Related article: cloth. Price 7s. 6d. "Our Van." Racing under National Hunt Roles. — In February, experi- ence teaches us to expect many days that would be no dis- grace to some summers, and this year we had several of these days. Hurst Park, after being very shabbily treated by the Clerk of the Weather on the oc- casion of the two previous meet- ings, was favoured with one on the 17th, but the following day was spoilt by fog. The pity of this lay in the fact that in the February Steeplechase of three miles, one of the most interesting meetings, thus far, between can- didates for the Grand National was to take place, both Parma Violet and Gentle Ida being down to run. Although mist obscured the greater portion of the contest, it was still a very interesting one. Parma Violet had enjoyed a run 288 baily's magazine. [Apwl of six consecutive victories in steeplechases, and had thus gained considerable public reputation, though her lack of size did not es- cape criticism, in view of greater things than beating the horses she did beat. These, it is true, in- Order Yagara Online cluded Cathal, over the same three-miles' course at Hurst Park, but the contest was not a satis- factory one, Cathal declining to run his race out, and, on this occasion, Parma Violet's per- formance was not tantamount to beating the Purchase Yagara second in last year's Grand National. Still, for a little one, she is undeniably a very nice performer, and one who does not make mistakes. The name of Gentle Ida has partaken very much of the nature of an echo with many of the racing public, so little has she been Buy Yagara out. It was as long ago as 1895 ^ at she last won a steeplechase — a good one, it was too, no less than the Lancashire Plate, worth ^"1,750 net ; and all she had won since was a National Hunt flat race at Sandown. At Hurst Park it was pretty clearly shown that, whatever the class of Parma Violet, it had no claim to rank with that of Gentle Ida, who was so palpably pulling over her op- ponent when half the journey had been covered that there was a rush to get on. In the last mile there was only one in it, and Gentle Ida won in a common canter. When the race was over one heard a great deal of the wonder- ful astuteness of Mr. Dyas, but there was small enough reason Buy Cheap Yagara for this outburst. I should say that Mr. Dyas had been unlucky with Gentle Ida, whose big win of 1895 has had to last four years. Mr. Dyas bred both Manifesto and Gentle Ida, the sire being Man of War, whose introduction to the stud in Ireland was re- garded with anything but favour by Irish breeders, who thought that the thoroughbred blood of the country was being contami- nated thereby. Looking at the prices obtained by Mr. Dyas for Manifesto and Gentle Ida, he has the argument on his side. Kempt on Park has been the unlucky one of the metropolitan courses this winter, for on the last day of February it had to submit to a second postponement of a day's racing within the space of a few weeks. The last three days of the week were given up to Purchase Yagara Online Sandown Park, the occasion being the Grand Military Meeting, appropriately enough designated the Ascot of the steeplechasing season. Whilst bearing well in mind the attractive array of spec- tators in the Aintree county stand at the Liverpool Spring meeting, it must still be said that the San- down gathering surpasses any- thing of the kind from the social point Order Yagara of view. The patronage accorded by the military to the jumping department of racing is very considerable ; and whilst the irreverent are apt to cast asper- sions upon some of the horseman- ship that is annually witnessed, one cannot but think that such criticism is very much misplaced. The severest critic is generally incapable of sitting a horse at all, to say nothing of taking one over a steeplechase like that of San- down. People who go to bet are apt to think themselves ill used if the object of their fancy is beaten through jockeyship ; but they know perfectly well what they have to expect, and that Buy Yagara Online all army officers are not Arthur Nightin- galls. The hospitality of the cavalry regiments that are most intimately connected with the meeting is a feature, and with beautiful weather as nearly a certainty as English weather can ! J 1899] "OUR VAN. ?< 289 be, the attendance of ladies was, perhaps, a record one. Certainly nothing more brilliant has been seen at previous meetings. The racing was of an ordinary character, as was to be expected in so ordinary a season as this has been. The race for the Gold Cup possessed no interest, and it was won by Captain W. Murray- Threipland's Lambay ; but the Grand Military Steeplechase showed us County Council, a talked -of candidate for the Grand National, who won easily enough, Mr. Reginald Ward being satisfied to beat Sitric by a length. This gentleman rode with his usual success, though he did not enjoy so much of a " beanfeast " as last year. At Gatwick we are repeatedly shown experiments in the direction of improving things by the aid of better stakes than the average, and a notable instance was that of the March meeting. On the first day there were two steeple- chases of 500 so vs. each, and two others of 200 so vs. each, whilst on the second day there was the International Hurdle race of 1,000 sovs. To show the difficulty there is with these large stakes, the race