6G0 
IIF:VIEW.—THE ORACI.E OF RURAL LIFE. 
done away with on race-courses, out of a feeling of humanity to¬ 
wards the horses. Secondly, the number of good horses which 
have fallen a sacrifice to their exertions in contests of this nature, 
clearly shew that we are trespassing on the powers of a noble 
animal beyond what his nature can endure, and far beyond what 
our dominion over him justifies. Again, the practice of steeple 
chases meets with disapprobation from several distinguished 
sportsmen. They contend that, in addition to the objections 
already stated, it is likely to operate against the more legiti¬ 
mate sport of fox-hunting; and this in various ways. It causes 
farmers to complain of injury done to their land, which they 
would overlook in the case of hunting ; and it has been found to 
create a jealous spirit amongst followers of hounds, very preju¬ 
dicial to sport. It has likewise opened a door to fraud, by having 
horses placed in the race by a previous understanding amongst 
their owners; is a prolific source of wrangling, and has been 
chiefly profitable to horse-dealers and black-legs. It must, ne¬ 
vertheless, be admitted, that a steeple-race over a good country, 
and one which will admit of its being seen from end to end, is 
an exceedingly interesting sight, although not divested of anxiety 
for the fate of the horses or their riders. A peculiar style of 
horsemanship is considered necessary for if, not every day to be 
met with. Independently of undaunted courage, the steeple¬ 
chase rider must have these qualifications :—He must have a cool 
head and a very quick eye; the first, to prevent the possibility 
of mistakes; the next, to enable him to make the most of his 
ground, and to observe with minuteness the situation of his va¬ 
rious competitors in the race. The most eminent of this class of 
riders are Messrs. Becher, Powell, Mason, Oliver, and Sadler. 
Horses intended for steeple chases require a system of training 
somewhat different from the race-horse. They require a series of 
long-continued work to give full force to their muscles; but they 
must not be deprived too much of their flesh, nor ‘ drawn too 
fine,’ as the racing term is, by sweating, forasmuch as the weight 
they carry is far above racing weight, and good flesh is strength. 
‘^Two of the most conspicuous steeple-chase horses of the last 
few years were Grimaldi and Vivian, both of which were sacri¬ 
ficed to this, by some considered as miscalled, diversion. Gri¬ 
maldi dropped down dead under Mr. Becher, just after running 
his race, having burst a bloodvessel in his stomach, near the 
region of the heart. Mr. Wardropp, surgeon to George the 
Fourth, obtained his heart after a post-mortem examination, and 
found it of unusual dimensions. In the Daventry steeple-chase 
of last year one horse was drowned, and another died from ex¬ 
haustion immediately after the race.” 
