THE FIRST STEEPLECHASE 81 



A more credible story appeared in the Sportmg Magazine 

 for 1805, under the heading of " An Extraordinary Steeple- 

 chase." The account says : " On the last Wednesday in 

 November came on for decision a match which created 

 much interest in the sporting world, and which amongst 

 that community is denominated a steeplechase ; the parties 

 undertaking to surmount all obstructions, and to pursue in 

 their progress as straight a line as possible. This contest 

 lay between Mr Bullivant of Shroxton, Mr Day of Wymond- 

 ham, and Mr Frisby of Waltham, and was for a sweep- 

 stakes of 100 guineas staked by each. They started 

 from Womack's Lodge at half-past twelve (the riders 

 attired in handsome jockey dresses of orange, crimson, and 

 sky-blue, respectively worn by the gentlemen in the 

 order we have named above) to run round Woodhall Head 

 and back again, a distance somewhat exceeding eight miles. 

 They continued nearly together until they came within 

 a mile and a half of the goal, when Mr Bullivant — on his 

 well-known horse Sentinel — took the lead, and appearances 

 promised a fine race between him and Mr Day ; but, un- 

 fortunately, on passing through a hand-gate, owing partly 

 to a slip, Mr Day's horse's shoulder came in full contact 

 with the gate-post ; the rider was thrown with much 

 violence, and, as well as the horse, was badly hurt. Never- 

 theless, Mr Day remounted in an instant, and continued 

 his course. Mr Bullivant, however, during the interruption 

 made such progress as enabled him to win the race easily. 

 The contest for the second place now became extremely 

 severe between Mr Day and Mr Frisby, and Mr Day only 

 beat his opponent by a neck. The race was performed 

 in 25 min. 32 sec." 



In 1833 Wiltshire had its first steeplechase, and Jem 

 Hills (who was then huntsman to the Vale of White 

 Horse) won it. This event, like many of a similar kind, 

 had its origin in a match made after dinner between Mr 

 Horrocks and Lord Ducie.^ The former matched himself, 

 on one of his own horses, against the whole stud of his 

 Lordship, one to the post, and Jem, the huntsman, to ride. 

 The conditions were that it was to be " 4 miles straight 



1 Lord Ducie was Master of the V.W.H. 1828 to 1843. 



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