8 STEEPLECHASING 



length of course beingr stated. We do know, however, 

 that the stakes were as often as not in kind instead of 

 in money, as in one famous steeplechase the winner 

 took a hogshead of claret ; in another race a pipe of 

 port constituted the stakes ; and sometimes a quarter 

 cask of rum was chosen. 



What was termed "a curious horse race" was run 

 over a course (in 1804) from Chapel House to the 

 Cowgate, Newcastle-on-Tyne. The competitors were 

 Captains Prescott and Tucker of the 5th Light 

 Dragoons. The conditions of the race certainly en- 

 title it to the epithet "curious" — it was indeed a 

 veritable case of "steeple hunting" as it was called. 

 The riders were not to deviate from the object in view 

 by more than fifteen yards, no matter how formidable 

 might be the fences encountered. Within the limits 

 of fifteen yards the leading horse was to have choice 

 of the country, and the other, while not permitted to 

 jump at the same place, had nevertheless to keep within 

 the fifteen yards "and choose another road for himself." 

 Presumably Captain Tucker led most of the way and 

 had his choice of the road, for he won by something 

 like a quarter of a mile. 



Not so very long afterwards, that is to say on the 

 last Wednesday in November 1804, ^^ extraordinary 

 steeplechase came off, the parties undertaking to sur- 

 mount — rather a bold declaration — all obstructions, and 

 to pursue their progress in as straight a line as possible. 

 The competitors were three — Mr. Ikillivant of Shroxton, 

 Mr. Day of Wymondham, and Mr. Frisby of Waltham, 

 who staked one hundred guineas each. The riders, 

 clad in orange, crimson, and sky blue respectively, 

 started at half-past twelve o'clock to race from Wornack's 

 Lodge to Woodal (Woodwell) and back, a distance of 

 nearly eight miles. The trio kept in a cluster until 

 within about a mile and a half of the finish, when Mr. 



