George Osbaldeston
1786-1866
1786-1866
George Osbaldeston, nicknamed the ‘Squire’, was widely regarded as the best steeplechase rider of his day. In fact, he was an almost legendary figure in the sporting world. As well as a being top-class rider, he was a talented cricket all-rounder, boxer, athlete and oarsman, while as a shooter of pigeons he was reputedly unrivalled.
George Osbaldeston, nicknamed the ‘Squire’, was widely regarded as the best steeplechase rider of his day. In fact, he was an almost legendary figure in the sporting world. As well as a being top-class rider, he was a talented cricket all-rounder, boxer, athlete and oarsman, while as a shooter of pigeons he was reputedly unrivalled.
The only son of a Yorkshire squire, also named George, who owned two estates at Hutton Buscel and Ebberston, between Malton and Scarborough, George Osbaldeston was born on December 26, 1786, at Wimpole Street, Cavendish Square, in London. He spent his early childhood at Hutton Buscel but, after his father died when George was six years old, his mother migrated to Bath for health reasons.
The only son of a Yorkshire squire, also named George, who owned two estates at Hutton Buscel and Ebberston, between Malton and Scarborough, George Osbaldeston was born on December 26, 1786, at Wimpole Street, Cavendish Square, in London. He spent his early childhood at Hutton Buscel but, after his father died when George was six years old, his mother migrated to Bath for health reasons.
Young George was educated at Eton from 1802 to 1803, when he was expelled. Thereafter he studied at Brighton and then at Brasenose College, Oxford. During his time at university he bought a pack of hounds from the Earl of Jersey. He left Oxford in 1807 without having obtained a degree.
Young George was educated at Eton from 1802 to 1803, when he was expelled. Thereafter he studied at Brighton and then at Brasenose College, Oxford. During his time at university he bought a pack of hounds from the Earl of Jersey. He left Oxford in 1807 without having obtained a degree.
At the age of 21, George came into a large sum of money which had accumulated since his father’s death. From 1809 to 1811 he served as lieutenant-colonel on the 5th Regiment North Riding Militia. He was elected Whig MP for East Retford in 1812, a position he held until resigning in 1818. He was made High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1829.
At the age of 21, George came into a large sum of money which had accumulated since his father’s death. From 1809 to 1811 he served as lieutenant-colonel on the 5th Regiment North Riding Militia. He was elected Whig MP for East Retford in 1812, a position he held until resigning in 1818. He was made High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1829.
However, his political and public service career was slotted in around his love of hunting and racing. Having initially hunted with the Burton Foxhounds, he became Master of the Atherstone from 1815 to 1817 and then, from 1817 to 1828, he was Master of the Quorn, with which pack he hunted six days a week during the season. He then served as Master of the Pytchley from 1828 to 1834.
However, his political and public service career was slotted in around his love of hunting and racing. Having initially hunted with the Burton Foxhounds, he became Master of the Atherstone from 1815 to 1817 and then, from 1817 to 1828, he was Master of the Quorn, with which pack he hunted six days a week during the season. He then served as Master of the Pytchley from 1828 to 1834.
He was reputedly never beaten in a match race – he twice beat Captain Martin Becher – although he was less successful in races with a larger number of runners. It was observed that he rode with relatively short stirrup leathers for the time.
He was reputedly never beaten in a match race – he twice beat Captain Martin Becher – although he was less successful in races with a larger number of runners. It was observed that he rode with relatively short stirrup leathers for the time.
In 1826, the Squire won a famous match on his own horse Clasher, beating Dick Christian on Captain Horatio Ross’s Clinker for an amount which varies according to different accounts of the race but was supposedly not less than 1,000 guineas.
In 1826, the Squire won a famous match on his own horse Clasher, beating Dick Christian on Captain Horatio Ross’s Clinker for an amount which varies according to different accounts of the race but was supposedly not less than 1,000 guineas.
On one occasion, in 1831 at Newmarket, he rode 200 miles in eight hours and 42 minutes, using 28 horses, to land a bet. On another occasion he wagered Paul Methuen 100 guineas that he could drive a stagecoach from St Paul’s churchyard to Greenwich in an hour with a full complement of passengers. He won the bet, despite the coach being loaded with a number of hefty Life-Guardsmen and despite being sent back from the bottom of Ludgate Hill after a false start.
On one occasion, in 1831 at Newmarket, he rode 200 miles in eight hours and 42 minutes, using 28 horses, to land a bet. On another occasion he wagered Paul Methuen 100 guineas that he could drive a stagecoach from St Paul’s churchyard to Greenwich in an hour with a full complement of passengers. He won the bet, despite the coach being loaded with a number of hefty Life-Guardsmen and despite being sent back from the bottom of Ludgate Hill after a false start.
He is credited with initiating the Great Northamptonshire Steeplechase in 1833. That same year he rode Mr Evans’s famous horse Grimaldi in a gruelling six-mile match for a another prodigious prize of £1,000, in which he beat Colonel Charritie’s Napoleon, ridden by Captain Becher. A report of the race reveals that, at one point, Osbaldeston and Becher went for the same gap in a gate and became jammed. In the end, both horses were disqualified for having deviated from the line of the course and the prize-money was withheld.
He is credited with initiating the Great Northamptonshire Steeplechase in 1833. That same year he rode Mr Evans’s famous horse Grimaldi in a gruelling six-mile match for a another prodigious prize of £1,000, in which he beat Colonel Charritie’s Napoleon, ridden by Captain Becher. A report of the race reveals that, at one point, Osbaldeston and Becher went for the same gap in a gate and became jammed. In the end, both horses were disqualified for having deviated from the line of the course and the prize-money was withheld.
In addition to steeplechasing, the ‘Squire’ rode a great deal on the Flat between 1830 and 1840. Of the horses he owned, the best was Rifleman who finished second to Saucebox in the 1855 St Leger and two days later won the Doncaster Stakes.
In addition to steeplechasing, the ‘Squire’ rode a great deal on the Flat between 1830 and 1840. Of the horses he owned, the best was Rifleman who finished second to Saucebox in the 1855 St Leger and two days later won the Doncaster Stakes.
However, whatever money he made from winning races was overshadowed by gambling debts of around £200,000 (equivalent to £2,022,850 in 2020), which eventually forced him to sell much of his property.
However, whatever money he made from winning races was overshadowed by gambling debts of around £200,000 (equivalent to £2,022,850 in 2020), which eventually forced him to sell much of his property.
George Osbaldeston died almost penniless on August 1, 1866 in St John’s Wood, London, within a few months of attaining his eightieth birthday. He left less than £100 in his estate.
George Osbaldeston died almost penniless on August 1, 1866 in St John’s Wood, London, within a few months of attaining his eightieth birthday. He left less than £100 in his estate.
Of his brilliant beginning and his impoverished end, his friend and rival Captain Horatio Ross commented: “He was open-hearted and trusted others; he was constantly deceived and robbed, and when his affairs were getting into confusion, he had not the moral nerve to pull up in time; nor had he a sufficiently business-head on his shoulders to guide him safely out of his troubles.”
Of his brilliant beginning and his impoverished end, his friend and rival Captain Horatio Ross commented: “He was open-hearted and trusted others; he was constantly deceived and robbed, and when his affairs were getting into confusion, he had not the moral nerve to pull up in time; nor had he a sufficiently business-head on his shoulders to guide him safely out of his troubles.”