Page:VCH Hertfordshire 1.djvu/431

SPORT ANCIENT AND MODERN Becher's Brook in the Grand National course at Liverpool is named. It was here that Coleman introduced the bastard sport of hurdle racing ' to please the ladies.' At this hotel the idea of the first regular steeplechase run in England originated in 1830, with some officers of the ist Life Guards, who put it into Coleman's hands to carry out. The articles were drawn up for a sweepstake of 25 sovereigns each, for all horses carrying 12 stone, over not less than four miles of fair hunting country to be selected by Mr. Coleman within forty miles of London, no rider to know the line until the moment of starting, no rider to be allowed to pass through an open gateway or to go fifty yards down a road or lane. The novelty found favour with the young men of the day, and there were soon a goodly number of entries for the race. On March 8, 1830, the following horses and riders appeared at the post : Lord Clanricarde's ch. g. Nailer . (Owner) Lord Belfast's ch. m. Miss Doodle (Mr. Haines) Lord Ranelagh's br. g. Bully . . (Owner) Lord Ranelagh's gr. g. Wonder . (Capt. Macdowall) Mr. Angerstein's br. g. . . . (Owner) Mr. Angerstein's b. h. Tatler . (Capt. Becher) Mr. G. Bulkeley's b. g. Giraffe . (Mr. Stubbs) Mr. Bayturn's Mowbray . . . (Mr. White) Mr. Cosby's br. g. Gambler . . (Owner) Mr. Codrington's b. g. Topthorn (Owner) Mr. Nesbitt's bl. g. Blacksall Black (Owner) Mr. Rothschild's President . . (Capt. Blane) Mr. Streathfield's b. g. Teddy the Tiler (Owner) Mr. Thornhill's Peveril of the Peak (Owner) Mr. Wombwell's br. g. Rocking- ham (Hon. A. Berkeley) Coleman started them from the hill on which Harlington church stands, and the winning post was the Obelisk in Wrest Park. Half a mile from home the competitors were straggling widely apart. Captain Macdowall on Wonder arrived at the Obelisk first, Rockingham second, Nailer third, Miss Doodle fourth. Thus ended the first organized steeplechase that was ever run in England. The popu- larity of the sport was fully established by this race, and for the next eleven years the St. Albans steeplechase, under the management of Coleman, became an important fixture in the Sporting Calendar. The town benefited greatly, as many people resided there for weeks both before and after the race. The following year, 1831, the race was won by Moonraker, a good animal, a tre- mendous puller with great powers of fencing, and ' the best winded horse in the world.' Moonraker also won the race in 1832, beating Grimaldi by half a length. The start was at Ellen Brook Green on the Hat- field road, and the winning post at an elm tree in a paddock at the bottom of Coleman's stable yard, near to the present junction of Victoria Street and Latimer Road, St. Albans. During this race Moonraker made some of his big jumps. When near the finish of the race he cleared two fences and a lane between them, and when jumping the last fence he cleared 33 feet. This race is commemorated by a series of coloured engravings, with a key giving the names of the people and the horses depicted. The outcome of this race was a match for 1,000 between Moonraker and Grimaldi, which Grimaldi, ridden by Mr. Osbaldeston, won easily. In 1833 the horses started at Tyttenhanger House, finishing at Beaumont's Farm. Ante- lope first, Skyscraper second. The winner in 1834 was a horse called The Poet, who had run third in the St. Leger, and was the property of the Rev. Lord Frederick Beauclerk, vicar of St. Michael's church, St. Albans. He ran in Mr. Brand's name, ' as the Bishop of the Diocese might have objected ' if he had run in the vicar's own name. Lord Frederick was also a noted cricketer, playing for the Gentlemen against the Players, and was a member of the celebrated B. eleven. Jem Mason rode The Poet, this being the first public appearance of this celebrated jockey. The steeplechase of the year 1836 was also commemorated by a series of four prints which are known as the ' St. Albans Steeple- chase.' The horses started at Harpenden- bury and finished near the Gorhambury Lodge, not far from St. Michael's church. The race was won by Mr. Elmore's gray horse Grimaldi, ridden by Captain Becher, and in one of the pictures Grimaldi is de- picted fallen just after passing the winning post. He fell dead. The Hon. Frederica Beauclerk wrote some verses on the death of Grimaldi, taking as her text Scott's lines Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day That cost thy life, my gallant gray. One verse ran The racers pass the eager throng, They shout, Grimaldi's won a head ! But in this world what joy lasts long ? Ah, woe is me Grimaldi's dead ! 365