Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-05-04
rHH HANDICAp sTEEPLE CHASE,

THU HANDICAP STEELE CHASE,
for apdrse ofs$sOO, slO0 to go to sec
ond horse, about two miles, over a fair
hunting course, brought out Blind Tom,
Mary Hennessy, Temple and Tom Cor
bett. The race was about as comical an
exhibition Of the noble art Of horseman-
ship as could we'll be imagined. Eleven
hurdles, board fences water-gaps, dry
bitches, etc., had been built in order to
give the spectators an idea Of hunting
country. The horses got over the first
and second barrier cleverly, but the third
with water-gap attachment on the out
side, was too much for them. As each
animal reached the wooden barrier he
saw the water on the other side, and
wheeled Immediately. 4, A dozen times
were the, gallant Steeds led up to the
fence, but in vain. A dozen negro ur-
chins, armed with clubs and Jumps OF
dirt, pelted the horses from a rearward
standpoint, but what ayailed it2 At last,
Mary Hennessy went sideways over it,
avoided the water, and proceeded on her
way rejoicing. She leaped the other
barriers, and returned to the water leap
Ia distance Of mile) before any of the
other horses could be induced to cross
the Rubicon. This gap the fair Hennes-
sy took at flying leap, and went on
ward, cantering in an easy manner to-
wards the goal, amid the screams Of the
spectators. nI IN 80 isaeau
Tom Corbett at last broke over the bar
rier, but stuck at the next one, where he
remained for at least ten minutes, until
Blind Tom joined him. Neither could
be induced to take any but dissolying
view of the pastures Oh the other side.
Mary Hennessy, in the meantime, was
progressing slowly over the leaps on the
way home. The little negroes at last
scared Blind Tom, Tom Corbett and
Temple over the fence, and they went on
to the next, where the same invitation
had to be extended. The riders, in the
meantime, had preserved that cheerful
expression Of countenance so common
to philosophers Of the African school.
The three solitary horsemen worked
faithfully in trying TO kick down the
fifth obstacle, as Mary Hennessy made
the turn on her way down the home
stretch and came in winner in 6:2l4.
Hugh Gaffeney, the rider Of Hennessy,
has only benin this land Of Liberty
about three months, and prior to that
time had been steeple-chase rider in
the Emerald isle. He is a splendid
rider; and sits in the saddle gracefully
as his steed flies over barriers of any
description. In a quarter of an hour,
Tom Corbett, having managed to crawl,
tumble and scramble over the hurdles,
came down the home stretch. Time,
IA minutes, he was ruled out Blind
Tom came in third. Although near
sighted, Thomas had only made six
leaps in the race. The race was the
most amusing of the week, and delighted
the people who occupied the stands.
Steeple-chasing was voted a hum5ug in
this country where horses are not trained
to lie lping. There are at least FIVE hum
dred mules in Shelbycounty that could
have made the leaps, and would have
distauced the field in the race of yester-
day. But the thing was funny in the
extreme, and pleased the eoncourse OF
people present. The riders of Blind
Tom and Temple became disguised and
gave up the contest, the fear Of timber
and water in front being greater with
their steeds than the yelling, clubbing
and dirt-throwing of the negro gamins
in rear. ci.-.G Uu.rI b..
The last race-handicap for beaten
horses, mile heats, for purse of $3.50
brought out Keno, Woodford, Cricket,
Jenny Mckinney and Cheatham's Chest
nut Filly. uH 4pH aHa
The contest was between Keno and
Jenny Mckinney, the former winning
the heat by six lengths, Cheatham entry
third, woodford fourth, Cricket fifth.
Time-quarter, Is; half mile, 81; heat,
l:49. pr
The second heat was repetition Of
the first and was won by Keno, Cheat
hams entry second, Cricket third,
Jenny Mckinney fourth, Woodford fifth.
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