ORGANISED STEEPLECHASING 



25 



the Hertfordshire Steeplechase. The conditions which 

 governed it applied, with slight variation, to those de- 

 cided in subsequent years, so it may be convenient to 

 give them here. 



A steeplechase of 10 sovereigns each (that of 1830 was 26 

 sovereigns each), free for any horse carrying 11 st. 7 lb. four miles 

 across a line of country within 28 miles of London ; to be rode (sic) 

 by gentlemen, and no person to ride more than 100 yards on any road 

 or lane in the race, the last horse to pay the second horse's stake, the 

 winner to be sold for 500 sovereigns, if demanded within three hours 

 after the race. The stakes on February 17, and the starting-point will, 

 of course, be named on the morning of the race. Mr. Coleman of the 

 " Turf Hotel," St. Albans, has the entire management of the affair.^ Mr. 

 S. W. Heathcote has consented to act as umpire. 



Thirteen horses were entered, and of them one 

 dozen came to the post : they were — 



Mr. Lee's b. g. " Moonraker "... 



,, Judson's br. g. " Broomfield " . 



„ Jud's b. g. " Wellington "... 



,, Meyrick's b. g. " David " . . . 



„ Thomas's g. cob " Birmingham " 

 ' „ Stone's gr. g. "Monk" . . . 



,, Russell's b. "Mountebank". . 



,, Judson's b. g. "Hazard" 



,, Caldecott's bl. m. "Betsy Dover" 



„ EUward's gr. g. " Cavalier " . 



„ Cox's b. g. "Nelson" .... 

 Lord Ranelagh's b. g. " Wildboar " . 



After having weighed, the jockeys were conducted to a field on 

 the St. Albans side of Coombe Wood, on Shenley Bunny farm ; 

 the winning-post was in a paddock at the back of Coleman's stables 

 at St. Albans. The course was marked by flags. ^ Mountebank 

 jumped off with the lead, which he kept for the first of the four 

 miles, when he gave way to Wellington, who went on several 



^ The steeplechase was at first fixed for the 24th of February, but was 

 postponed. 



- There is ample evidence to show that the course was not flagged out 

 as at present, but that the turning flags only were exhibited. 



