224 
CJ)c Spotting Department. 
The late Steeple Chase between Moonraker and 
Grimaldi. 
Although we are somewhat inclined to regard the steeple 
chase, as “ a relic of ancient fool-hardiness and cruelty, and an 
exhibition not very creditable to the head or the heart of him who 
is engaged in it,” yet the one which was lately decided in the 
neighbourhood of St. Albans excited so much interest in the 
sporting world, that we are induced to preserve a record of it. 
Moonraker, the property of Mr. Elmore, a respectable horse- 
dealer, had lately won two sweepstakes of this kind. The owner 
was proud of him, the proprietors of the vanquished were jea¬ 
lous, and it was determined to get up a third chase, for which 
some of the most celebrated hunters of the south would probably 
be entered, and in which the real merit of this horse would be 
fairly put to the test. The stakes were ten guineas—the dis¬ 
tance four miles—the weight eleven stone, seven pounds—the last 
horse to pay the second horse’s stake, and the winner to be sold 
for 400 guineas, if demanded within three hours after the race. 
Twenty horses were entered, Mr. Osbaldeston chosen umpire, 
and Mr. Coleman (of the Turf Hotel) clerk of the race, Thurs¬ 
day March the 8th the appointed day, and the course from Ellen 
Brook Green, on the borders of Colney Heath, to Mr. Coleman’s 
paddock. 
Among the horses were, Mr. Elmore’s Moonraker, ridden by 
Mr. Seffert; Mr. Evans’s Grimaldi, by Mr. MostynJ; Captain 
Horne’s Lucifer, by the owner; Mr. Thomas’s Corinthian Kate, 
by Captain Beecher ; Mr. Cox’s Rough Robin, by Mr. Osbaldes- 
ton’s whipper-in; Mr. Orbell’s Bloomfield, by Mr. Codrington ; 
Col. Charitie’s Napoleon, by Mr. Crommelin; Mr. Neville’s 
Hotspur, by Mr. Bean ; Mr. Thornhill’s Creeper, by Mr. Pa¬ 
trick ; and Mr. Lelly’s Bounce, by Mr. Parker. 
Moonraker and Grimaldi were the favourites: the bets were 
three to one against each of them, and six to one against Creeper 
and Bounce. Even betting these four against the field. 
At half past three they went off in gallant style. It would be 
difficult at such a moment to say which had the advantage. Luci¬ 
fer, however, led the way, and the rest followed at a round pace. 
The first two or three fences were well taken ; but in the third 
field, Captain Beecher, on Corinthian Kate, had a fall, and his 
mare ran half across the meadow before he could catch her and 
