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1 1 ; ; - I : . 5 5 . I 5 JUMPERS OF THE PAST AND PRESENT. A Canadian writer entertains a poor opinion of the present generation of steeplechasers, as compared with some of the splendid jumpers of the early 70s. and in a recent article says: "It is quite the fashion nowadays for a certain class of turfmen, who know nothing about the subject, to pretend that Reference to old-time performers is of no value, because the horses of the present day run so ranch faster. Verily these modern critics know nothing about the subject they prattle so glibly about. The jtlmpors of past years could give away many a stone in weight to the riffraff crowd of jumpers that formed the majority at the late AAroodbine meeting. It is really an insult to the old-timers to link the present crocks with them even for comparisons sake. I lift my hat to such past giants as Milesian. Duffy. AAild Rose, .Tack-on-tlie-Green. Pilot. Jack the Barber. Kelso. Blackbird. Mitchell. Vlley. Charlemagne. Tradewind and then in later years. Hercules and Lion Heart. "I saw Milesian with ICS pounds up start at 3:30 p. m. against eleven horses in the Montreal Hunt Club Cup. distauce three miles, over the McDongall farm, back of the mountain, as rough a bit of country as ever chasers were asked to perform over. It was over stone walls, some of them four feet high; snake fences, swampy ground, up hill and down dale, and the splendid son of Mickey Free, giving away lumps of weight to everything in the race, won handily. One hour after the finish of this race Mr. Banatync. his owner, brought him out to start in the open steeplechase against twelve fresh horses, distance throe and one-half miles. "As that gentleman owned another good performer in DulTy. which was in good shape, and was eligible for the then open race, he was urged to start the fresh horse, but lie declined, stating lie had made up his mind to win the double event with Milesian, lie was also determined to ride the horse himself. Considering that the best professional steeplechase riders in the country had mounts in the race, it looked like throwing his chance away, as his most ardent friends could not class him a good amateur. Ride lie did, and though lie did little more than stay in the saddle, never saving his horse at any stage of the race, the gallant Milesian carried his 1S2 pounds to the front and came home winner of the double event, leading fully twenty lengths. "Such deeds as these are worth recording, showing as they do the splendid quality of the jumpers of that day. The present day weeds and flat-racing culls form a majority of the leppers in active scr- vice just now. "Judged by every fair comparison, the present lot of steeplechasers I allude to those, of course. owned in Canada would have no chance, equally weighted, against the performers of ye olden days. If the excuse is made that the races across country are run much faster than in years gone by I shall bo prepared to knock .over that argument as well. Considering the going then as compared with the , footing of today, it was as a ploughed field against smooth turf. Improving the breed of thorough-! ! breds In Canada is a pleasant theme to talk about. but there has been very slow progress made on that Hue during my time."
