6io 



A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH TURF. 



them having to pay something towards the deficit. In 1860, however, things looked 

 better ; about a dozen hunts made offerings, and with a jump the added money 

 went up to ,500, the race being won by Mr. B. J. Angell's Bridegroom. In 1863 

 a new departure was made, by the founding of the Grand National Hunt Committee, 

 under whose auspices the race of that year was held, and though it was to be 

 a peripatetic affair, Market Harborough was fixed upon for the fourth time, partly 

 by way of making a start, and especially as over the old course arrangements 

 would be all cut and dried ; but five horses only went to the post. A considerable 

 time before the date came round for the race of 1864 to be run, a circular was 

 issued by the Grand National Hunt Committee which had by this time quite 



settled to harness, and 



' ftLJEW- 1 (AflT /<QnHHHBiHi the race of 1864 is 



memorable from the 

 fact of its being the first 

 to be run under the 

 sole care of the Com- 

 mittee. There were 

 twenty-eight starters, 

 the winner being Mr. 

 T. Behrens's Game 

 Chicken, and it was 

 hoped that this would 

 be the first of a series of 

 brilliant successes. It 

 was not to be, however; 



and it must be sorrowfully confessed that the Grand National Hunt Steeplechase 

 has by no means come up to expectation. The race is remarkable from the fact that 

 one of the competitors, Lord George, in the same stable as Cooksboro\ was ridden 

 by Mr. Conney, a good horseman, though deaf and dumb, who was killed in May, 

 1866, while riding Mr. Stoddart's Whipper-in in the Foxhunter's Plate at Scarriff. 

 Up to 1875 the Grand National Hunt Steeplechase had been run over a natural 

 course, unless Bristol is to be excepted, but in the above year it took place at 

 Sandown Park, as it did in 1888, 1893, and 1895. For the first time in its history 

 the race went to Scotland in 1876, at the Bogside (Irvine) Meeting; and in 1895 

 it joined hands with the Eglinton Hunt Meeting. Liverpool saw the Grand 



Kempton. Making the pace in a maiden hurdle rac 



