STEEPLE-CHASE. This singularierm is used to designate a kind of horse-race, run not on a prepared course, but across fields, hedges, ditches, and obstacles of every kind that may happen to be iu the way. The name and practice are said to have both originated in a party of unsuccessful fox-hunters, on their return home, agreeing to try a race toward the steeple of a village church, the first who could touch the church with his whip to be the winner. This kind of sport soon became popular; and matches were made and sweepstakes entered into—the requirements of the course simply two flagstaffs placed about 2 tn. apart, front one of which the competitors started, made their way to the other, and returned to the startingpoint. Each rider was allowed to go and. come as he chose, but the country was often selected on account of its difficulty; high and strong fences, deep and broad ditches, and sometimes even swollen rivers having to bo crossed and recrossed. Then came the more regular steeple-chase of modern times over a course marked out by flags, between which the rider must pass in order to win the race. This improvement was introduced about the end of last century, and no
further change took place till 1841, when handicapping began. This consists in the weighting of horses according to their supposed merits, without reference to age, size, or sex. The first handicap steeple-chase was l'Ull at Newport-Pagnell on April 20, 1841, and the sport has since become more and more popular in England, most of the spring and autumn meetings having their steeple-chases, for valuable stakes. Great crowds of people always attend, the very danger of the sport seeming to increase its attractiveness. Serious accidents arc nut unfrequent; and great courage, coolness, resolution, and judg ment are requisite nu the part of the rider in a steeple-chase.—The name is also applied to similar races for men.