174 



With these exceptions the field kept pretty well together for about 

 a third of the distance, after which lagging became the order of the day, 

 Patchwork and two of the Government House party alone being able 

 to maintain the pace. From this point onward this trio ran right away 

 from the ruck, first one leading and then another, all three horses 

 fencing faultlessly. 



None of the three can be said to have had much the best at any 

 period of the chase, which was any one's till the last thick bit of jungle, 

 where the member for Hurlingham apparently regardless of trifles like a 

 broken neck, stole a march on Patchwork and the Captain, winning 

 the most closely contested Paperchase of the season from Patchwork, 

 Captain Fitzwilliam a good third ; the field beaten off. 



The holidays have interfered somewhat with our report of these 

 popular meetings, and we have to hark back to Monday, the 27th of 

 December, to maintain the even tenour of our notices. On that occasion 

 the bags were carried by Messrs. Latham and Alipore, the former 

 mounted on a very fresh waler, which prevented his rider laying down 

 his quantum of paper. Starting away from the Old Kennels, the field, 

 not an over-large one by the way, streamed away to the left in the 

 direction of the railway, and after a short drive into the jungle 

 reappeared on the main road only to glide away from the gallery into 

 the mysteries and intricacies of a dense jungle. In consequence, 

 frequent checks were the order of the day, but the member for Hurling- 

 ham rendered himself conspicuous by the exceedingly clever way, in 

 which he, time after time, hit off the track. Mounted on a horse, which 

 by the way is distinguished from others of its class in the animal king- 

 dom as having accompanied General Roberts on his far-famed journey 

 from Kabul to Kandahar, the member scored second at the finish, Mr. 

 Gateacre on The Cripple beating him by a short head. Kingston with 

 his new owner Mr. Sekyed up, came to grief, and we are afraid that 

 the horse has hurt his shoulder badly, Patchwork coming in for 

 third honours, and thus ended the Paperchases as far as the year 1880 

 is concerned. 



The year 1881 commenced, as it should have done, right merrily. 

 It is true several old and familiar faces were absent, but when it is 

 remembered that the old year had to be escorted out and the new year 

 in with the customary honours, such a dereliction of duty is not to be 

 wondered at. There was an immense gallery, however, and the ladies 

 'mustered strongly. The start was at the Kennels, the course again 



