THE FIRST STEEPLECHASE 87 



Clasher for looo guineas, made while he and Captain Ross 

 were shooting a match at pigeons at the Red House, 

 Battersea. Clinker had always a first-rate reputation as a 

 fencer, and the Squire was to have ridden him the previous 

 year against Clasher, but the horse falling lame, the match 

 went off, according to the articles. The Captain happening 

 to mention that Clasher was going up at Tattersalls that 

 afternoon, the subject was renewed, and, after a great deal 

 of chaffing, the match was remade, with the condition of 

 the Squire riding — a proceeding he rather objected to, as 

 at the time he was High Sheriff of Yorkshire — but as the 

 stipulation was a si7ie qua non, he consented. The line 

 chosen was from Dalby Windmill to Lipton, in Leicester- 

 shire ; and Dick Christian, then in his zenith, was put upon 

 Clasher. The attendance was commensurate with the 

 interest the event created, and thousands of pounds de- 

 pended upon the result. With a view to frightening the 

 Squire, the owner of Clasher told Dick to follow in his 

 track, and to ford the brook for the purpose of saving his 

 horse. These tactics, however, had quite the contrary 

 effect to that anticipated, as the following only made the 

 Squire more determined, while, as he jumped the brook, the 

 wading gave him a good lead and he won by the skin of 

 his teeth. 



On another occasion, when Master of the Pytghley, 

 Osbaldeston beat Captain Ross on Polecat with his own 

 horse Pilot. He also won two steeplechases on Grimaldi, 

 who ran second to Moon-raker for the great St Alban's 

 race, which was then looked upon much as the Grand 

 National is now. In the Harrow country he won on 

 Grimaldi, beating Moon-raker ; and over a frightfully severe 

 course at Dunchurch he defeated General Charittie on his 

 grey horse Napoleon. On the flat he was hardly as good 

 as he was in a steeplechase ; but, take him all round, the 

 Squire was hard to beat, and it is not too much to say that 

 no horseman of the century surpassed him in skill, boldness, 

 and endurance. 



