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ONE OF ENGLANDS SPORTING PARSONS Rev. J. W. Kins Raced as Mr. Launde Owned Apology, Holy Friar and Others.. I vividly recall, writes Audax in Horse and Hound the race for the Gold Cup at Ascot of 1870. the first that I saw. For this Mr. Naylors Forerunner. 3, 103 pounds Jimmy Macdonald. who had run second to famous Kisber for the Derby, was made favorite at 15 to 8 in a field of six, with 5 to 2 laid against Mr. "Seabrooks" Apology, 5. 120 pounds, which her trainer, John Osborne, landed a clever half-length winner from Mr. W. S. Craw-furds Craig Millar. I, 122 -louiid.t Tom Chaloner, who was three lengths ahead of the favorite. The finish between these winners of the St. Leger in 1874 and 1875 was a pretty one, and this, success enhanced the reputation of Apology, which she had tarnished by failures in 1S75, when, after her breeders death, she ran five times for hi widoiv, to whom he had left this excellent chestnut daughter of Adventurer Madragora. Apology was bred by the Rev. J. W. King, B. D.. a Fellow of Corpus Christi, Oxford, who died in tiie early hummer of 1875, and had his stud at Ashby-de-la-Launde, in Lincolnshire, where he lived, racing under the assumed name of Mr. "Launde," and his colors were "blue, red sleeves and cap." Apology had won for him the One Thousand Guineas, Oaks. Coronation Stakes juid St. Leger of 1874, and "Parson" King also owned a good two-year-old that season in IIolv Friar. A chestnut colt by Hermit Thorsdav, tho last-named came out in the Zetland Stakes at York Spring fixture, and having won this, next secured the Seaton Delaval Stakes, Hardwicke Stakes, Prince of Wales Stakes and Gimcrack Stakes at York, and a sweepstakes at Doneaster, in the latter event cleverly defeating by half a length, when receiving two pounds, Camballo, the subsequent easy winner of the Two Thousand Guineas. Holy Friar was made a hot favorite for the Middle Park Plate, but could only get close up fourth In a desperate finish, the three leaders being Plebeian, Per Se. and Galopin. The winner, a good horse, had not run previously, neither did he compete in public again; while this was also the last race for Holy Friar, as. although one of the winter favorites for the Derby of 1875, he broke down prior to the contest, and his owner had been dead some little time when Mr. Carew Gibson gave ?;595 for Hermits son at Newmarket on July 9 that year. The horse died in 1870, so only left few descendants at tlrt stud, one of these being, in the female line, that good French horse Mauvezin. Although "Parson" King kept racers for many years, Apology and Holy Friar -were certainly the two best he owned or bred. It is said that this sporting, much-liked and respected rector gave the former mare the name she bore, because an elder sister called Agility, foaled four years previously, hail shown smart form, and in consequence the breeder of botli said as a joke. "When a lady had shown her agility, a little apology ought to come next."- This story is probably an Invention, like the one about the wire the reverend gentleman is reputed to have sent to his trainer, John Osborne, on the morning- of the St. Leger. when hearing that Apology had shown signs of lameness, the message being to this effect: "All Lincolnshire is on her; she must run." Nowadays for a clergyman of the Church of England to own racers, or attend meetings, is unusual, and not considered correct..- although some of the Irish Roman Catholic priests have figured as owners, and are frequently seen on our courses.
