MILITARY STEEPLECHASING 265 



who had not ridden a steeplechase or hurdle race was 

 allowed 6 lbs. 



There were fifteen starters, and the result was : — 



Col. Shirley's (7th H.) "Fugleman," 12 st. 



10 lb. (inc. 10 lb. extra) Mr. Fraser i 



Capt. Dyson's (3rd D. G.) " Hawksworth," 



13 St. (inc. 14 lb. extra) Owner. . 2 



Col. Smyth's (i6th L.) "Johnny Oaks," 13 st. 



(inc. 14 lb. extra) Mr. Mirris 3 



The Country Squire went away with the lead to the 

 first fence, a strong flight of posts and rails, dressed with 

 stiff thorn bushes, which all cleared without a mistake. 

 After this The Country Squire and Johnny Oaks 

 alternately made the running to the lane, which was 

 well taken by all except Highlander, and then refusal 

 upon refusal ensued in rapid succession. At the turn for 

 home Johnny Oaks resigned to Hawksworth. The 

 flight of hurdles approaching the distance was hit hard 

 by Hawksworth and knocked down by Fugleman, and 

 half up the distance the latter caught the leader and 

 won a well contested race by two lengths ; a good 

 third. 



In 1852 the race was remarkable for the number of 

 casualties which happened. The winner was Captain 

 Tremayne's (13th Light Dragoons) Palmerston (12 St.), 

 ridden by Mr. Hutchinson, the second being Lord 

 Cardigan's Proceed, carrying 14 st. and ridden by 

 Captain Peel. From the weight carried I am Inclined 

 to think that this Proceed was a well-known steeple- 

 chaser of that name, and which had been bought by 

 Lord Cardigan. At the first fence there were several 

 mishaps, and at each succeeding obstacle there were 

 falls and refusals, but eventually Palmerston beat Pro- 

 ceed by a short length, Waterman being two lengths 

 behind the second. 



