THE NATIONAL HUNT 



50 sovs. out of the stakes ; for bona-fide hunters that 

 at the time of starting have never won any steeplechase, 

 hurdle race or flat race value 20 sovs., not including the 

 winner's own stake, and that have never started in a 

 handicap steeplechase or hurdle race up to the time of 

 starting; four-years-old lost. 10 lb. ; five, 12 st. lib. ; 

 six and aged 12 st. 10 lb. ; to be ridden by Gentlemen, 

 Farmers or Farmers' Sons who have never ridden for 

 hire ; four horses the property of different owners to 

 start or only half the added money will be given ; if 

 only three start the second money will be withheld, and 

 in the case of a walk over, only one fourth of the added 

 money will be given ; entrance 3 sovs. the only liability 

 for non-starters. About four miles." 



The principle of the race remains, though some 

 alterations have been made in the conditions. The 

 distance has always been four miles, but the value has 

 been increased to £1000, which means ;^8i5 to the 

 winner, and the weights have been revised. A five- 

 year-old is seldom found in the entry. Horses of that 

 age now carry 11 st. 8 lb., six and aged i2st. 31b. As 

 only maidens are eligible there can be no question of 

 penalties or allowances. 



With the detailed early history of the race we are not 

 now concerned. In the " Steeplechase " volume of the 

 Badminton Library, which I wrote more than thirty 

 years ago, I described the anxiety of Baron Rothschild 

 to win with a good jumper he then owned called Led- 



139 



