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The Amateur Welter subsequently degenerated into a flat 

 race, and it was not until 1890 that a jump race for G. R.'s 

 was reinstated in the Tollygunge programme. Long prior 

 to this, however, hunt steeplechases were in full swing, 

 and, as Mr. Thomas Watson has told us, they were well 

 supported and usually were held at Dum-Dum. An 

 account of one of these functions in 1870 is to be found in a 

 previous chapter. These races, however, date back to a 

 considerably earlier period than 1870, and we have 

 managed to unearth from the Oriental Sporting Magazine 

 of 1834 an account of a memorable race of this order run 

 at Dum-Dum on the 20th February of that year. The 

 historian of that period, *' Nim East," gives the following 

 very graphic account of it : — 



Thursday^ February 20th, 1834. — "We met at Dum-Dum, ran to earth 

 twice — but nothing turned up worth noting save that a gentleman in a flannel 

 cricketing jacket, to wit, the owner of 1-5. 641. came amongst us again, and his 

 advent was hailed with much satisfaction. As there is no sport to discuss, perhaps 

 a few lines regarding the steeple race for all Arabs which came off on the 

 Tuesday previous, may not prove a bad finale to all these " scribblements," All 

 Arabs lost. 4lbs. , and as much more as the owners might deem fitting. It had 

 been intended to make it a race for all horses, but hunting casualties, etc., made 

 it difficult to find cattle to start at this time of the year. Here they are — 



Mr. R.'s ... b, a. h. Marksman, ridden by Mr. Moblate ... 1 



Mr. D.'s ... c. a. h. Tiny (late Lobster), ridden by Mr. Oldgoing 2 



Mr. M.'s ... g. a. h Duncan Grey, by Mr. L. L. L. D. D. D. .. 3 



Mr. B.'s . g. a. h. Skyscraper, hy Mr. McN. C ... 4 



The ground was, up to Latchford lane, the same as in the races of previou.s 

 years, but from that point it diverged to the left, over a country, if anything, 

 I should say more difficult than that upon the old course. — Off — all altogether 

 in the little field after crossing the nullah and surmounting the bank on the 

 opposite side — (by the way we were obliged before starting to have this particular 

 bank broken down a little but not by a run upon it, — tor nobody but General 

 Wolfe who was — 



" No ways particular, 



But march up great rocks which were quite perpendicular," 

 could possibly have got over it). Skyscraper hauled his wind here a little 

 and did not come out of the field with the other three, — who were led by 

 Tiny, but the gallop (over some small enclosures and up to the stiff rails 4 

 feet 3 inches high) gave Marksman the lead, and he cleared the rails first 

 and made strong running on the other side, — the two others got cleverly over, 

 and Skyscraper was in the clouds and never saw them at all. The field were 

 altogether again at a large ditch which was cut out evidently for larger cattle, 

 and the little nags all dropped into it and were some minutes in scrambling up 

 the other bank, which they did, Marksman leading ; his scramble, however, had 

 the effect of loosening his girths and down came his rider, the saddle turning 

 at a jump a few hundred yards off. Tiny now took the lead, and clapped on 

 €very stitch of canvas with the intent to make au easy job of it. Some thought 



