NATIONAL HUNT STEEPLECHASE 227 



Mr. Chaplin, Mr. Craven, and other supporters, no 

 longer lent their patronage to the steeplechase, while 

 the Committee itself was said to be wanting in back- 

 bone to cope with the abuses which had come over 

 steeplechasing generally. Having once, in 1875, tasted 

 of the sweets and conveniences of an enclosed course, 

 the race this year took place at Derby. Unfortunately 

 for the spectators winter came back with something 

 of its old force, and though the snow did not lie long, 

 the inclement weather had a somewhat ill-effect on the 

 attendance. The fences had been looked to and did 

 not err upon the side of insignificance. The field 

 numbered sixteen, a better show than had been seen 

 for several years, but the quality was not particularly 

 high. The favourite was Mr. Vyner's Bellringer, who, 

 besides being built somewhat on hunter lines, had made 

 some respectable appearances on the flat when a two- 

 year-old, and when put to cross-country work took to 

 jumping very kindly. As will be seen from the appended 

 return he was the winner : — 



Mr. Vyner's "Bellringer," aged, 12 st. 



10 lb Mr. A. Coventry i 



„ W. Wilson's "Golden Cross," 6 yrs., 



12 St. 10 lb „ E. P. Wilson 2 



Lord Middleton's " Minotaur," aged, 



12 St. 10 lb Owner .... 3 



Betting: — 2 to i Bellringer; 4 to i Golden Cross; 100 to 8 

 Minotaur. 



In the race itself, Minotaur led for some distance 

 but fell at the fence beyond the stand, while Bellringer, 

 when descending the hill for the fence into the course, 

 took third place, following Golden Cross and Minotaur, 

 who had been remounted. At the last hurdle Bellringer 

 took up the running and won easily by a length ; 

 Minotaur was a bad third. Of the starters Skyscraper 

 was an Australian horse. 



