John Osborne. 185 



not win that race, in the process of years it fell with 

 Caractacus to the young Rugby V.S. (Mr. Snewing), 

 who attended him. 



Such was poor John's Eaton episode with the 

 Derby, and he did not care for another season as 

 guardian of the yellow jacket, which was enough to 

 give him the jaundice. Maria Day, a very sweet 

 little animal, and Job Marson very nearly put things 

 right at Doncaster ; but " The Yeoman" was in the 

 way, and John was not sorry to have his crust of 

 bread and liberty, and begin at the bottom ring of the 

 ladder of fame once more. The Heir by Inheritor 

 was one of his horses, but it was a sad weary time, 

 although with George Abdale, his future son-in-law, 

 to ride, he did a little for his employers, and on his 

 own account, till his son and heir, the redoubtable 

 " Johnny" appeared in the saddle. We remember the 

 old man quite opening out (for him) in the train one 

 day about his lad, and his delight that Sir Joseph had 

 engaged him to ride at 5st. 61bs. on Van Diemen in 

 the Goodwood Stakes. The next year (1850) brought 

 the great turn in his family fortunes with Black 

 Doctor. The little horse ran four times, and did 

 nothing, then he began to " come," and lost his 

 maidenhood in that grand Eglinton Stakes finish, 

 which he won by a neck from Beehunter and Nancy, 

 and had Neasham, Payment, Pitsford, and Mildew 

 behind him as well. The black went in the course of 

 the week to Mr. Saxon for 800 guineas, and henceforth 

 the star of Osborne and Ashgill steadily rose. John 

 was marked dangerous for his two-year-olds, and his 

 great axiom of " if they are to be sweated, let them 

 sweat" (not on Middleham Moor* for love, but all 

 over England) " for the brass," stood him in fine stead. 

 As an early tryer and bringer out of ripe two-year- 



* For a description of Middleham Moor, see "Silk and Scarlet," 

 p. 136. 



