CHAPTER IV 



THE NATIONAL HUNT, LANCASHIRE, AND GRAND 

 SEFTON STEEPLECHASES 



So far we have only dealt with horses who have run at 

 Liverpool. Notably as the National stands out, how- 

 ever, for reasons which have been stated, there are other 

 special events success in which means reputation as well 

 as profit. The three chief ones are those at the head of 

 the chapter. 



Perhaps there is no more sporting contest than the 

 National Hunt Steeplechase, which was instituted in 

 i860 and became an object of ambition with the best 

 class of steeplechase owner. Afterwards for a time it 

 flagged, indeed at Liverpool one year a field of only 

 three, hardly deserving the name of field, turned out, 

 truly a contrast to the revival, for at Cheltenham in 191 1 

 no fewer than thirty-eight went to the post. It may be 

 well to give the conditions of the first National Hunt 

 Steeplechase, which at that time had the prefix of 

 "Grand," presently to be dropped. 



" The Grand National Hunt Steeplechase of 5 sovs. 

 each, with 300 sovs. added ; the second to receive 



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