340 STEEPLE-CHASING. 



CHAPTER VII. 



LOCAL MEETINGS. 



THE popularity of steeple-chasing would be much enhanced, 

 and a considerable impetus given to the sport generally, were 

 local meetings more encouraged and carried out. 



The local meeting will almost certainly be held over a 

 natural country to begin with, and the expenses which attach 

 to steeple-chasing at recognised meetings are not incurred. 

 On the other hand, the sums to be won are smaller than at 

 regular steeple-chase meetings. If a man have a racehorse, a 

 local meeting is not his proper hunting-ground ; and it is 

 because this fact is so frequently ignored that local meetings 

 are so rarely brought to a successful and legitimate issue. A 

 thoroughbred horse that is not quite good enough to win on 

 a popular racecourse will often have a great chance of carrying 

 all before him at the annual gathering of a Hunt, the more so 

 as the horse of this character which would be likely to make 

 the attempt usually belongs to owners who are, to say the least, 

 sharp practitioners. Several local meetings have sunk into 

 disrepute because men would make every effort ingenuity and 

 cunning could suggest to win races with anything except the 

 class of animal for which the race was intended. 



So notorious is this fact that one well-known nobleman who 

 takes a hearty interest in steeple-chasing, and would be specially 

 glad to encourage local meetings if they were fairly conducted, 

 makes it a rule to offer his subscription as a prize for the third 

 horse in certain stakes. * Sometimes he may be a bona-fide 

 hunter ; the first two never are,' is his explanation. Many races 



