Steeplechasing

STEEPLECHASING, a type of horse-racing not run on the flat, but either across country or on a made course with artificial fences, water-jumps, etc. The name is sometimes used in connec tion with cross-country running on foot or of a race on a made course over hurdles and other obstacles. In Great Britain point to point Steeplechases held under the control of the M.F.H. now represent the nearest approach to steeplechas ing in its earlier days. The proficiency in jumping which ought to be characteristic of a first-class steeplechaser is often conspicu ous by its absence nowadays when all too often a course of racing over hurdles is thought to be a sufficient preparation for racing over the regulation fences, built up in accordance with the in structions of the British National Hunt Committee.

For steeplechasing in Great Britain see HORSE-RACING AND BREEDING, section Steeplechasing and Hurdle-Racing. Steeple chasing in America is treated below.

Steeplechasing in North America began in Canada, where English officers, quartered at Montreal and Toronto, gave meet ings. The Montreal hunt, founded in 1826, doubtless raced across country, and in 185o a great steeplechase was held near the St. Pierre course. The race was for Ioo over hurdles, stone walls, three double jumps, ditches and rasping fences. J. P. Dawes was a leading owner, and his Charlemagne, in 1882, carrying 175 lb., won at Mystic Park, Boston, and later at The Country Club, rid den by Strathey. The next year, carrying Baron von Zedlitz, he again won at Mystic Park, and the day following carried off The Country Club steeplechase handicap. Dawes' Rose, in 1882, won ten and finished second six times in 2 1 starts, seven in the United States.

A Grand Military Steeplechase, competed for by six officers, was run in London, Ontario, on May 9, 1843, of which a print was published by Ackermann, in London, England, in 1845, from 1. drawing by Lady Alexander.

In the same year a meeting was given at Toronto, the course being near Shepherd's Golden Lion, Yonge street. One race was won by Grasshopper, Black Douglas second, Aemilius Irving up. That fall a heavyweight steeplechase was won by Samuel P. Jarvis, Jr., riding Gaylad. Both Aemilius Irving and Samuel P. Jarvis were forebears of the well-known Canadian sportsman, Aemilius Jarvis. Canada boasts of the oldest steeplechase stake

in America, "The Woodbine," won in 1882 by Rose, and in 1928 (the 44th running) by Wych Elm, owned by George W. Beardmore, master of the Toronto hunt.

W. S. Vosburgh writes that the first steeplechase in the States was at Paterson, N.J., June 7, 1865, a three-mile handicap, over 27 jumps, though the real beginning was an extra day's steeple chasing at Jerome Park in Nov. 1869. Vosburgh wrote articles for The New York Sportsman in 188o, telling of races won by Oysterman, Postguard, Trouble, Waller, Lobelia, Tammany, Diavolo, Major Pickett and Bourke Cockran, and of steeplechas ing in New Orleans in 1871 and 1872.

The Driving Park, Chicago, in 188o, "had jumping races," and in 1884 the July stakes, a handicap, received 18 entries. Edward Corrigan owned a number of splendid jumpers and laid out a beautiful course at Hawthorne Park in 1891.

Hunt and Country Clubs.

Steeplechasing in America has always received its strongest backing from the hunt and country clubs, and the most valuable stake offered up to 1883 was given by the Rockaway hunt, with a guaranteed value of $5,000, which was won by Major Pickett. The Rosetree hunt raced across coun try about 1877. The Country club, Brookline, had 36 consecutive meetings from 1880. The Meadow Brook hunt cup was offered in 1883, and has been won by such well-known gentlemen riders as Stanley Mortimer, George Work, T. Hitchcock, "Billy" Hayes, "Mr. Smith," F. S. von Stade and others. Swan Latrobe gave a silver pitcher for the Genesee Valley point to point, which was won on Oct. 13, 1885, by Seward Cary's Patchen, Tom Cary up. "Mr. Smith" later won this race four times. The Maryland hunt cup, given by Ross Whistler, was first raced for in 1894. The Maryland grand national dates from 1900, and the race for My Lady Manor cup from 1908. In Virginia open steeplechases were given here and there. At Ivy City track, the most noted gentleman rider of his time, Harry Harwood, was killed. The Deep Run Hunt Club, at Chantilly, west of Richmond, gave the first amateur meeting in Virginia in 1895. In 1922 the Virginia Gold Cup was offered by the Warrenton Hunt Club, and at the Middleburg and Orange County Hunts of Piedmont Valley, sport "Between the Flags" has taken strong hold.