The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-03-01 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL GREAT STEEPLE CHASE.

[ln our third edition of Tuesday last, we briefly announced
the result of the Great Steeple Chase. Our own report did
not reach us in time to be available for the purpose of inser-
tion that evening. We now subjoin a full detail of the par-
ticulars, for which we are indebted to the Courier.]
If extreme interest, extensive betting, and a strong muster
of the great renowned from all quarters, be any criterion
whereby to judge of the future, the Liverpool Steeple Chase
of 1839 will be long remembered as an event in. the annals of
sporting. Nimrod• regards the Steeple Chase as highly cruel,
and withal dangerous, and on these grounds he thinks it
ought to become unpopular ; subsequently he endeavours to
persuade his readers that it is so, or at least tending- down-
ward in public estimation. However the sport may be ob-
jected to on theiscore of cruelty, and certainly the objections,
so founded are not without considerable show of reason and
evidence, we believe it will never be driven into unpopularity
on the ground of danger incurred by the riders. All those
sports that are attended with some degree of danger have
ever possessed the most absorbing interest. All men of
ardent feelings love moderate danger for the very excitement
which it produces, and the intrepidity which it brings into
action. Hence Steeple Chases are naturally popular. If
those who have endeavoured to make appear otherwise had
but visited Liverpool they would quickly have changed theit
opinion. The town has been perfectly alive with bustle.
Visitors from all quarters, and by all sorts of conveyances,
have poured in upon us—from north and south—from Scot-
land, Wales, and Ireland by steamers, railways, coaches,
chaises, gigs, and waggons. Our inns have been crowded
with gentle and simple ; the taverns and private houses have
been everywhere in request for the accommodation of the
sporting fraternity of all descriptions. Counts Whiskerandos
from Germany and France, hard-riding horse dealers from
Ireland, knowing ones from Scotland, and sporting manufac-
facturers, tradesmen, butchers, graziers, &c. &c., from Man-
chester, Bolton, Wigan, and the neighbourhood surround-
ing. Croxteth, Knowsley, and the mansions of our country
gentry have been crowded with guests, who have exhibited
their " swell turns out" in our streets, jostling the equipages
of our merchants, and astonishing not a few of the natives,
who have heretofore looked with singular self-complacency
on their tiny tilburies and tardily-trotting-tits. In short,
our streets have exhibited an accession of bustle, with an
assemblage tolerably motley, as is usual in such cases—peers,
Corinthians, and peasants jostling with—
" Knowing faded kids
And dandy rats in bloom."
Betting was brisk from the very commencement of busi-
ness, though it was greatly held in check by the uncertainty
as to what horses would start. The entry exhibited a list of
fifty three horses, of which two paid forfeit : a strong field
was therefore confidently expected, and as several of the studs
were animals of high renown for their achievements, there
were not wanting those who are willing to back their favour-
ites, in spite of all the chances that might intervene. The
Nun stood first favourite, with Rust close in her rear. After
these Daxon, Seventy-four, Cannon Ball, Paulina and Rail-
road were held in good esteem. The betting-room at the
Talbot on Monday evening was crowded to suffocation. The
Nun kept the call to the last. The odds then stood as follows :
8 to 1 agst. Lord Macdonald's The Nun.
50 to 3 Mr. Chawner's Daxon.
11 to 1 Sir E. Mostyn's Seventy-four.
lOU to 8 Mr. Haddy's Cannon Ball.
100 to 7 Mr. O'Moore's Barkston.
19 to 1 Mr. Marshall's Railroad.
100 to 5 Captain Childe's Conrad.
20 to 1 Lord Chesterfield's Paulina.
6 to 1 Mr. Kent's Rust.
9 to 1 Mr. Elmore's Lottery.
100 to 5 Mr. Oswell's Dictator.
50 to 3 Mr. Stephenson's True Blue.
50 to 8 Captain Lamb's Jack.
The following were amongst the distinguished persons
present.
Sir Edward and Lady Smyth and party ; Sir Edward and
Lady Blount and party ; Sir Edward Mospn, Mr. Piers
Mostyn, and Mr. Alcocjc ; Colonel Copeland, Colonel Char-
rate ; Mrs. Morgan OTionnell ; Messrs. Maher, Armstrong,
Montgomery, Cox, Butler, Jepson, Wade, Maher, Miles,
Wynne, Ablet, Bevis, Newton, Thelwall, Russell, and
Stubbs ; B. Collett, Esq. and party ; Townson Ince, Esq.
and friend ; Captains Guard and Reid ; Theobald Theobald,
Esq. ; Mr. Justice and party ; Mr. Charlton, Mr. W. T.
