Little Falls weekly transcript., 1894-06-15
NOT UNUSUAL AT ''THE GRAVE"

men, courses about two miles in length
were designated by flags, and long before
the end Of the last century cross country
racing was q prominent pastime
About 1S41 the present scheme of handi-
Gaping was inaugurated, and now the
amount Of weight a hunter carries is de-
termined by it's past performances over
the Jumps and with little reference to it's
age, size or sex. ..e1
For years the Grand National Steeple-
chase over the famous Aintree course near
Liverpool has been the annual event
among English cross country racers. = 1t
is to steeplechasing what the Darby is to-
the regulation sport of kings. The course
at Aintree is about ~ miles long, and
thousands throng it yearly to see the cham
pionship decided. , III .s. # s.s =s.
The cross country rider made his fash
ionable debut in America about 1874,
when fox hunting was inaugurated at
Hackensack, n. J. Soon thereafter hunt
meetings were annual fixtures in various
swell country clubs anxious to enjoy some
thing very English, and about seven years
ago course was laid out and regular stee-
plechase race meets were held at Cedar
hurst. Since then steeplechasing has
fourished Internationally all over the
United States, but it has been enjoyed
principally by society men who were anna
teurs and who. rode for the sport Of the
thing Four years ago the Pony Racing
association was organized, and over 100
races were held the first year. Last year
the season included 35 racing days, and
about $4,000 were divided among the
gentlemen riders who competed. The
Pony Racing association has changed It's
name repeatedly until it is now the Stee-
plechase, Hunt and Pony association.
This year many steeplechase races have
been held at the Bay district track, San
Francisco; Hawthorne park, Chicago; the
Philadelphia Country clubs half mile
course, the Country clubs Clyde park
course, near Boston, and other places
One Of the latest and most Important
moves made toward popularizing the sport
was that Of the Coney Island Jockey club,
which added to the card Of it's June meet
ing, scheduled to begin June 21,S number
of cross country events. On this date, in
addition to the Suburban Handicap, one
Of the attractions Of the day will be the
dles-valued at 81, 500, Of which 81, 900 goes
to the winner. Several other cross coun-
try events are on the card, but the feature
Grand National steeplechase, Handicap
sweepstakes valued at 81, 500, 1000 Of
which goes to the first horse home The
about 4 u miles. s.z.s.
The perilOus character Of the sport has
already been demonstrated this year In
San francisco, when Mr.. z. ii. Williams,
Jr., the well known amateur horseman,
81 with Templemore two OF the amateurs
came cropper ii approved English style,
and one Of them, Mr.. Norwood, was I'M
conscious for an hour. In Philadelphia
the way the Country clubs horses and
Jockeys did the ground and lofty tumbling
aot would have brought green flush of
envy to even the cheek of the renowned
Humpty Dumpty.
S During the Belmont steep1echase May 10
Passmore, with Griffin up, and Oakwood,
Hayes up, formed pyramid at the first
hurdle; Blong, who rode The Shamrock,
came cropper at the third hurdle, and
Little Chance, after going u miles, broke
her neck. Griffin broke his collar bone,
was badly cut about the head and was nm
conscious is minutes Hayes also broke
his collar bone, and Of the four starters not
0no finished the race ridden BY his original
jockey The hurdles were 5 feet 6 inches
high foot higher than the associa-
tion's rules provide for. it IS sail and the
result indicates that 3 seriOus mistake Was
made IN requiring the hunters to attempts
what was beyond their streng
M. Leonard Boyne, the actor, who Was
awell known gentl tlenan rider "a England
nnd Ireland and IS thoroughly conversant
with steepleChasfnR On the other eida be-