2 12 In Scai4et and Silk 



comparatively short distance on the fiat, and 

 not wlien lie has to lift them over big fences, 

 at a time of the year when the ground is 

 almost invariably in a heavy state, and under 

 conditions which make the course two miles 

 in length at the very least." I believe that 

 most owners and trainers will agree that the 

 change has been a beneficial one. 



The worst place to fall on the average steeple- 

 chase course is at the guard-railed ditch. I 

 have seen horses brought down in all manner 

 of ways at this ridiculous obstacle. I say 

 " ridiculous," because it is not natural to make 

 a steep-sided cutting in smooth turf where no 

 growth gives evidence of what there is to be 

 jumped, erect a foot-high rail in front of it, 

 and then expect a horse to get over that and 

 the fence beyond, unless he has been specially 

 trained to it. No one objects to a ditch on 

 the take off side of a fence ; it is begging 

 the question when men ask you this. The 

 nicest steeplechase fence I ever rode over was 

 the " ditch fence " on the Brackley course, 

 bnt then it ivas a ditch, and no guard-rail 



