122 STEEPLECHASING 



Brook caused the downfall of Spring, and at what had 

 been Valentine's Brook Gibraltar came down. It is stated 

 that eighteen horses jumped the artificial water so cleanly 

 that not a splash was made ; Spring went on riderless. 



The Brewer, declining to rise, rushed through the 

 fence and tumbled into the water, his bridle coming off 

 when his jockey attempted to pull him out. Weather- 

 cock broke down badly at the stable turn, and at 

 " Proceed's lane " Half Caste took up the running from 

 Xanthus, but soon gave way again before reaching 

 Becher's Brook. The fence with the ditch on the 

 taking-off side brought down Xanthus, while Flatcatcher 

 and Gibraltar were beaten. On coming into the 

 straight Jean du Ouesne became second, and then the 

 racing began, Half Caste eventually winning by half a 

 neck after a capital struggle, a long distance dividing 

 second and third. It must be remembered that at this 

 time no greater sum than one hundred guineas was 

 added, and this year the race was worth £,^^0. The 

 majority of the horses competing this year were cast-offs 

 from the flat, and were considered to be a poor collection 

 of competitors for the chief steeplechase of the year. The 

 time was 10 minutes 2 seconds, and the winner's only 

 previous performance over a country was in the Town 

 Plate at Windsor, In the previous November, when 

 he fell. 



i860 



Mr. C. Capel's " Anatis," aged, 9 St. 10 lb. . Mr. Thomas . i 

 Capt. Hunt's "The Huntsman," aged, list. 81b. Capt. Towneley 2 

 Mr. Craven's " Xanthus," aged, 10 St. . . Balchin ... 3 

 Nineteen started. Betting : — 7 to 2 Anatis ; 40 to i Huntsman ; 

 10 to I Xanthus. 



The last named made the running at a great pace. 

 Goldsmith, Telegram, and Anatis following, and in a 

 very short time the field was reduced as Congreve and 



