Chapter XIII 



THE STEEPLECHASER AND HIS SCHOOLING 



WENTY years ago/' as the old man 

 in " Adonis " used to say, the 

 writer was once commissioned by a 

 sporting friend to look out for a 

 thoroughbred suitable for making into a steeple- 

 chase horse. After diligent inspection of various 

 winners, etc., the would-be purchaser was in- 

 formed that there was nothing among the success- 

 ful horses (on the flat) that " looked the part " 

 for the cross-country game, and the reply has 

 never been forgotten, for wisdom and conciseness 

 quite unique. " You are watching the wrong 

 end of the races," it ran. " Never mind the 

 winners on the flat ; see what is in front — and 

 stops — at four furlongs. If he gallops rather 

 high, and seems to give up because he can't 

 carry that action at the pace, buy him." This 

 epitome has since proved almost invariably 

 true. 



i8o 



