Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-04

The recent United Hunts steeplechase
meeting at Benning and the great interna-
tional struggle for the $4,000 Champion
chase won by Hylas at Belmont Park, nave
revived fresh public interest In 'ha'
branch of the sport. especially in the pres
tige attached to the presence OF gehtie-
man riders in the saddle across the neio
and between the flags. decade ago there
were many more first-class gentleman
riders sporting the six than now, and adj
ditions to their ranks of today will be
warmly welcomed by all lovers of high
class sport.
Among the distinguished throng at Bel
mont Park that witnessed the success OF
American jumpers over the best cross
country horse England has yet sent across
the ocean were the ex-gentemen riders
Thomas Hitchcock, jr.. A. Belmont Purdy
and J. u. Cheever. who a score OF years
back at the hunt meetings at Rockaway,
Hampstead. Pelham and Nav"rly more
than held their own with the best pro-
sessional jockeys across country, all three
gentlemen named, together with Arthur
Hunter. Harry Harwood. Swain Latrobe'
ii. j. Morris. George Werk. Stanley Morti-
mcr, w. z. Gilpin. Perry Belmont, Robert
Carter. T. c. Lorillard. ?. LaMontasue
and others winning hard fought contests
over stiff courses.
To lack" Cheever now q staid business
magnate of New York belongs the honor
of having ridden to victory over Trying
steeplechase course of three miles ms own
horse Barometer from the largest field OF
steepecha sers eighteen horses) that ever
contested an American cross-country event.
defeating in the race no less than eleven
professional and six gentleman riders
Like Harry Smith OF Worcester Mass,
no no Cl1DlD.On Stecpie-
chase at Morris Park on his own horse The
Cad. Jack Cheever outrodc and outgen-
eraled the best professionals
In the spring of 1854 the various huil
clubs around New York planned and car
RED out q steeplechase circuit that IN
cIuded meetings at Rockaway, Hempstead'
Wavcrly and Pelham for the largest purses
and stakes vet given for cross-country
events Four big steeplechase stakes with
from 81 800 to 500 added money We're
opened and each received thirty To forty
entries from the best timber-toppers IN
training, attracting cracks from the west
rs well as across the Canadian pofdcr'
A Rising Barometer.
Among the entries to these stah'eS j. ~
Cheever's Barometer by Bonnie Scotland
Bloudin. pretty we'll taken care ot by
the handicapper. as he had shown fair form
the year before and in his first start III the
circuit at Rockaway Barometer and his
pWnEr-rder 1lNlSieN ltuIlu " i'ilNf'"pS
Rose and Charlemagne. ridden by the late
Harry Harwood. Pat Money and Belmont
Purdy. respectively. the latter two stable
companions from Canada closing iaVoIlteS
In the betting.
,rh. track at BaNswater. l.. l.. where the
Rockaway Hunt held their meeting. was
a natural grass course, the stake, the Great
Long Island SteeplechaS", over two miles
and half of stiff country. giving Horses
and riders work to do from start To tliliSh
IL har.. uFey raj
big field of twelve horses, no casualties re
suited to horses or men. ON the same day
George Work rode Fleurctte home winner
over the two mile and Il half course from
Perry Belmont, 7. Hitchcock jr., II. La
Montague T. ST. John, H. Francis and
other gentleman riders.
Al Hampstead week later the second
OF the steeplechaSe stakes, the Great Hemp
stead Heath Handicap, W dccided. 1t
was at four miles. and was by j. L.
Dawes Rose ridden by Ret Marcy. At the
same meeting ]. u. ChC"voT, T. Hitchcock,
il. George Work Perry Pelmont and Fox
hall kecne rode winners across the jumps.
Then came after the Meadow Brook
Hunt meeting that Of the Essex County
Hunt Club at Wavery. y. y. The star
event. the $500 ESSEX County Stecpie-
chase went TO Rose. the Canadian mare,
ridden by Marcy. Wooster. with Swain
latrobe up. beat Barometer, ridden by his
owner. neck for the place. after an cXcit-
ing struggle both gentlemen practically
even terms FOR the last half mile of the
race.
The last and most pretentous of the
hunt circuit meetings was the Country
clubs at Pelham. During the day w. K.
Thorn rode two winners while other gen
tlemen riders to win were s. Permission, S.
s Sand, Foxhall Keene and J. ID. Checver.
Other gentlemen riders in the several events
were George Suportas. II. HdrwoOd s. La
trobe. L. Lorillard, J. q. Beresford, S.