CHAPTER VIII 



THE FIRST STEEPLECHASE AND 

 ITS SEQUEL 



Steeplechasing is a sport of considerable antiquity, and 

 those who have searched for its beginnings say that its 

 origin can be traced back as far as the year 1752. Ireland 

 seems to have been the land of its birth. An old MS. in 

 the possession of the O'Briens of Bromoland records a 

 match run in that year over 4^ miles of country, between 

 Mr O'Callaghan and Mr Edmund Blake, the course 

 being from the Church of Buttevant to the spire of St 

 Leger Church. Such matches were probably common 

 enough, but it was not till 1803 that what is spoken of as 

 "the first regular steeplechase" was got up in Ireland. 

 The festivity of a hunt dinner inspired the match-makers, 

 who agreed to ride for a sweepstake — but neither date, 

 course, nor figures are given. The " added money " was 

 a hogshead of claret, a pipe of port, and a quarter cask 

 of rum. 



There is a much greater wealth of detail in the record of 

 the first steeplechase ever run in England. We have 

 names, dates, incidents of the race, all " according to Cocker." 

 1 subjoin a condensed version of the narratives. 



On a certain evening in December 1803, in the mess- 

 room of the cavalry officers then quartered in Ipswich, a 

 young captain named Hansum challenged anyone in the 

 regiment to run against a favourite grey horse of his, 

 4 miles across country, for a " pony," As the place was 

 very dull at the time, a chorus of voices cried, " Done ! 

 done ! " " Four miles and a half, from here to Nacton 

 Church, now. It's a moonlight night, the weather open, 

 and the country clear." 



79 



