18 THE ENGLISH TURF 



of the going, and of course it may have been very deep. 

 Cloister, it will be remembered, won on "the top of the 

 ground," but he made all his own running, and in my 

 opinion this performance, and that of the same horse in 

 the Sefton steeplechase twenty months later, when he won 

 by twenty lengths, after again making his own running, 

 stamp Mr. Duff's horse as the greatest chaser of all times. 

 There are many who will urge that Manifesto won the 

 Grand National under the same weight as Cloister, and that 

 the first-named beat the better-class field, but I have always 

 thought that Cloister has the best of the argument because 

 he made his own running, and because of the ridiculous ease 

 with which he won, and I also think that his Sefton steeple- 

 chase victory was the greatest cross-country achievement 

 I ever saw or heard of. Some, no doubt, will argue that 

 the Liverpool course was much severer in Lottery's day 

 than it is now, but on this head I cannot write with certainty, 

 and can only say that I see no change worth talking about 

 in five-and-twenty years. The fences now average five feet 

 in height ; indeed only one or two are less, and if the 

 " table " jump has disappeared the open ditches have taken 

 its place as formidable obstacles. I know that certain old- 

 time race-goers, especially ex-steeplechase jockeys, tell one 

 year by year that the course is smaller and easier every 

 time they see it, but if we are to believe these worthies the 

 fences must have been ten feet high at least in Lottery's day, 

 and the brooks quite as many yards wide. Whatever it may 

 have been, Liverpool is still by far the biggest steeplechase 

 course in existence, and Cloister's time of just over 9 min. 

 42 sec. is a magnificent piece of work. A propos of Cloister, 

 it is pleasant to know that he is ending his days in luxurious 

 ease. Many owners care little what becomes of a horse 

 whose racing or stud value has come to an end, but 

 Mr. Duff, whose colours Cloister carried at Liverpool, has 

 provided most liberally for his old slave, who is growing 

 old at the establishment of the Messrs. Rich, near Wembly, 

 provided with the roomiest of boxes, the best of provender, 

 and the smartest of clothing. Every day he is led out for 

 a quantum of exercise, and I learn that he has developed 



