34 



a clear ten lengths at the water jump, about a mile from 

 the start. Here he refused twice, but eventually was 

 forced over, knocking off his rider's topee on landing. 

 By this time half a dozen of the field, including Eck, Fox 

 and Millett had shot ahead, and were leading alternately 

 at a good pace. In the paddy field by the Sandy Lane, 

 The Marquis made a mistake which let Red Deer come 

 up again, and the pair raced neck and neck up the lane 

 50 yards behind Eck, whose mount was going strong, 

 but his horse ran out a hundred yards before the last 

 jump, leaving Red Deer and Marquis to finish. The 

 latter, although the fresher of the pair, ran out, and before 

 he could be turned round. Red Deer had passed the 

 winning post the winner of the first Paperchase Cup. He 

 was a small horse, just over 14- 1, and the persevering way 

 in which his sporting owner brought him home after 

 losing so much ground at the water jump, was most 

 creditable. The gallery was not large, but the cheers that 

 greeted the winner were of the heartiest ; and so ended 

 the first Paperchase Cup. 



1876. 



The morning of the i6th February saw a goodly 

 company of spectators assembled to witness the struggle 

 for this trophy, as a wind up to a very successful paper- 

 chase season. Eight men faced the starter, who all meant 

 " §"o^"g^'" ^i^d, when the word was given, the pace was 

 a regular cracker led by Jolly Boy, who took the lead 

 from the start, and was never caught. The course com- 

 menced near the Sheep-pens, crossing the Red Road, the 

 paper leading over some natural bunds, and the remains 

 of an old artificial jump, round to the right across to the 

 mud wall, which all negotiated in fine style, one veteran 

 chaser taking the wing of the jump as the wall was not 

 big enough. Here there was a sharp turn through a 

 patch of jungle and gardens, to two hurdles some sixty 

 yards apart, then away to the left, with more natural jumps 

 down to a hurdle in a hollow. At this point Jolly Boy 

 had a commanding lead, and, as the others came up, there 

 were shouts from the Cavalry looking on '^ to put on the 

 steam." The next jump of any importance was the water, 

 which all got safely over, followed a little further on by 



