AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 287 



kicking out fiercely, and it was said that the lads in the 

 stable often enough teased him to see how far he could 

 kick. He got tired of this sort of treatment, and one 

 day he savaged the stable lad, who, in resentment, 

 damaged the poor brute's eye with a pitchfork, this 

 piece of villainy being found out afterwards by William 

 Osborne. 



If Grand Flaneur did not inherit the stamina of his 



sire, old Saunterer, he was certainly a credit to him for 



soundness and speed. Built on a heavy scale, he always 



had a " leggy " appearance. In his short paces his action 



did not fill the eye, but when fully extended his stride 



was enormous and his speed terrific in the last furlong 



of a race. His soundness was attested by the fact of his 



being on active service for eleven seasons, his great 



forte being speed over five and six furlong " cuts." His 



waywardness at the post occasionally stopped him. 



Two Portland Plates to his name are tributes to his 



speed. He won the first in 73 at 33 to 1, carrying 



7 st. 3 Ibs., and defeating twenty-two others. The next 



3 7 ear, with 8 st. 10 Ibs. in the saddle, the scrimmage at 



the last Doncaster bend disappointed him; but in 75, 



with 7 st. 10 Ibs. as his burden, and starting at 100 to 



8, he won by a head from Queen of the Bees, on whom 



Archer made one of his most brilliant efforts, the 



number of runners being twenty-six. Throughout his 



racing career he was trained by the Osbornes, " Mr. 



John" being frequently on his back and riding some 



of his grandest finishes on him. 



Through his brilliant connection as a horseman with 

 Chippendale, a warm friendship was cemented between 

 Lord Bradford and Osborne, .who refers to it as 

 follows : 



" I used to ride frequently for Lord Brad- 



