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STEEPLECHASING IN AUSTRALIA. The Grand National meetings In Victoria snys tlie "Australasian" were singularly free from serious accidents this winter. It looked as though the season was going to pass off without any bad accident whatever, but on Saturday. August 0. two horses were killed and a jockey broke his leg. It is Impossible to have steeplechasing without mishaps. Tlie Australian rules prohibit the low fence which proprietaries looking for large fields favored, and the brush has come in as a substitute. On one course, we believe, the brush jumpers are stiff enough to bring a horse down. On some others they are flimsy concerns that can be galloped through. There Is no sign that there Is to be any change at Flemington. The fences there are not as high as they were, but there is as much jumping in three miles there as iu four miles at Caullleld. and still, we believe, jockeys say they would rather ride over riemlugtoii than any otiier course. Jockeys like It because the Jumps are so well placed. The Flemington fences are nothing like so high as those at Aintree. where the Liverpool Grand National is run. but they take doing, and if we are to have brush with a two feet, six inches rail at other places, it Is to be hoped Flemington will always remain for tlie benefit of those horses which can gallop over a fair-sized fence. Loudon Sportsman.
