STEEPLECHASING WITH A VENGEANCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 666, 19 June 1882, Page 2

STEEPLECHASING WITH A VENGEANCE.

The Rangitikei-Marton steeplechases on June 3rd were hollow affairs. According to the Advocate the jumps were so far away from the stand that it was impossible to see them, and for fully five minutes at a time no one could see where the horses were. When the horses came in after the Handicap they were so “completely done that the proverbial “ kick your hat as fast ” was well exemplified. There was a prodigious water jump— 24 feet long and 5 feet deep—which proved a regular teaser to all the horses. In the Handicap, Champion, on Sunray, was the first to make a dash at it, and fell, . getting a ducking. He, however, crawled up the bank, wrung the water out of his eyes, and exclaimed, “Where

am I?” He speedily took in the situation, remounted, and got the lead. Ray next essayed ,to negotiate the “ pure limpid,” but miserably failed, coming to grief. Parikarangaranga was the next, and he flopped right into the middle of the creek, young Burr getting a thorough soaking, and he retired to get dry. Rangatira managed somewhat better, but New Year, who was still running, came to grief, and gave up. The three horses left in the race came in completely pumped out. In the Maiden, Bradlaugh kept the lead to the water jump, where his rider fell right over the horse’s head ; the other jockeysj having already had a little experience at that spot, and not to be “had” again, walked their horses through.