OLD TIME

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 332, 18 April 1928, Page 10

OLD TIME

HOW HE WAS BEATEN RIDING MARATHON There have been a number of great long-distance performances both in England and Australia, but few compare with the famous match against time at Newmarket, which created so much interest and excitement in Eng- : land last century. “Squire” Osbaldeston, a leading racehorse owner, and a fine rider to hounds, backed himself for a wager of 1,000 guineas a side with Colonel Charitte to ride 200 miles in 10 hours on the Newmarket heath at the Houghton meeting of 1831. In addition to this, on the night preceding the race, Mr. Osbaldeston took a large bet that he would accomplish this feat in nine hours. The generally expressed feeling was that he would win at least his first wager, though backers of “time” were not lacking. When the morning broke raw and wet, “time” became a much better favourite. WELL ARMED Accompanied by Colonel Charitte, his umpire (Mr. Thellusson), and a sprinkling of friends and onlookers, Osbaldeston made a start in the rain shortly after seven o’clock in the morning. The grandstand was cleared of all persons but those closely interested in the match, and the watches of the umpires were set and locked up. The “squire,” as he was called, wore a purple silk jacket, black velvet cap, and doeskin breeches. Notwithstanding the wetness of the day, he wore no flannel. Round his waist he wore a broad riding belt with whalebone, which toward the end of the day proved a great support to his back. His saddles were covered with lambskin and he rode all the time with remarkably short stirrup leathers. The course was four miles, and he changed horses on , completing each stage. After the fourteenth “the squire” took his first refreshment in the shape of a mouthful of weak brandy and water. At the end of the twenty-fifth round (100 miles) he took a mouthful of bread and a little brandy and water, after which he rode his quickest four miles —eight minutes, or as modern trainers would say, “even time”—very good travelling when his weight, 11.2, and the state of the track and weather are taken into consideration. “The .squire” completed the thirtieth round, 120 miles, in shr Bmin. 200 MILES IN 81 HOURS Though wet to the skin, he refused the change of clothes that was waiting for him at a good fire, and proceeded to lunch off a cold partridge, washed down with a modicum of weak brandy and water. For fear of stiffness setting in through his getting cold in his wet clothes, he was ofC again on his journey in about six minutes—a brief enough spell. Notwithstanding a squall of rain and wind in the forty-eighth round, so great that Streamlet—the horse he was appropriately enough mounted on at the time—refusd to face it, Mr. Osbaldeston completed his task a few minutes before four o’clock in the afternoon, having ridden the 200 miles, including stoppages, in Bhr 39min. IN THE BOOM As the day advanced the company present had swelled to large proportions, and the success of the popular all-round sportsman was hailed by the uproarious salutations and cheers of the crowd. In Rice’s “History of the British Turf”’ we read that it required great exertion on the part of his supporters—the celebrated John Cully, Tom Oliver (the “black Tom Oliver” immortalised by the poet Gordon), and Harry England—to procure room for him to dismount. This done, however, the successful rider was received with enthusiasm by his friends, among whom were two of the most beautiful women in England—Lady Chesterfield and her sister, Mrs. Anson. Although he was then 44 years of age, “Squire” psbaldeston was not a whit the worse for his lor- ride He had occasion shortly after the match to write a letter contradicting the rumours that he won sums of from £20;000 to £40,000 by his success. The fact was that, owing to the supineness and bad advice of his friends, he had not netted more than £I,SOC after all expenses were paid. GOOD BLOOD Among the horses used by Osbaldeston was Tranby, a five-year-old son of Blacklock, whom he rode four times in succession, with a rest of about a minute between each of the stages. Tranby covered the first four miles in 8.10, the second in 8.0, and the third in 8.15, and the last in 8.50. In the following year Tranby ran twice at Newmarket in good Company, and won both races. . “The Druid,” says an American turfite, “became so elated by seeing that ‘the squire’ had beaten ‘Old Time’ hollow at Newmarket, and ridden Tranby four times in the match, that he authorised Messrs. Tattersall to give 2,000 guineas for the bay forthwith. It was lucky for him that he fell into such hands, as he shortly afterwards received an answer to the effect that the horse had becoxwo his for £400.” And a rare bargain Tranby probably turned out. Anyhow, his name figures in the back lines of the pedierees of many famous American horses, including Hindoo and his great son Hanover.