The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-06 00:00:00

THE STEEPLE=CHASE COURSE

The distance to be run was between four and five miles—
say about four miles and a half. The ground to be travelled
over differed very little from that of last year's " chase" ;
for it was indispensible that a view of the race should be
obtained from the stands (the centre of equestrian business);
and the fields to the eastward, confined northward by the
canal, were alone available.
The starting point was from the south bend of the course,
not far from the stables. The first leap was into the lane
on the east. over an iron rail of 3 feet 5 inches in height.
The lane is about 11 yards in width. The next leap is
diagonally across, and the highest of the whole. It consists
of a ditch, a cop, and a hedge. The height, to clear the
hedge is 7 feet 11 incises. The adjoining field is one half
ploughed, and the other half stubble. And we may here re-
mark, that a much greater surface of ploughed land was to be
run over this year than last.

The next or third leap was over a ditch, hedge, and cop,
the base or horizontal line to clear which was 10 feet. A
soft harrowed field was then to be gone through.
The fourth leap was of a ditch, &c. base of all 16 feet, al-
lowing for clearance. _ _

The fifth leap was similar to the last, but not so great.
After passing a small field, an easy leap led to a rough
ploughed field of considerable length.
The sixth leap was one of the most difficulty—a rail, and
ditch of considerable depth. To clear all, horsemen estimate
that a span must be made the base of which would be 20 feet
5 inches.

The course next sharply rounds the corner of a meadow,
where a leap (No. 7) of considerable height must be made,
but of no great danger. The rise is 6 feet against a cop and
broken hedge, and the affair is accomplished in a " general
scramble" up stairs.
Nothing important occurs until close to the canal, and just
on the turn to go home. Here the leap (say No. 8) is one
of great extent, and of considerable danger. It consists of
first a cop and rail, of 4 ft. Gin. in height together; and next
a pent-up brook or sheet of water, three teet deep. The
base to be spanned in this leap was not less than nine-
teen feet. The ground on the alighting side is lower
than on the side from which the leap is taken. Here
last year, one of the horses dislocated its neck. We
must remark, however, that this, and all the other great
leaps were reduced to a small degree, by the narrowing of
ditches, the lowering of railings, &c.
The next (No. 9) was also difficult. It consisted of a
ditch, with a. rail on the other side of it, the ditch to be
leaped first. The base, to clear all, is 13 feet. This is a for-
midable obstacle; the rail being on the landing side. Here
last year, one of the horses fell, and died on the spot.
Alter an unimportant leap, we come to the two lane leaps
(No. 10), at the canal bridge. The first is 4 feet in height,
over a rail and broken hedge ; the second (the lane only in-
tervening) over a clipped hedge, of about 5 feet in height.
The horses are then in the ground on which the race course
is staked out, and the only remaining leap (No. 11) is over
the dry stone wall nearly opposite the Grand Stand, the
height of which varied from 4 feet 6 in. to 4 feet 10 in. The
horse in the inner part of the course would here have the ad-
vantage. _ _ _