The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-26 00:00:00

LEAMINGTON GREAT STEEPLE CHASE.

The race " came off" as the sporting fraternity term it, on
Friday last. The initiated will be aware, that it was for a
sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each, half forfeit, with 200 guineas
added by the town of Leamington, for horses of all denomina-
tions, carrying 12 stone each, with the other usual conditions
of a steeple chase. The stewards were Sir John Gerard and
Major Vivian. The following are the names of the horses
that started and those of their riders :—Lord Macdonald's b. m.
The Nun, rode by W. Al'llonough ; Sir Edward's Mostyn's
Seventy-four, Oliver ; Count Bath_yany's Fury, owner ; Mr.
Robertson's Wattle, Patrick ; Mr Elmore's b. g. Lottery, J.
Mason ; 's b. g. Jerry, W. Bean ; Mr. Newcombe's
Cannon Ball, Carlin ; 'Mr. Vever's Charity, Powell; Mr.
Bruce's The Miller, Martin ; Mr. Lambden's br. b. Trans-
port, Power ; 's ch. g. Splendour, Barker.
Since the Liverpool Steeple Chase the Leamington race has
been looked forward to as the event of the sporting world, and
the interest was increased by the knowledge that most of the
horses which made a prominent feature there were to be again
competitors at Leamington. Lottery was the favourite; but the
Nun, Seventy-four, Jerry, Charity, and others found their ad-
mirers. The betting against Lottery varied from 3t02 to 2
to 1, and 4 to 1 against Seventy-four, 6 to 1 against the Nun,
6 to 1 against Charity, and 6 to 8 to 1 against the Cannon Ball
were betted. Even 8 to 1 against the Nun was obtained the
night before, which was the more freely betted, as it was
doubtful, till the morning, both as to whether she would start
and who was to be her'rider.

Leamington was, of course, filled with strangers from all
parts of the country. The ground to be run over was about
four miles, and it is described as being of a very trying nature
for both horses and riders. Many of the leaps were very severe.
The worst of them was at Witnash-brook, towards which the
line led at a considerable declivity. It is thus described in the
Coventry Herald and Observer :—" On arriving at this
point it was necessary to make a short turn to the left, over a
fence, and the brook was then close at hand, with the flags so
placed that no selection was possible, and the only chance
was to go straight at it, and get over in the best
way that chance would let you. It was, indeed, a com-
plete trap, and the curses it produced among the jockeys
were both loud and deep. It was at the end of a steep de-
clivity, with a villanous turn at the bott.m, close to the fence,
which, being cleared, the brook lay at the right hand, the point
where it was to be crossed being w ithin a dozen yards, and at
right angles with the fence just crossed. The banks were
high, broken, and soft, the opposite one being considerably
raised, with pollard willows thickly set together, and leading
from a bog into a ploughed ;field. Jem Mason, after looking
at it, very aply described it : Come along, said lie, • it's like
physic, the longer you look at it the less liking you'll have
for it.' "
At starting Charity took the lead, and, in the early part of
the race, some falls occurred, and several fences were refused,
particularly by Cannon Ball, who thus quickly threw away all
his chance at the outset. The heavy ground from the summit
of a hill tried the mettle of the, horses, and several were down
at the second brook. Several of the horses gave in before
arriving a second time at the brook, and, by the time the
horses had surmounteA the opposite hill, only five competitors
were left. These were Lottery, Charity, Wattle, Seventy-
four, and the Nun. Lottery was leading in a style which
showed his power of beating everything near him with
case, though all were lying well together. On coming
into the road and over the bridge, everyhorse refused the fence,
which was exceedingly awkward and difficult, the ground de-
clining steeply towards it from the road, and being very high
and strong. Lottery was at length crammed through it, fol-
lowed by the others. One fence more led to the brook, which
he cleared like a deer, and went forward in the most beautiful
manner. Charity and the Nun followed him over, but Se-
venty-four went into the brcok without attempting to
leap it, and have Oliver a smart ducking, and this example
was immediately followed by Wattle. Both riders were, how-
lever, out in a moment and on the opposite bank, with the reins
in their hands, and dragged cut their horses with as little
oss of time as possible. This refreshing cold bath had an
amazing effect upon Seventy-four, who dashed along at a pace
which, a minute before, would have done all that could be de-
sired. By this time Lottery was several fields in advance, and
had left his competitors apparently without a hope. But, alas!
like many another whose tiiumph has seemed secure, his laurels
shrunk from his grasp just as it was closing upon them. He
took the wrong side of a flag, and was obliged to turn back to
make it good. The race, however, was still his own, but, by
another unfortunate chance, he refused his fence when about
three fields from the winning-post, and Charity and the Nun,
who had nearly got up to him on his first mistake, cleared it
without hesitation.
Charity then made a desperate struggle and was first in the
winning field by two or three lengths. The Nun then came
in, with Lottery about the same distance behind her. Charity,
however, could not keep his place though urged to the utmost
point : the Nun gained upon him, and Lottery gained upon the
Nun, till a few yards from the winning-post, it was impossible
to judge which was to be victor. The Nun, however, con-
trived to get about half-a-neck before him, and Lottery was so
close behind them, that, had the race extended a dozen yards
beyond, he must have won it. Seventy-four came up a bad
fourth, and Wattle a worse fifth.
It was immediately declared by Powell that the Nun had
passed on the wrong side of a flag, which was, however, denied
by her rider with energy. In consequence of this, the decision
of this race was postponed, though the general opinion was,
that it would be decided in favour of the Nun. Lottery looked
fresh and vigorous in comparison with the others. Charity
was most dreadfully and even cruelly punished.

The substitution of a fixed salary of 1351. a year
for mail coach guards, in lieu of all fees and perquisites
from passengers, is now extended generally wan country,
and a departure from the regulation, by accepting any pre-
sent or gratuity whatever, will subject the party to dis-
I missal.—Limerick Chronicle.