Joseph Osborne was the author of The Horsebreeder's Handbook and journalist for Bell's Life in London under the pen name "Beacon". Osborne was born in County Meath, Ireland in 1810 and died in Brighton 1901.

He was born into the Osborne family of Dardistown Castle.[1] Educated in Belfast, raised in Ireland he became involved in horse training and racing from an early age.[2]

Osborne moved to London in 1861 to continue his career as a journalist, writing for the sporting and racing paper Bell's Life in London.[3] By this time he was prominent in the horse racing world and considered an authority of the breeding of thoroughbreds.

Osborne's involvement with the Curragh Racecourse resulted in a lodge at the Curragh being named after him.[4]

His first book The Steeple Chase Calendar and Hurdle Race Epitome was published in three volumes for seasons 1848-1851.[5]

Osborne was the owner/trainer of Grand National winner Abd El Kader in 1850 and 1851.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Dardistown Castle | The History Of Dardistown Castle". www.dardistowncastle.ie. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  2. ^ HUNTER, ROBERT (1836). THE RACING CALENDAR, FOR THE YEAR 1835.
  3. ^ "Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle in British Newspaper Archive". Retrieved 16 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "Tracking good form for a half century". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  5. ^ the-saleroom.com. "Osborne (Joseph) The Steeple Chase Calendar and Hurdle Race Epitome, SCARCE: volumes one, two and". www.the-saleroom.com. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Grand National Irish-trained winners - Eclipse Magazine". Eclipse Magazine. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2018.