The Revs. H. P. Costobadie and J. W. King 57 



hunting parson, the Rev. Cecil Legard the best known for 

 hunting and racing together, while the Rev. J. W. King un- 

 doubtedly leads the van for racing alone, although he was only- 

 seen three times on a race-course, and his real name as an ov;ner 

 was little known to the general public until his sensational St. 

 Leger, which he won with " Apology " and was followed by an 

 altercation with his Bishop. 



He was vicar of Ashby Launde in Lincolnshire, and inherited 

 his racing stable from his brother, and before him his father. 

 Colonel King. In later years he kept a curate to do most of the 

 parish v/ork and devoted his time to the care of his stud and 

 estate, with Mr. John Osborne as his trainer. 



Mr. King did not bet, and, as I have already indicated, he 

 was seldom on a course, but it is questionable if any other 

 parson has ever had such a list of big wins to his credit. He 

 was a great believer in the national value of the stock he bred, 

 as is shown in his not very penitent letter to his Bishop, which 

 I give further on. For many years he bred regularly for sale, 

 " Moonbeam " and " Idolatry " being two of his best brood- 

 mares. 



Mr. John Osborne, the veteran trainer of all the parson's 

 best-known horses, is still alive, I am glad to say, and celebrated 

 his eighty -fifth birthday sometime ago. It is to him that I am 

 indebted for many details connected with Mr. King's racing 

 career, which might otherwise have remained unrecorded ; and 

 the photograph of Mr. King has not to my knowledge ever 

 before been published. 



" Brilliant " was the first horse the vicar sent to the Os- 

 bornes : that was in 1851. He was a nice-looking colt and the 

 last son of " Bessy Bedlam." In the following year " Incense " 

 and others came to join him. After this the Osbornes, father 

 and son, had all the vicar's horses to train that were not 

 sold. 



Mr. King ran his horses under the name of " Mr. Launde," 

 and his colours were inedium blue body, with red sleeves and 

 cap, registered at Wetherby's in the 'fifties. 



Taking all things into consideration, there has been no more 

 sensational St. Leger during the last sixty years than that won 

 by the parson's " Apology." Everyone at Doncastcr was 

 excited at the prospect of the meeting between " George 



