AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 375 



affect him over the mile and a half. Both Ormonde 

 and Minting had won their trials during the week in 

 decisive fashion, and the " Two Thousand " battle was to 

 be fought over again to the death. Then, in regard to 

 Bendigo, the critics were disposed to renew their 

 admiration for him as a foe worthy of the steel of the 

 two great four-year-olds. They queried, " Would the 

 handicap horse be found of better class than the aristo- 

 cratic champion ? " In his notes on the race at the 

 time, Mr. Corlett said, " John Osborne, who never rode 

 a better race in his life, and who, notwithstanding he 

 had celebrated his jubilee, can still teach the youngsters 

 something, sent Minting along as hard as he could pelt 

 with the obvious intent of finding out the weak spot 

 in Ormonde, should it exist. Bendigo, meanwhile, 

 though always upsides with the other twain, never gave 

 one the impression of actually going to win, though 

 many of those that said so felt queer when he made 

 his final challenge. Minting had kept his forced lead 

 till past the bottom turn, where Ormonde came up and 

 overhauled him. It is just possible that Osborne kept a 

 little bit up his sleeve at that point, for the ways of the 

 1 Old Pusher ' are marvellous, and it was undoubted that 

 Minting looked like coming away again two hundred 

 yards from the finish. At the same moment, Bendigo 

 made his effort, but the two juniors went away from 

 him at once. The Duke's colt came again under 

 Cannon's velvet hands, not to mention the very vigorous 

 application of the 'gaffs,' while Minting got a couple 

 of solid rib benders that he would not forget in a hurry. 

 Ormonde, however, running on straight as possible, won 

 by a neck. Why on earth a usually phlegmatic crowd 

 of Britons took occasion to go stark, staring mad is 

 rather more than can be readily explained. Certain, 



