The Sun.
London, England, 1834-04-01 00:00:00

STEEPLE CHASE, STOURBRIDGE.

A steeple chase took place near Stourbridge, on
Wednesday morning last for 100 sovereigns. The
celebrity of the horses and the riders drew together a
vast concourse of spectators to witness this interesting
match. The parties were Mr. Joseph Anderson, of
London, and Mr. Ball, of Coleshill ; they each rode
their own horses over a four miles of country, selected
by Mr. Quartermain, of Oxford, and Mr. Weston ;
and this was admirably managed for the pedestrians,
who, from a rising field, could witness the whole of the
race, which was two miles out, and to return to the
starting place. Mr. Anderson took the lead with
Donna Maria, clearing a high and strong gate, followed
closely by Mr. Ball, on The Fiddler. They kept to-
gether for about four fields, taking their fences admi-
rably, and going at a good pace ; but a double high
and stiff park paling induced both horses to refuse se-
veral times ; and, finding this insurmountable, they
both took another line ; and it appeared evident at this
point that The Fiddler was the fastest horse. Donna
Maria, however, took the straightest line, and in re-
turning it was any body's race ; and Mr. Anderson,
hoping that his mare would take the double paling,
returned to the spot she had refused in going ; nor was
he more fortunate, for the mare would not face it at all.
It was now evident that The Fiddler must win ; for,
taking a further line, he avoided the difficulty ; and the
mare having refused obstinately, Mr. Anderson was
obliged to decline all further.effort, although, had the
mare got over the paling, she had every chance of
winning. Thus terminated a steeple chase between
two of the most celebrated hunters in this part of the
kingdom.
The parties and their friends afterwards met at the
Talbot, in Stourbridge, when the day terminated in
the greatest harmony and conviviality.
Donna Maria was purchased, at a great price, from
Mr. Smith.—Birmingham Journal.

STEEPLE CHASE, from CHURCHDOWN
HILL TO WESTAL.
2yrom the Cheltenham Journal of Monday. )

This race came off to-day at the appointed hour.
Colonel Gilbert, umpire for Mr. Thompson, and Capt.
J. Probyn, umpire for Mr. Lucas, went over the
ground, and had it marked out with crimson flags,
which the riders were to keep on the right. Captain
Jenner who rode Mr. Lucas's ch. g. Harlequin in ex-
cellent style, wore a pink jacket, with a white cap ; and
Mr. H. Peyton (eldest son of Sir H. Peyton), who
rode Mr. Thompson's, b. m. Primrose, and is con-
sidered one of the first Steeple Chase riders in the
county, wore a purple jacket, with crimson cap.
The signal was given at four minutes past two
o'clock, and they went away gallantly, the mare taking
the lead, getting first through the brook, and keeping
a-head till she reached the second fence, when Mr.
Peyton fell with her, but was almost instantly re-
mounted. The horse took the lead, which he kept at
a steady pace for nearly three quarters of a mile, when
the mare recovered her lost ground ; but in running
for a gate, which was closed, she was again thrown
out ;;the horse taking a fence, saving some distance
thereby and getting the advantage. But she again
came up, passed him, and kept the lead till within a
quarter of a mile of home, where there was a severe
struggle at the fence, which they took together. The
horse then took the lead, and kept it to the close, win-
ning by a neck only, which may probably be attributed
to the fall of the mare.
The race was admirably contested, but the riders

experienced great difficulty in making their way through
the numerious equipag::s and the crowd that thronged
the course. The interest taken in this race was suffi-
ciently evinced by the immense concourse of people
assembled to witness it. There were at least ten
thousand persons collected on the occasion, and the
weather was most favourable throughout. _ _

This sporting match was made at the Berkeley
Hunt Dinner, on Saturday, January 18th, when the
following conditions were drawn up by our Member,
the hen. Craven Berkeley :
" Mr. Pearson Thompson's b. m. Primrose,
" Mr. Hurd Lucas's ch. g. Harlequin.
" 11si. each, 200 sovereigns aside, half forfeit. Gen-
tlemen riders, From Chosen Hill to Bay's Hill ; the
day after the Cheltenham meeting."
By mutual consent, the day of running was altered,
in order to allow both or either of the horses to run at
the ensuing races. Up to Saturday, Mr. Thompson's
iilare was the favourite for choice ; the odds being six
to fpur ; but owing to the rain of yesterday and last
night, which was supposed from the heaviness of the
Ground to be e .*crainst the mare, the odds were this day
Is
in favour of the h,!.11e.
The mare was purt•thased before the race by Mr.
Peyton, who rode her cleverly. We this morning no-
ticed the report that Mr. Thompson had backed the
mare to complete the distance in fteen minutes. We
can now state, the horses reached he winning-post,
in the field in front of Mr. Thompson's Ziew house, in
fourteen minutes from the time of starting, a distance
of four miles and a half.

A steeple chid sweepstakes, of 10 sovs. each, will
come off on Friday next? the day after the Chelten-
ham Spring Meeting. Should the weather prove pro-
pitious, one of the gayest and most interesting scenes
may be expected that has ever beCtl witnessed in that
neighbourhood. The following luZses have been
already entered ;—Mr. Baillie's Sir Clifford, Mr.
Crowther's Chasseuse, Mr. Doyne's WooJert-legged
Sailor, Mr. Patrick's Columbus, Mr. Bluci;:s Dort
Giovanni, Mr. Hawkshaw's The Colonel, Mr. Dut-
ton's Emperor, Mr. Taylor's Giantess, Mr. Doyley
Fugleman, and Colonel Gilbert's Conrad. Lord Sea-
grave, Messrs. Ackers, F. Cregoe, R. Snow Paul,
Brown, and Meyrick, are subscribers, but did not
name.