STEEPLE CHASES. 
285 
It was stipulated that the horses should carry 12st. each, and 
that the race should take place within fourteen miles of London; 
six of the previous subscribers forfeited, and the following four 
agreed to start:— 
Mr. Elmore’s Moonraker, rode by Mr. W. Bean. 
Captain Horn’s Red Rover, rode by the owner. 
Mr. Johnson’s Rattler, rode by J. Tilbury, jun. 
Mr. Anderson’s Grey Grimalkin, rode by J. Anderson. 
It was agreed that the ground should be chosen by a sporting 
gentleman, and that the riders should be kept in ignorance of the 
country till the moment of starting. This was according to the 
true principles of steeple-chasing. The ground ultimately chosen 
was from the Windmill public-house, Beechy Heath, to a field 
adjoining Oxley Wood, a distance of about four miles. A more 
difficult country could not have been selected, being intersected 
with rasping fences, with the addition of two wide brooks, alto¬ 
gether presenting difficulties of no ordinary character at every 
point. The start was most brilliant; Moonraker made all the 
running, and kept the lead throughout, surmounting every im¬ 
pediment in the grandest style, and winning by full one hundred 
and fifty yards. Red Rover and Rattler kept close in his wake, 
while Grimalkin took a wider line, and thus was considerably 
out of his bearing, but still came in second, in consequence of 
Red Rover and Rattler having both had heavy falls ;—the latter 
in following Moonraker over a high timber fence, rolled twice 
over his rider. Captain Horn also had three severe falls, and 
was a good deal bruised, but we hope not seriously, for a bolder 
and more expert rider we have never seen in the field. Moonraker 
came in without the least distress. Red Rover was a most dif¬ 
ficult horse to ride, and especially against such an out-and-outer 
as Moonraker, and over such a rattling country. The distance 
was performed by Moonraker in sixteen minutes and a half. 
MATCH BETWEEN MOONRAKER AND GRIMALKIN. 
After the above gallant race, Mr. Anderson, considering that 
if he had been at a lighter weight, he would have had a better 
chance with Grimalkin, challenged Mr. Elmore to run Moonraker 
again, on the same day, for a hundred sovs. aside, provided he 
would give him half a stone (71b.), and choose fresh ground. To 
this Mr. Elmore at once acceded, and the match was made to 
run at three o’clock. Mr. Hall was named to ride Grimalkin, 
and Mr. Bean to back Moonraker. A new country was selected 
while the horses were refreshing, and at the time appointed they 
were both brought out. The new ground chosen was from 
Scratch Wood, near Barnet, to a field near Buslicy Heath, leav¬ 
ing the reservoir to the right. Moonraker, us in the first race. 
