The Revs. H. P. Costobadie and J. W. King 59 



EPSOM. The Oaks. 



Mr, Launde's " Apology " J. Osborne 1. 5 to 2 



Mr. Lefevre's " Miss Toto " Fordham 2. 7 to 4 



Mr. East's " Lady Patricia " J. Goater 3. 5 to 1 



Eleven ran. " Miss Toto " favourite. 



DONCASTER. The St. Leger. 



Mr. Launde's " Apology " J. Osborne 1. 4 to 1 



Sir R. Buckeley's " Leolinus " T. Osborne 2. 7 to 1 



Mr. R. Marshall's " Trent " T.Cannon 3. 5 to 1 



Thirteen ran. 



The Rev. J. W. King was in another interesting St. Leger 

 just ten years earUer. In 1864, when " Blair Atholl " won, he 

 had a horse called the " Minor " which beat " Blair Atholl " a 

 few weeks previously in the Great Yorkshire Stakes with 

 J. Osborne riding. The race was a desperate one, " Blair Atholl " 

 being beaten by a head. Perhaps " Blair Atholl " was short 

 of a gallop or two at the time of the Great Yorkshire Stakes. 

 In fact, it must have been one of those flukes that are not 

 uncommon in racing, for the " Minor " was soundly beaten by 

 " Blair Atholl " in the St. Leger. The " Minor " was not even 

 in the first three. 



The vicar's 1874 St. Leger, although won under the assumed 

 name, aroused the ecclesiastical ire of his Bishop. Fame had 

 effectually swept aside the thin disguise afforded by the " Mr. 

 Launde," and it was evidently felt in high places that'his racing 

 tastes were unbecoming. 



In due course his Bishop wrote him letters that I have been 

 unable to trace, but the following is the vicar's sturdy reply, 

 which serves well enough to give us an idea of what the Bishop 

 had been saying : 



" From the owner of ' Apology ' to the Bishop oj Lincoln. 



" My Lord, 



" I observe with pain that your Lordship has thought 

 fit to publish your last letter to myself. Your Lordship is 

 aware that I was unable at the time to reply in person, being 

 disabled by an accident which has confined me to my bed, but 

 the publication of your Lordship's letter compels me at whatever 

 cost to do so now. 



