocolate " of Ashgill on the Black Doctor, Acyranthus, on Lambton, 

 and on Exact, up to these later times when you have been returned the 

 winning rider in many of the great races of the turf. The same strong 

 determination to do your very best with every mount entrusted to you 

 has been warmly recognised in you. 



To only a few of your wonderful feats as a horseman we now refer, 

 but we cannot omit bringing back to memory the St. Leger in which 

 Lord Clifden, after appearing to be hopelessly out of the race, was by 

 your judgment, patience, and resolution, brought home a winner; nor 

 may we forget your brilliant finish on Pretender for the Derby of 1869, 

 your wonderful riding of that same horse in the Two Thousand Guineas, 

 your victories on Vedette, Bothwell, and Prince Charlie, for the Two 

 Thousand Guineas of '57, '72, and '73, and last on Camballo, or your 

 well-earned success during the season of 1874:, your name will ever be 



