66 STEEPLECHASING 



the way for a moment or two until a weak place was 

 found, the slight check enabling the rear division to 

 close up, and then once more Borax and Yellow Dwarf 

 worked their way to the front. The former, however, 

 jumped the last fence sideways, landed in the ditch 

 on the far side and hurt his rider's leg rather severely, 

 so Jem Mason on Yellow Dwarf was able to win in 

 a canter ; Paulina was second, and Napoleon third. 

 Greyling threw his rider, but two of the three placed 

 horses completed the course without making a mistake. 



1839 



The last day of December (Tuesday) 1839 virtually 

 saw the St. Albans steeplechases, as inaugurated by 

 Coleman, come to an end. The entries were poor and 

 the horses were but moderate ; while up to the time 

 fixed for the start there were but few spectators. The 

 course was nearly enough of circular form, both the 

 start and finish being close to Coleman's paddock, 

 and about a couple of hundred yards from the Turf 

 Hotel. The distance was about three miles and a half; 

 there were thirty fences, and two or three lanes inter- 

 sected the line, Mr. Garrard, a steward, explaining to 

 the riders that, on reaching the second of the lanes, 

 it would be necessary for them to go along it for about 

 fifty yards, in order to avoid some unjumpable places. 

 The decision was arrived at that the jockeys should 

 not be shown over the course in consequence of the 

 damage done to the fences by the spectators, who, as 

 far as possible, rode the line. The starters were : 

 Mr. H. Worley's Ringleader (Mr. Giles Patrick), Mr. 

 Goodman's Vandyke (Mr. W. McDonough), Mr. G. 

 Elmore's Conservative (J. Mason), Mr. Charlton's 



