SOME VETERANS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 301, 4 December 1931, Page 3

SOME VETERANS

OF THE PIGSKIN. At the Melbourne Cup meeting this year, writes “Beacon” in the Melbourne “Leader,” one of the most popular victories was that of Mulera in the Carnival Handicap. Tho applause that broke out was not for the Violoncello colt, but for his rider, R. Lewis, who with one of his characteristic strong finishes had won the race by a head. A day or two later Lewis celebrated his 53rd birthday. Very few riders retain their form for so long. Among the best jockeys in England are Donoghue, Carslake, Childs and Fox, each of whom is well into the 40's. Donoghue was born in 1884, so is 47 years of age. Carslake and Childs would be much the same. Fox, who last year headed the list of jockeys in England for the first time, is now 43 years of age. They, however, are little more than past tho “youngsters’ ago” compared with some former jockeys of renown. "Bank of England” Jockey. Even most of these, however, pale into insignificance before John Osborne, who died in England a few years ago. Osborne was frequently referred to as the “Bank of England jockey,” ami “The Pusher.” The first quoted sobriquet described his character. John Osborne had his first mount in public in 1846. The last classic in which he rode was the St. Leger at Do. ’ter in 1892, when he was third on Watercrass. Osborne had his last ride in public when he took the mount on Llanthony in the Triennial Produce Stakes at Newmarket on 28th September, 1892. He was persuaded to get up ou this colt in order to finish his great career with a win. Although Llanthony started at 9 to 2 on, he failed by two lengths to beat Adoration. John Osborne was born on 7th January, 1833, so he was very nearly 60 years of age at the time he rode his last race. For years afterwards he rode his horses in their work at Middleham Moor. He rode Tho Gulleh in most of his work for the Chester Cup, which he won in 1913. Osborne, then 80 years of age, rode The Guller the full Chester Cup course the day before the race. Osborne was in his 84th year when he rode his last trial. This was on 9th Septmber, 1916. The trial resulted: —I.e Crepe (F. Osborne) 1, Cesar (J. Osborne) 2; distance, seven furlongs, won by half a length. Of the many great horses which he rode in his long career, probably the best was Vedette, on whom he won the Two Thousand Guineas in 1857. Half Century Jockey. Even longer than the career of John Osborne as a jockey was that of the perhaps still more celebrated Frank Buckle, whose riding career ended on sth November, 1831, on the very corresponding day that he began as a jockey 50 years before. Buckle’s Derby winners at Epsom were Lord Grosvenor’s John Bull, by Fortitude, in 1792; and Daedalus, by Justice, in 1794; Duke of Grafton’s Tyrant, by Pot-8-os, in 1802; Sir J. Shelley’s Phantom, by Walton, in 1811; and Cedric, by Phantom, in 1824. Lord Grosvenor’s colours were yellow jacket, black cap, a livery still in use by Grosvnor’s descendants. Archer wore the colours fur the late Duke of Westminster, who was as great a supporter of tho turf in his day as Lord Richard Grosvenor was in his. Archer’s Derby winners under the yellow and black were Bend Or, >n "1880, and Bend Or’s son Ormonde in 1886. Soon'after Ormonde’s St. Leger win came Archer’s tragic end. He was aged only 29 years.