176 STEEPLECHASING 



the course was covered without a mistake beino- made. 

 ■At the first attempt they were despatched. The Scot 

 was the first to show in front, and was followed by 

 Regal, Cyrus, Cortolvin, Frigate, Black Prince, and 

 Satelite, into the country. Owing to the thick mist 

 hanofinof over the orround, litde now could be seen of 

 them. Cortolvin showed the way over Becher's Brook, 

 and there was no material change until coming to the 

 water in front of the stand, over which Regal landed first. 

 Going into the country for the second time Cortolvin 

 resumed the lead, and shortly after passing Becher's 

 Brook, The Scot disposed of his chance by jumping 

 into a fence. Regal falling lame was pulled up shortly 

 afterwards, and Tom Jones came to grief about a mile 

 and a quarter from home. Before jumping on to the 

 race-course, Zoedone, Black Prince, Cyrus, Roquefort, 

 Frigate, and Voluptuary were the only competitors left 

 in with any chance of success, and of these, Zoedone, 

 Black Prince, and Cyrus were beaten shortly after 

 entering the straight, where Frigate and Voluptuary 

 drew away, and although Frigate for a moment flattered 

 her backers, she hit the last hurdle very hard, and 

 Voluptuary, flying over in fine style, won rather cleverly 

 at the finish by four lengths ; six lengths between second 

 and third, the last pair being The Scot and Terrier. 

 Time, 10 minutes 5 seconds. This was the first time 

 that Lord Rosebery's cast off had jumped a country 

 in public. The course was in splendid order, and the 

 light plough land was all in favour of the heavy weights 

 for the big race. 



The winner, Voluptuary, after his racing career was 

 over, made a further appearance on the stage of Drury 

 Lane theatre (then under the management of the late 

 Sir Augustus Harris) in the Prodigal Daughter, in 

 which play he, ridden by Mr. Leonard Boyne, jumped 

 the fences as well and as freely as he had done at 



