Gentlemen Riders 



Flat racing, however, had no charm for the Marquis ; the 

 sister sport, probably on account of the element of danger in 

 connection with it, being much more to his taste. Accordingly, 

 soon after leaving Oxford, we find him riding and winning his 

 first steeplechase on a horse named Hawk, over the stiff 

 Roxburgh course in County Gal way ; amongst the jumps 

 being included four five-feet walls, the last of which measured 

 five feet nine, where Hawk took it. The following year he 

 won the same race on Rollo for Mr. Perose. 



In 1830, Lord Clanricarde brought over a little Irish horse 

 called Nailer to run in the first St. Albans steeplechase, and 

 finished second, despite the fact that his mount was palpably 

 out of condition. 



The race was won by Lord Ranelagh's grey horse, Wonder, 

 ridden by Captain Macdowall of the Guards, and that Lord 

 Clanricarde's fame had preceded him is proved by the fact, 

 that when the Captain asked how he was to ride the horse, he 

 was told that he was to pay no attention to anybody, but that 

 he was to v/ait upon the Marquis. These directions were 

 carried out to the letter by Captain Macdowall, who, sticking as 

 close as wax to his lordship all the wa}', beat Nailer for speed 

 at the finish, and won. The two came in some long way in 

 advance of the others. 



Soon after this the Marquis won a couple of steeplechases 

 in the Metropolitan district for Jack Elmore on Moonraker, a 

 tremendous puller, but such a big jumper, that he is said to 

 have cleared a lane with his lordship in a steeplechase decided 

 somewhere near the Edgware Road. Hertfordshire lanes, 

 however, are frequently so narrow, that it might not in reality 

 be so difficult a task as it reads on paper. 



Lord Clanricarde hunted with Mr. Grantley Berkeley's stag- 

 hounds at Cranford, and with the Oakley after that gentleman 



