Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-04
CHEEVERS WIN OF THE
PELHAM STEEPLECHASE

Mortimer, c. Holmes Perry Belmont, T.
Hitchcock. BELMONT Purdy
The main event, the Pelham Steeplechase.
was set last to give late corners every
chance to be on hand. Society was out in
force. and few finer assemblages of both
sexes have ever gathered at a hunt club
meeting anywhere. Over thousand ladies
graced the stand and stimulated the gen.
tlemen riders by their presence.
Defeats Professional Jockeys.
Never before had such large field of
horses-eighteen in number-been saddled
for an American ross-country event, and
there was naturally much soicitude felt for
the riders by their friends. OF the eight
gentleman riders that rode all had MEM
bers of their families present all of which
added to the interes, felt in the outcome
of the contest.
The betting favored the Canadian trio.
Disturbance. Charlemagne and Echo. with
Rose, Barometer, Trombone. Tarkanay.
Wooster. Response, Tom Marin, Major
Wheeler. Mars. Woodcock. Vampire. Gilt
Edge, Buckeye Paris and Dungeon rated
about named. Thirty odd bOokmakers
were in line and these layers handled a
large amount of money on the race 1t
was 10 to 1 against Barometer, who got In
the handicap light. and after Owner
Cheever had warmed up the old horse and
taken him over jump he advised all his
friends to back him.
When the big field was marshaled at the
post the course was rather narrow for the
size of the party, and at the first jump. an
earth bank hundred yards away, four
horses got in a Jam" and went down.
Among these was Trombone with Stanley
Mortimer, who was picked up unconscious.
His colors, black with red spots. lent
tragic effect to the group that carrie the
senseless rider behind the stand: but he was
not hurt. and he came to the first thing
he said was, I'D like to know who has
taken my boots off, As his boots had not
I,,t hos 1a1
the feeling OF his feet after the fall Mean
while the race went on. Belmont Purdy on
Rose and Jack Cheever on Barometer. the
leaders from the start. closely followed by
Charlemagne, Disturbance and Response.
For nearly two miles Mr.. Cheever waited on
Mr.. Purdy ana then wound up by taking
the lead at the ''in-and-out jump on the
back stretch. Barometer was fencing splen-
ddy and his rider handling him so
cleverly that at this stage of the race
number of solid wagers were laid that he
would win.
With only a mile to go. the other riders
within hail now started after Mr.. Cheever
and Barometer; but Rose was done to a
turn and at two miles and a half Disturb
ance and Echo showed that they were
done, leaving Charlemagne and Response to
contest the issue with Barometer. But the
latter had enough left after his pace-mak-
ing to retain the lead and although the
three took the last jump almost together,
Barometer on the fat drew away Owner
Cheever landing him winner by three
lengths amid shouts that could have been
heard miles away.
Big Steeplechase Winnings.
1t was clever exhibition of plucky.
dashing riding by Jack Cheever that
earned him well-merited tribute to his dar-
ing and skill The obstacles were stiff ones
and he was meeting the bestprofessional and
amateur cross-country riders of that day In
the history of American steeplechasers the
success of Jack Cheever on his own
horse, Barometer. in the three-mile Pelham
steepcchaSe will always take high rank.
Twenty years ago, when the Pelham
steeplechase of $500 won by Barometer
was record in steeplechase stake values.
it would not have been possible to win d
large amount III one seasons CrOSS-COuntry
prizes and stakes But now with the val
liable stakes for jumpers, 1t has become
only matter Of material to insure a large
revenue to winners at this branch OF the
sport.
This season the Hitchcock stable steeple-
chasers have won SO 200, contributed by
ten horses the largest sum by far ever won
by any stable Of ccoss-country horses in
one season in this country or Canada. OF
this sum Hylas has contributed $500, the
largest years winnings ever recorded by an
American jumper. Last year Hylas won
the Champion stecplechasc, and Ine year
before Good and Plenty, making three wins
in succession for the Hitchcock stceplechas-
Good and Plenty. the stables best horse,
although retired in June last, earned $4,000
this y~sr among his victories being the
Whitney Memorial. Altogether the Hitch
cock stable won a score of races across
country this season, including dead heat
by Phantom. at Beuning. The earnings of
Salvidere Tanglc and seven other racers
on the fiat total up S6i 1000 more for the
Hitchcock horses this year. total Of over
$4,000. placing it second to the Keene
stable in the years winnings of American
racing stables. c. {. z.