THE DAWN OF STEEPLECHASING ii 



connection with this chase we find it announced that 

 both Fugitive and CeciHa had certificates gained by 

 being in at the death of three foxes in Leicestershire, 

 the certificates being lodged with the Clerk of the 

 Course. The riders, it is said, cleared about a thousand 

 pounds between them over this steeplechase, which was 

 decided in the presence of a crowd estimated at 40,000 

 people. 



Derby, whose races and steeplechases are so well 

 known, was on the ist of December, 18 12, the scene of a 

 steeplechase match between Mr. Breary's chestnut horse 

 Joe Miller, owner up, against Mr. Whittin's black mare 

 Black Diamond, ridden by a groom in the employ of a 

 Captain Silwell or Sitwell. The course of four miles 

 was intersected with forty-three fences. If the recorded 

 time — 14 min. 30 sec. — is to be depended upon, the pace 

 must have been pretty good all through. Joe Miller 

 won by a couple of lengths. 



Soon after the decision of the above contest, that is 

 to say on the 17th of March 18 13, Ireland again came 

 to the fore with a weigh t-for-age race — four-year-olds 



10 stone; five-year-olds 10 st. 7 lbs.; six and aged 



11 stone. The race, which was for a stake of 100 

 guineas with ten guineas for each horse entered, took 

 place at Racroghan, in the county of Roscommon, over 

 a course of six miles in which were six walls each five 

 feet high, and several wide ditches. The winner was 

 Mr. G. Harkram's Young Blacklegs, 4 years ; Mr. W. 

 French's mare by Swordsman, 5 years, finished second ; 

 and Mr. J. French's Peter Finnarty, a six-year-old, was 

 third. The other three runners were Mr. Plunkett's 

 Barony Boy, 6 years ; Mr. B. Blake's Merryman, 5 years ; 

 and Mr. J. French's Wellington, which started favourite. 

 Two others were entered but did not go to the post. 

 The favourite and the winner had a close race for the 

 first five miles. One need not be surprised to learn 



