38o STEEPLE-CHASING. 



A field of twenty-one went to the post in 1891, and a good 

 horse was successful. This was Come Away, a six-year-old 

 Irish-bred son of Cambuslang, that had only once been beaten, 

 and then he was knocked over by another horse. Like Ilex 

 the year before, he started favourite at 4 to i, Ilex himself, 

 though set to carry 12 st. 3 lb. and give Come Away 5 lb., 

 being second in demand at 11 to 2— figures which it seems 

 worth while to quote, as they show in what estimation the 

 various horses were held. Come Away was not sound, and is 

 declared by his friends to have won on three legs ; but 

 however that may have been he did win, though only by half 

 a length. Cloister, ridden by Captain E. R. Owen, at that time 

 one of the busiest and most successful steeplechase riders, 

 being second. An impression had been current that Cloister 

 did not stay, and the present writer must confess to having 

 disregarded Captain Owen's opinion when assured that the 

 horse was certain, if he stood up, to finish in the first three, and 

 would go very near to winning outright. It may be that this 

 view was even more correct than the half length beating 

 suggests. At any rate. Captain Owen made a complaint of 

 foul riding against Mr. H. Beasley, who was on the winner, 

 asserting that but for a collision at the last fence he should 

 have won. Nothing came of this, however, and Come Away 

 added the chief of steeplechases to his other victories, though 

 it was the last he was to secure. He was never seen in 

 public again. Ilex was a very bad third, and old Roquefort 

 was placed fourth. 



It is curious to note how the same horses run in the 

 National year after year, from which circumstance it may be 

 deduced that few are found who can stay in the first place, and 

 in the second are able to stand the severe preparation that is 

 necessary ; while those that find their way to the post year after 

 year are animals of exceptional soundness and vitality. Steeple- 

 chase horses usually show their age by an inability to stay. 

 When long past their best they gallop and jump for a mile or 

 two in their old form and then collapse, but some maintain 



