Evening star., 1896-11-16
1T WAS A GREAT RACE.
The Hunt Cup Steeplechase Over tn,
FOur-Mfle Course.


Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
BALTIMORE. November Is, 1896.
The nine-day autumn meeting of the
Pimlico Jockey Club was brought to
close Saturday with an attendance OF
nearly 5000. which was a representative
southern gathering. Society came out in
all Its splendsr to take final airing before
the drawing room season sets in. There
were beautiful women in fine raiment
fashtonably clad men and a brilliant array
OF costly and stylish equipages. The in
terest Of the throng centered on the last
event of the day. which was the great
Hunt cup steeplechase at four miles, open
to gentlemen riders of any recognized hunt
organization.
The field was a email one, but consisted
OF high class hunters and crack riders. who
gave 6n exhibition of cross country horse
manship which has not been surpassed
and probably not eQualed In the south
since the war. 1t was the general verdict
among those who are recognized authori-
ties on the laws and usages of the chase
as representing the National Hunt Asso-
citation and the various organizations OF
that character in the north, that 1t 'clipsed
anything of the kind ever witnessed above
Mason and Dixon's line. Even the south
erners of the old regime and the present
generation, some Of whom figured In the
cavalry service expressed their surprise at
the young men who carried their horses
over the formidable obstacles with such
noncf falance and ease. And yet IN many
respects there was some Of the hardest
riding and most daring risks In the annals
Of steeplechasing
The personnel Of the contest was as fol-
lows: De GarEette. owned by Mr.. M. F. H.
Birckhead and ridden by MIR. Sam. Nicholas
of the Green Spring Valley Hunt; Triilion.
owned and ridden by Mr.. VIII Hayes OF
Warrenton, Va, who rides to the Meadow
brook hounds. New York; Harry Harwood.
owned by Mr.. James Mex Merryman of
the Green Spring Valley, and ridden by Mr..
Arthur Hall of Virginia. and Sam D.,
owned by Mr.. Charles Hurkamp of Fred
ericksburg. and ridden by Mr.; Ernest Hayes
Trillion took the lead in beautiful style.
Sam d. second. Harry Harwood third.
while De Garnette was delayed. but got Off
For two miles the Hayes brothers on Tril-
lion and Sam D. were masters Of the situa-
tion and took their mounts over the jumps
in superb fashion. to the delight of the
spectators. Mr.. Hall was urging Harry
Harwood with success. and Mr.. Nicholas,
who had been far in the rear, was coming
like torrent. when at the "fly bank he
made a wonderful burst Of speed and chal-
lenged Trillion.
The leaders were now almost punched
and the grand stand echoed with enthusi-
asm But Trillion soon took fine squirt
and opened up gap which he maintained
until the three-mile post and rail, when De
Garnette moved up and gave him another
great challenge, which enthused the crowd
beyond description. On they went like CEN
taurs over hedge, fence. water and stone
wall. when Mr.. Hail. who had driven Harry
Harwood a triie too strong at the water
jump, lost his grip at the post and rail
(Which has proved the stumbling block all
during the meetlng. struck the top board
and went down with his mount, rolling
headforemost. which put him out of the
race, although he sustained no Injury and
pluckily remounted.
De Garnette was in the meantime bccom-
ing dangerous, but not until a half mile
from home did he catch Trillion, when
Nicholas began whipping like all angry
parent, while Hayes was having his arms
pulled out of their sockets AS they turned
into the Stretch De Garnette gave Trillion
another bold challenge, but VIII Hayes
called on his superb mount which respond
ed to the summons and went tearing past
the goal a winner by three lengths, De
GaFnette second. Sam D. third.
1t was truly q brilliant climax to as fair a
day as ever dawned upon beautiful old Plm-
lico. which is hallowed with so many ex-
citing episodes and Interesting traditions
that have contributed such picturesque pas
sages to the history of the American turf.
AS predicted in The Stars correspondence
ten days ago. the hunting contests have
been. the most striking feature Of the
only been effective as drawing card. but
have attracted the very best character of
sporting men from the north and south
timore's representative people. Even the
trotting men and private drivers have ex-
pended their patronage freely, and so much
gratified are the members of the Driving
Club, that they have practically made a
proposition to the hunt club which. il
entertained. will probably result in those
organizations being incorporated and here
after figure as a permanent feature of the
spring and fall race meetings at Pinllico.
Trillion Is handsome chestnut, over
sixteen hands high. five years old and was
sired by King Ernest. dam Trill. In his
last run to hounds this fall Mr.. Hayes rode
Trillion and captured the brush from a
field of cracks. In conversation at the
club house just after the race. Mr.. Hayes
said: II have been riding on the turf and
fox hunting since my boyhood, and am
unable to recall at this moment a more
beautiful race. 1t was exciting, too for
De. Gsrnette gave me several good chal-
lenges but my mount was too vigorous for
the Genessee valley horse. Trillion ran and
jumped magnif1cently, and my only fear
was he would get away from my control"
Mr.. Ernest Hayes surprised the public by
making such a good race on Mr.. Hurkamp's
Sam D. The old horse is notional and had
refused in the two last steeples in which
he started. Yesterday, however, he felt
the master touch Of the man from Warren
ton and took every jump in the field Out
Of four steeplechases run at this meeting
the st. Ayres brothers won three, and the
defeat Of Ernest Hayes in the Pink Coat"