ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT, 289 



had no interest in races subsequent to that with regard to which 

 they were summoned before the stewards. 



* A disgraceful affair, which I was called upon to investigate,' 

 Lord Suffolk (then Lord Andover), one of the earliest and most 

 judiciously energetic members of the Grand National Hunt Com- 

 mittee, writes to us, ' was at Croydon, when the owner of a horse 

 which came in second for a steeple-chase charged the owner of 

 the winning mare with slipping weight to his jockey as he returned 

 to scale. I was requested to act for Lord Coventry, who had a 

 horse running, or was otherwise interested ; and, with another 

 steward of the meeting, 1 investigated the case at Tattersall's. 

 The verdict was " not proven ; '' but I have not the faintest idea 

 what sentence that would have had the slightest effect we could 

 have pronounced in the event of our having found the accused parlies 

 guilty.' 



The Jockey Club refused to take cognisance of any disputes 

 connected with hurdle-racing or steeple-chasing. Whether the 

 Club would have confirmed a sentence passed by stewards of 

 a steeple-chase meeting is in the highest degree doubtful. 

 Men who were prone to chicanery began to feel and to exercise 

 their power. But the remedy was at hand, notwithstanding 

 that some members of the Jockey Club opposed the formation 

 of the suggested junior body of legislators for cross-country races. 

 The determination and influence of Mr. Craven and of Lord 

 Suffolk were not exerted in vain. Lord Coventry was heartily 

 on their side. The Duke of Beaufort and Lord Westmorland 

 presently gave their adherence to the project ; at last Mr. 

 George Payne was induced to support the movement, and the 

 battle was won. 



In the autumn of 1866, the Grand National Hunt Com- 

 mittee having been formed, its rules were recognised and en- 

 forced, to the infinite advantage of steeple-chasing ; and from 

 this date ' Weatherby's Steeple-chase Calendar,' which bears 

 date 1866-7, has been issued. 



Earlier than this the first Grand National Hunt steeple- 

 chase had been run. The date of the contest is i860, the 



u 



