6 STEEPLECHASING 



a natural country which would be esteemed severe at 

 noontide, for some are jumping gates, and others that 

 fence which Aiken so delighted to portray — a wattled 

 hedo^e and bank. 



If this sensational affair ever took place — it was 

 supposed to have come off just before Christmas 1803 — 

 it would have been commented upon at the time ; but 

 the most careful search has failed to reveal even passing 

 mention of it. Many years later a so-called account of 

 the chase came out in the Sporting Magazi7ie. It was 

 therein stated that the steeplechase had its origin during 

 mess at the Ipswich barracks where a cavalry regiment 

 was quartered. A certain Mr. Hansum offered to back 

 a horse of his against that of any man in the regiment, 

 and the challenge being accepted by several, it was 

 agreed that both the challenger and those accepting 

 should start together, and, as there is no time like the 

 present, and as the moon was shining brightly, an 

 immediate adjournment was suggested, and the race 

 is then and there supposed to have come off, the finish 

 being at Nacton. Even the conversation which led 

 up to the steeplechase was narrated with great circum- 

 stantiality in the Sporting Magazine; and the incidents 

 by the way are as fully described as though a skilled 

 reporter had been riding in the wake of the com- 

 petitors ; but, as I have said above, there is every 

 reason to arrive at the conclusion that the race never 

 took place at all. 



Returning for a moment to Ireland, the Turf Club 

 was asked to decide on a steeplechasing question at 

 Ballyshannon on the 3rd January 1793. From old 

 records we learn that four horses started for a stake 

 of twenty-five guineas each. The conditions were some- 

 what peculiar and primitive. One of the horses was to 

 carry a light boy, who promptly made the running when 

 the signal was given to start. One of the reputed 



