The sun., 1908-05-10
E0U1vE sPORr o. TRE BLUEs.
oxford and Cambridge stseplschAses Fur.
nlsh Amusing Incidents.

No branch OF sport indulged in by the man
OF oxford and Cambridge has been produo-
tive OF more amusing incident and daredevil
episodes than steepleohasing, and perhaps
II is the one contest among the Blues the
least known 10 Americans. The authentic
history Of the sport tatys back 10 the early
iOs, but there are hints that II was prac-
tised even much earlier, In the latter
part Of the '5Os and early 6Os II was die
continued, but II was revived in 1883 at Cot
tenham by the Hon, Henry Wentworth
Fitzwillam and Nathan de Rothschild, who
presented a silver cup to be run for ans
nually over three miles Of fair hunting coun-
try. That year saw brilliant victory for
the Light Blues, as they secured first,
second and third j. NJ. Richardson. the
famous cricketer Of those days, was one OF
the jockeys. and Charley Wilder Of Caius
and Homer Page Of Trinity we're among the
riders
Prior 10 the revival the race was held
at Aylesbury, and touching it in those days
a string Of quaint yarns are told. One OF the
earliest relates 10 the prowess OF Prot.
Neate Of political economy at Oxford
and at one time a member Of Parliament
for the city. Because OF something that
happened In connection with one OF the
races the dons and heads OF the college :
decided 10 abolish the race but old Neats
stood up for the undergraduates. To show
his contempt for their objection he entered
his own horse for one Of the races and named
him Vlce-C Chancellor. 7
The day OF the race oame and with q
lot Of curiosity as 10 who would ride Neate's .
horse. To the astonishment OF everybody \
the professor himself appeared mounted
with top hat and black trousers and with
out his coat He was loudly cheered a. he
oantered 10 the post. and there was ashout (
as the horses broke away at the start. Ths
professor took several fences we'll, but he !
met trouble at the famous water jump The
horse refused, but Neate was game, and
swinging him around drove him at IL again. z
when horse and man fell into the water and I
the rider diappeared, top hat and all, under Z
meath the surface He was a sight when
he came out, but he consoled himself by .
saving that he had made his protest against Z
the heads OF the college and vindicated the I
rights Of the students,
What steeplechasing was Ike IN those
days Ia gathered from some details gwen
by Thormanby in the Sportsman. i re-
msmbar.' hs says, "a very severe raoe be:
between rival Jockeys who rode two vel
known ohasers. Approaching the Ass
fenoe In the winning field together AZ q
terrific pace, both rose simultaneously az
the angle fence They cannoned In the
air, and the pace they went threw both
horses down, the riders being thrown with
great force In opposite directions. Ihey
we're carried away insenaible, but one OF
them after some time 80 far recovered that
he was able 10 remount and struggle on
lust managing 10 stagger betWean ths
days and be declared a winner.
The meeting OF 1913 was marked ~ an
between A. W. Meyers on a mare called
Clementina against horse called Sailor.
Movers came near the dreaded brook fairly
Aunked. and In the middle OF the grass
field threw himself on his mount and left
the mare 10 herself. An undergraduate
named Burton sizing up the situation made
a rush for the mare, caught her and vaulted
into the saddle. and sending her plump az
the brook she took it In splendid style.
Burton kent going with Clementina, and az
they turned for home drew level with sailor.
They raced like mad to the finish and Bur
ton won, but though he made the weight
the race was given 70 Sailor.
Il was at Ayesbury that the Marquis OF
Waterford, the mad Marquis, INDUCED
In one OF the freaks which made his name
famous. On one occasion he brought q
horse up stairs into the dining room, had
him led around the table and gave him
some apples and biscuits, which he ate.
When they came TO get the horse down ne
refused 10 bulge. and in the end had be
blindfolded before he walked down the
stairs.
some time aiterward an Oxford GRADUATE,
on being told OF the affair turned 70 old
Charlie Symonds and said: Il believe the
little gray would come up this OF any otner
stairs It was asked il trial might D.
made. and consent being granted down
went two or three choice spirits 10 the Ftaple
ward. A numbering noise was heard on the
stairs and presently in walked the gallant
Rray. After being led around the table tho
horse, held by a halter, was induced 70 Jump
over the backs Of couple OF chairs ihen
J. Leech Manning, a sporting man Of tne
neighborhood said he would UNDERTAKE 70
ride him over the dinner table. -.
The dinner was still in progress, the third
course being consumed and the decantes
of wine going around. No sooner said than
Manning Jumped on the barebacked horse,
and taking a tight hold Of the halter rods
him back into a corner OF the room, Whlon
was about 40 feet long by 70 feet wide IN
order to give him fair chance the tanlo
was slued around. Manning struck tne
horse with his heels and with slap on tns
neck sent him flying over. Then ne VuLnen
the horse around and jumped him pace
again. A noted clergyman OF the North,
who first mentioned the feat, attempted
Il after Manning The horse just oleareo
the table. but caught one Of his heels In The
edge and pulled the cloth over, smashing the
plates and glasses. OF course a do1en
others emulous Of fame wanted TO Try, Dut
ther and there a veto was put upon any
further attempts at table riding.
In the old days at Ayiesbury the last lenos
in the course was double, and 70 most
animals absolutely unjumpable. Once .
horse named Vanish was SO. distressed thAt
although he managed to jump the hrss
hedge and land on the bank he could scarcely
stand and some bystanders assisted him
into the second ditch. where the rider dis
mounted, making a slow canter betwoen
The faRs. and he won the race. The second
horse then appeared on the scene, was
pushed into the first ditch, and tell utterly
beaten on the landing. After a few min
utes he rose and riderless got into the SEQ
ond ditch. whence with great ditnculty be
vas vas nulIed out, his Jockey mounting, whils
three men on each side propped up the
horse, but he managed to wabble 70 the
finish and make second. No other horse
was in sight although twelve started.
Then the crowd both on horse and atoot.
spied old John Brown OF Tring, who was
In the race and who Quit half mile from
home. Somebody said Muster Brown,
there amt being anybody claiming 10 for
the third place" II that's the case then
I'm have a try" said John. He rode back
with some friends about half mile, where
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