ON STEEPLE-CHASING. 291 



The avowed object of steeple-chasing was 

 of course identical with that of fiat-racing — 

 the encouragement of the breed of horses. 

 Both hunters and cavalry horses were 

 thought to have degenerated from their old 

 form and powers, in consequence of the 

 abolition of long-distance racing, and parti- 

 cularly of racing in heats. It was considered 

 that if weights were raised to a minimum 

 of twelve stone, to be carried over four 

 miles of hunting country, the natural 

 result must be the cultivation of a class 

 of animal of superior stamina and capacity. 

 In process of time, however, the fatal mis- 

 take was made of adopting, and for the 

 same reason, the system of handicapping 

 employed by the Jockey (Jlub. Inferior 

 animals were let in at lower weights, while 

 superior ones were brought to their level 

 by such crushing weights (from the racing 

 point of view) as 13st. 61b. and list. 

 There was perhaps some reason for this 



