AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 429 



degeneration in the stoutness of the modern race- 

 horse ; really, I cannot point to the cause of it." 



Osborne's firmly expressed belief in action as a 

 Drimal attribute in the horse recalls the story of a 

 lignitary of the Church a reputed good judge. When 

 isked what he considered the first point in a horse, 

 E Action," was the reply. " And what do you consider 

 he second best point ? " " Action," again was the reply. 

 'And the third best?" "Action!" thundered the 

 )relate, with greater emphasis than ever on the word. 



As bearing upon the views of Osborne, it may be 

 nteresting to repeat the following interview with 

 Dharles Lund, the Malton trainer. The extract is taken 

 :rom some notes we published in 1899, entitled 

 ( Amongst the Yorkshire Trainers." It runs as 

 f ollows : 



Though by no means an old trainer, being just better than half-way 

 arough the "fifties," Charles Lund's memories of racing trace back 

 lore than forty years. On the occasion of my visit to Spring Cottage 

 ; happened to be his birthday, and after the levee in the stables, the 

 ivitation to place my feet under his mahogany was irresistible. I 

 3minded him that John Osborne's birthday was the following day, 

 anuary 7th, and that the veteran would then be entering into his 

 ixty-sixth year, or some ten years older than my host. " A wonderful 

 mn is old John Osborne," exclaims Lund, "and a credit to his profession 

 i all ways of life. We have lived together at Goodwood, York, 

 rosforth, in fact all over the country, and a more sensible or a more 

 smperate man it would be impossible to meet. I had forgotten all 

 bout this being my birthday, and we must celebrate it in some sort of 

 ray." So, after lunch, for which the fresh wolds air had excited a 

 een appetite, we cracked about old times over a bottle of "tawny" 

 rom the Whitewall bin that had come into my host's possession at the 

 ale. Many subjects were interspersed in the " crack " that ensued, and 

 n interesting three hours speedily passed away. Comparing the past 

 nth the present, Lund remarked, "Present-day training is quite 

 ifferent to what it was when I was a boy under old John Scott, 

 oseph Dawson was the first trainer to begin getting two-year-olds 



