Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-03-30

| followed STUART dampCOu; OllaplOaLoC
old gigs that looked all the world like
Oliver Wendell Holmes celebrated
Zone Horse Shayn on the eve of disso-
luton, creaked dismally as an old rip o1
mare stumbled her way onward; Jer
sey wagons, carts, the farm wagon, all
mingled together, and all moving the
same way, showed that nobody was
staying at home who could possibly go.
At last the ground is reached, and we
have time to look around. The steeple
race is to be two and half miles, and
the distractions, viewed in cold blood,
make ones hair stand on end. The
first Jump is blind ditch some ten feet
wide, not very hard leap, but good
thing to trip up horse, for he can't see
it until he is close upon the yawning
chasm. The next is "rasper," thick
set pine waiting with an artificial ditch
twelve feet wide filled with water on
the other side. Next comes fence be
tween four and five feet high. made with
the points of limbs trimmed and set
outward, as soldiers build chevdur de
trise; beyond that are two heavy OBJ
structions. solid plank fences near four
feet high with three feet of solid earth
banked up against each, and packed
with spade until it Is as solid and mas
sive as granite. Seven other fences,
bitches. and water leaps have to De ta-
ken before the inventory is complete,
and one can in a measure understand
what great feat it is, going at the ter
rife pace they are compelled to do. TAX
ing in succession the different kinds of
dangerous jumps and cover of two miles
and half of ground. Few horses can
ofo OF ,f RI
wagon blood in the pedigree will proba
hind on the home stretch !; but as much
depends upon the rider as on the horse.
Better by far good rider on an Indif-
ferent horse, than an Indifferent rider
on good horse. To come out winner
of the cup at a steeple chase one must
have iron nerves, ready eye, steady
hand, and quick Judgment, besides be-
ing in practice and having good luck.
By this time several thousand people
are on the ground. The judges-the
two Generals Lee, are on the stand the
time keepers are in their places, watch
in hand, and the contestants are harness
ing for the race. The costume is white
corduroys, top boots, English style, and
jacket and cap in the choice colors of
the riders. The standard weights are
155 pounds. The horses are brought
around and each is surrounded by an
eager speculative crowd, which ex
amines his points, and discusses his
chances. The riders now mount their
horses and move to the starting point
There are three favorites, backed to win
against the field. The first is Green.
who sports blue and white colors he is
a splendid rider, and ia mounted on
handsome. huge, raking chestnut gray,
with very fine shoulders, and an all over
like going head, the winner of last years
cup. Green is the old Black Horse
Cavalry's ''cracB ;" and they back him
against the field. There is Rowe, with
his mare "Effie Deans" rather small.
but light and compactly built, with
elegant limbs. and as tough as pine
knot-colors, French grey and green
Daniels rode brown gelding, beauti
full creature, with that rich tint of the
horse chestnut on her glossy coat. He
was little active horse with great bot
tom and endurance. Daniels is an Eng
lishman, as are others of the "chasers,"
and there is much good natured rivalry
between them, and the native-born col
ors were crimson and purple. A very
good horse, with gamy look about him,
and noble shoulders with the going
name of Comet" was entered by
Payne, feather weight, who had to
carry twenty three pounds dead weight.
Payne's colors were purple and orange.
There were other riders, with their
red and black ; and scarlet and gold, and
formed for the race, the coiors showing
Ho roi n lO n nf q
they moved and mingled together. All
are in line; lull is heard in the min
Cling voices-a moment of intense
interest-the signal is given by the
flag dropping, ana the lines hreaE at full
speed for the run, scattered, Rowe lead-
ing about two lengths, when white and
blue, worn by Slidell. with his habitual
fast burst. caught up with him and sail
ed gracefully over the first blind ditch
Behind trailed black and red, who made
a clean jump across, GEeen coming next;
his horse Max, stumbled and went down
as though he was shot, but he rose again
and as he recovered his feet, his rider
mounted him and strove gallantly to re-
cover and take the lead, but it was not
to be. The ''crack" of the "Blaek
Horse" came to grief, fortune smiled
not on him that day, and the victor of
last years cup. pounded on behind, with
no chance to Overtake the flyers in front,
and he is passed by all except Worsely,
who wearing the black Jacket and white
cap, let his horse swerve from the track
just before he reached the water Jump,
and was thrown violently to the ground,
his foot catching in the stirrup. He was
dragged some ten yards. His horse mad
with fear, dashed on and rid himself of
his rider, disappearing over the brow of
the hill. WorseIy rose up, swayed back
ward and forward, and then fell prone
upon the ground and lay still and quiet.
my God," said the judge, "he must be
killed." mo-" said another, "only
stunned"
But look look See how they run =
The failing had commenced; every
horse took the hurdles, and they rose
one after another like the pillows of the
sea The pace was fearful and was be-
ginning to tell on the horses, but not.
withstsnding they were ridden careful
iy and judiciously by their riders. Still
onward-and then again that fearful
water jump and ditch together loomed
up to the tired horses, some of whom
were giving symptoms of distress, the
most noticeable of whom was the brown
mare Queen, ridden by S1idsll, the chest
nut mare of Rowe's literally flying ahead
of her, owing to the madness of her first
burst. Purple and orange riding ahead
little distance, and sweeping along
third, was Harold with his magnificent
stride, slowly drawing up. The water
jump is reached-a clear leap of twenty
feet, if an inch-to cigar it. Rayne gath
ering his brave little bay together, put
her to it, and like an arrow he was car.
ried high and clear over the cropper. A
half length behind came Rowe with
Effie Deans, with her greyhound stride
she went over with rush, and Daniels
with his crimson cap was seen to rise in
the air and land as easy as bird on the
opposite side. The favorites were hav-
ing it their own way BLACK, red. and