Thomson, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Leigh, of Belmont and friend ;
Messrs. Fitzherbert, C. Gifford, Holyoake, Brockles, Ben-
son, Hinde, Lamb and Gibson ; Captains Lamb and Gem-
mill ; Mr. Digby Smith, T. Trafford, Esq., of Trafford-park
and party ; Captains Barron and Markham ; Lord Glenlyon ;
Mr. Knight and party ; Messrs. Benbow ; Messrs. Grundy,
of Bury ; Major M`Giimis ; Messrs. Bayley, Masters, A.
Smith, and Captain Smith ; Captain Henderson and friend ;
Messrs. G. R. Edwards, Ayrton, and Clarke ; Count
Gueisnan • Mr. Hobson ; Messrs. Morgan, Taylor, Down-
ward, andDenman ; Mr. St. George, Mr. Blythe, &c.
The great object of desire with every man whose heart was
set upon the sporting was fine weather. Few, however, dared
to indulge in very sanguine hopes on this subject, as the at-
mosphere had been most capriciously variable for months be-
fore. As it turned out, nothing could be more propitious.
After several tolerably dry days, during which the wind blew
rather boisterously from the westward, the morning of Tues-
day broke calm, bright, and beautiful, and it proved a fore-
taste of what the day was to be: As early as nine o'clock the
road leading to Aintree was crowded with pedestrians of the
usual class, including piemen, chimney sweeps, cigar-cellers,
thimble-riggers, and all the small fry of gaming-table keep-
ers. As the day advanced the road swarmed with passengers
of all descriptions, "from noblemen to tailors," from mer-
chants and wealthy manufacturers to butchers and tinkers,
all hurrying to the scene of action as fast as their several
means of conveyance would permit. Liverpool poured forth
not only its own thousands but the thousands belonging to
other places also. The surrounding country contributed its
quota, and certainly a greater crowd was never before seen on
any race-course than at Aintree on Tuesday. It was one dense
mass of people, in some of the'more recherche points wedged to-
gether, so as to defy motion in those who had once got enclosed.
The Grand Stand had r o accommodation for more than three-
fourths of the people who presented themselves ; and not an
attainable point about the building, even to the very summit
of the chimneys, but was occupied. All the minor stands
were likewise crowded, and, in addition to the vast numbers
dispersed about the course, masses of individuals were seen
here and there far over the country, congregated at the points
where the most dangerous leaps were to be taken.
It was announced that the race was to commence at one
o'clock. It was, nearly three, however, before the horses
were fairly brought on the course. They were paraded about
half-an-hour on the course, opposite the Grand Stand, and
when it became evident what horses were really to start there
euu~icti,ter iooaea
rather too. at, and she was put to some severe galloping be-
fore the race, probably with a view of getting her in wind.
Her style of going was greatly admired. Captain Beecher
showed off upon. Conrad, which appeared in fine condition.
Lottery, also, looked extremely well, and quite in cue for
severe work.
The betting immediately before the start was as follows :-
6 to 1 agst. The Nun
7to 1 Rust
B.to 1 Daxon
9to 1 Railroad
• • 9to 1 Lottery
12 to 1. Seventy-four
12 to 1 Cannon Ball
21 to 1 True Blue
20 to 1 Conrad
20 to 1 Charity, and
30 to 1 any other
The horses, to the number of eighteen, were brought up
for the start shortly after three o'clock, opposite to a side-
gate leilling from the race-course, on the side furthest from
_the Grand Stand. The exit is sufficiently broad, and is into
a lane, divided from the pasture-fields by a high bank, partly
railed and partly topped with gorse and hawthorn. The
steeds went away, beautifully, altogether, and but little di-
vision took place when they leaped or scrambled over the
bank. Captain Beecher, on Conrad, led the way at a slap-
ping pace, apparently determined, as the old adage has it,
" either to win his purse or to lose his saddle." Unfortu-
nately, he did the latter. Through the first three or four
pasture-fields there was nothing out extremely light fencing,
and the horses topped in gallant style everything that stood
before them. The first obstacle that wore the aspect of a
teaser was a deep ditch, about five feet wide, on the further
side of which was a high bank. The high-mettled fellows
made nothing of this,—they flew over it like birds, and were
presently labouring through a deep, light soil, from which
young wheat was springing. They next dashed over a high
bank into a grass-field,,where Captain Beecher was still look-
ing back at his competitors, Daxon, Lottery, True Blue, Dic-
tator, and Paulina, in a line behind him. The field in which
the riders now found themselves was a very wide one, and
one half of it had been recently subjected to a very deep
ploughing. Here was something for them to tug through,
and a laborious run it was while it lasted. The fence oppo-
site the field now, was one of the most awkward of the series.
