222 STEEPLECHASING 



The farmers about Aylesbury are known to be 

 excellent sportsmen, and on this occasion it occurred 

 to several men who hunted from Leighton that an 

 opportunity presented itself to show how much the 

 keenness of the farmers was appreciated by giving a 

 luncheon on each day. The late Hon. Robert Grimston 

 and Mr. John Foy were the prime movers in the matter ; 

 a big marquee was erected, and, like the Mad Hatter's tea 

 party, luncheon went on nearly all day. " They deserve 

 everything we can do for them," said that good sportsman, 

 Mr. Grimston, referring to the farmers. 



The steeplechase resulted as follows : — 



Mr. Vyner's " Lucellum " (bred in France), 



5 yrs., 12 St. I lb Capt. Smith i 



„ A. Peel's "The Ballot," aged, 12 st. 



10 lb Owner . . 2 



,, T. Stevens, jun.'s "St. Domingo," 4 yrs., 



10 St. 10 lb Mr. Thomas 3 



Betting: — 100 to 30 Lucellum ; 100 to i St. Domingo. 



A capital start took place, but after a field or two 

 had been traversed, the pace materially diminished. 

 Happy Land and Melton Mowbray collided and came to 

 grief, while Melton Mowbray refused again at the posts 

 and rails at the back of the stand, and at the following 

 fence Happy Land came down and went on riderless. 

 The Ballot and The Booby, side by side, cleared the 

 water jump in advance, Lady Napier and Cracknell 

 falling on landing. At the fence beyond the favourite 

 rushed to the front, but on entering the straight the 

 first time round gave way to Daddy Longlegs. By- 

 and-by Captain Smith let Lucellum go and eventually 

 won in a canter by ten lengths ; The Ballot and 

 St. Domingo were the only other competitors which 

 passed the post. Captain Riddell unfortunately broke 

 his collar-bone by the falling of Minster. 