It was what the jocks are in the habit of denominating a
" nasty jump. " First there was a strong paling, next a
rough high jagged hedge, and lastly a brook about six feet
wide. Nothing daunted, the foremost riders pushed their
horses and charged it gallantly. Conrad smashed through
the palings and rolled over into the brook. Lottery cleared
it, followed by two or three others, two or three of the quiet
ones, who could choose their ground, passed close over Bee-
cher, and letting him feel the wind of their heels. One un-
lucky wight here parted company with his horse, which took
a fancy to have a gallop by himself over easier ground. Bee-
cher was soon again in the saddle and scampering after his
fellows, who had topped on every fence at the corner of the
meadow, turning at a right angle from the brook. Here
some play was made across a smooth pasture field, from
whence a flying leap over a hedge, which all took in the best
possible style, the riders were carried into a rough ploughed
field. Another hedge cleared with the same alacrity as be-
fore,' brought them opposite to a leap which was expected to
try both men and horses. After clearing the hedge, it was
necessary immediately to turn short round to the left. At a
distance of not more than twenty yards was a high hedge,
bank, and rails, on the other side of which was a piece of
water, let in for the purpose, full 15 feet wide, the field ad-
joining which is six feet lower than that from which the leap
was to be taken. Captain Beecher who had again come up
to the front, was the first to push at this, but Conrad seemed
to have no mind for so much exertion. He dashed away
the, rails and, tumbled headlong into the water, rolling
over his rider and floundering about after a most extra-
ordinary fashion. Rust followed next, but his rider was
more fortunate than the Captain, for he got remounted
and resumed the chase, while the latter who had got a
thorough immersion lost his horse into the bargain. Dax-
on, Lottery, and the rest flew over gallantly, and were
presently pushing with what speed they might over a
ploughed field, which tried their mettle sorely. The next
leap was a particularly ugly one, into a field which was
higher by four feet in some places than that from which
the horses had to spring. They had to pass over
a bank surmounted by a low hedge, (in some places a
strong rail) next to which was a ditch fenced by another
rail. Most of the steeds took this at the easiest part, where
the double rail and ditch were taken at a flying leap, the two
fields being there almost on a level. From this point it was
"plain sailing" across easy fences to the lower, end of the
race course. Here turning to the left the horses were brought
by a straight run into the training ground, at the upper end of
which was a stone wall, five feet high, erected for the occa-
sion. This was exactly opposite the grand stand, and it was
expected to prove a teaser to more than one. Here however,
the lieges were doomed to disappointment. The first horse
that came up was Barkston, who turned himself quietly
away, as if he refused to try the dangerous experiment, till
he had seen how others, proved. Lottery, the Nun, and
Paulina, came up next, and successively got over with ease.
Lottery, in particular, flew over like a cat. It was observed
that the, fencing of this horse throughout was most splendid.
Barkston, when he saw how easy it was, walked coolly up to
the wall, and sprung over it with the utmost ease. Several
of the horses knocked off portions of the stone and turf, and
made' a gap in the wall, which allowed "the tail," to get
through without much trouble.

After this straining task of more than two miles, the horses
had to gallop about half a mile to the starting post, and then
go over the same severe ground a second time. It was rightly
said, that he who won this race would have performed his
work. The second run, however, was a little easier than the
first, as the horses and men not only knew what they were
going to leap at, but the broken banks and fences left them a
clearer course. Accordingly, all was well and effectually
managed till they came to the great leap at the piece of arti-
ficial water before-mentioned. Dictator, ridden by Carlin, took
the leap about ten yards further on than the rest of the field.
He got well over, but from some cause or other stumbled and
fell head foremost on the oppositeside. He was all in a heap,
and it was plain he was much strained. The rest flew over