to part company being Marengo, who fell a burster-it was said—with Barker. I had almost said, of course; for if there be a fall going, it is his lot to get it for his luck is not honest, albeit he himself is both "fast and true.' Anon, another pair were tumbling about, whereof one- -Red Lancer, with Lord Strathmore on him, bit the earth. Still, on they went, 'growing smaller by degrees, if not beautifully less; for the scabies were being fell'd, like nine-pins, and riderless horses were skimming the horizon-a ghastly show. As they steered for the course, Cumberland Lass was "put out of it," somehow or other; the van now consisting of St. Leger, Culverthorpe, the Roarer, Pioneer, Lattitat, and Mathew: Jerry leading. They ran up the course and at the brook full of mischief. A strong body of horse took it in close order, with a loose nag among them, who did it none the worse that his saddle was without a tenant. This was Marengo: where poor Barker was, remained to be canvassed. The next down was St. Ruth, who likewise left his rider in the lurch. The settled lead was now with Jerry, "waited on," as the phrase is for animals and men at the top of their hurry, by the Roarer, Pioneer, and St. Leger; and, sailing casily in their wake, was Mathew. But it was anybody's race; for you never knew, when they charged a fence, who would be in or over: the fence made it all heads or tails. We will, however, now suppose them—that is, all that remained in the race-landed once more in the course, with Jerry and St. Leger head and head over the first hurdle; the others be ing Culverthorpe, Pioneer, the Roarer, and Mathew. The latter, to those who marked him, was evidently going like a horse having a little still left in him, and presently he came-with a will. At the distance he had collared St. Leger-ran with him, so long as it pleased his Jock-then left him, and went home a gallant winner by a length. Jerry was a length from St. Leger; Pioneer was fourth; but "intervallo," were Culverthorpe, Brunette, and a ruck-all beaten or stopp'd away. The speed was capital, the time being according to the best average ten minutes and-a-half. . . . . . Thus finished the business of the day, of which it must be observed that the weight did the trick for Mathew. He is a good gelding, by Vestris, son of Whalebone, and received dollops of allowance from those that ran after him. Thus, Jerry gave him a stone; St. Leger, hard upon a couple of stone; Brunette, quite as much; in fact he was, with two exceptions of two pounds each, the lightest weighted of the whole twenty-eight: small blame to any body; and was better than fame made him, an excellent thing in horseflesh. So was the Roarer-better than I fancied him, as a racer across country. It will be seen that ould Ireland mustered strong in regard of champions; and that they are coming too close to us to be pleasant, the performances of the Baron and Faugh-a-Ballagh, as well as Mathew, are confirmations strong.

One cannot help drawing deductions as to the popularity and prospects of the sports of steeple-chasing from events which followed this crack issue, as well as from its individual results. This passage in Olympics has certainly assumed a somewhat different character from that under which it first sought our notice. In Ireland—at least in its youthful days-it was altogether a contest ridden by amateurs: if I were in Galway, I should have said by gentlemen jockeys. The first phase it underwent was exquisitely drawn, in a series of sketches by Shamrock,

yclept "Gentlemen Jocks." These gentlemen by courtesy succeeded the race so constituted by right, which consists in the claimant having no ostensible means of getting his bread. Presently hired professionals rode in them; and thus it was, and is, here with us. To this we are indebted for the refinement of handicapping having become a portion of the system; for all England could not supply a couple of dozen hard riding gentlemen (I mean no disrespect to the light bobs, but I am writing e cathedra) with thews and sinews fitted to steer a steeple-chase horse four miles, at the top of his pace, and over half-a-hundred strong fences. I therefore augur longer life and better luck to the pastime from this change in its system. At one time we had high-flown hopes of the Grand Military Steeple Chases, in which the flower of our cavalry chivalry promised" to witch the world with noble horsemanship. These have sadly fallen in flavour-down to mere swipes, in point of fact. "Haud meus hic sermo" wholly; but thus says public opinion. Moreover, the betting clique will take it up in the shape of handicap, which gives common main and chance (conventionally) to all; together with the particular pull which the profession enjoys, when there's anything in the wind, or where "sharp's the word." Like all the institutions of social life, the Grand National Steeple Chase brought forward a system which time has improved-so far as relates to its working out more profitably, if less pleasantly.

"THE SWITCHER;"

THE PROPERTY OF THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF STRATHMORE.

ENGRAVED BY E. HACKER, FROM A PAINTING BY J. F. HERRING, sen.

However well the high-mettled racer may sustain different characters at different eras, we are by no means prepared to argue on his excellence in "doubling the parts," or in doing more than one thing at one time. Racing and steeple-chasing certainly are, of all varieties, the closest associated, and, especially in the sister country, are very frequently made the "joint undertaking" for keeping and training horses. Still this double-barrelled system rarely brings a double profit; good nags across a country have scarcely ever been half as good over the flat; and good race-horses somehow or other seldom take very kindly to welter weights and big places, though, to be sure, our friend Mr. Ferguson did once talk of winning the Liverpool with old Harkaway! We shall, in fact, be very much inclined to make a maxim of the folly of attempting to combine the two, at least on this side of the channel; and then, in evidence thereof, call attention to that gallant sportsman, Lord Strathmore's The Switcher, as a nag which has proved himself but a middling race-horse and a very superior steeple-chaser.

PEDIGREE.

The Switcher, a chesnut horse, bred by Mr. Langan in 1841, was got by Ismael, out of Johnstown Lass, by Carlow, her dam Tipsy (first

called Young Tipsy) by Master Robert out of Tipsy, by ElectionMirth, by Trumpator.

Ismael, by Sultan, dam Sister to Cobweb, by Phantom, has already, though with a very limited number of mares, proved himself a very capital stud-horse, his stock being generally remarkable for their stoutness. As well as of The Switcher, he is the sire of Mickey Free, Burgundy and others-vide "Stallions for the Season," in the present

number.

Johnstown Lass was bred by Mr. Fitzpatrick in 1838, and, consequently, covered at two years old-another proof that first foals and young mares are not invariably bad.

PERFORMANCES.

In 1844, The Switcher, then three years old, and the property of his breeder, Mr. Langan, ran second and second at 8st. 3lbs., for a handicap sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, with 25 added, over Bellewstown; Mr. Orford's Atalanta, 5 yrs., 9st. 7lbs., winning the first and third heats, and Mr. Flood's Raymond, 5 yrs., 8st. 9lbs. the second. Mr. Irwin's Captain Arthur, 3 yrs., 7st. 12lbs., and Mr. Knaresboro's La Polka, yrs., 7st. 6lbs., also started.

3

At Lusk he ran second for the first, and nowhere for the second heat of the Railway Plate, won by Mr. St. George's Frivolous. Mr. Moore's Granite and Mr. Johnstone's Recompense also ran.

At the Curragh, September Meeting, he was not placed for the Queen's Plate, won by Mr. Watts's Patriot; Mr. Digby's Dispatch second, and Colonel White's c. by Glaucus, third. Three others also

ran.

At the same meeting, ridden by Mr. Moore, and carrying 10st. 11lbs., he won the second class of the Corinthians in two heats, beating Mr. Preston's Mordaunt, 4 yrs., 12st. 3lbs., Mr. King's Discretion, 6 yrs., 12st. 3lbs., Mr. Irwin's b. g. Chance, 3 yrs., 10st., and Mr. T. Connor's Baronet, 5 yrs., 11st. 10lbs.

At the Curragh, October Meeting, ridden by Murphy, he beat Mr. Thompson's Idle Boy, 5 yrs., in a match for £50., 8st. 7lbs. each.

At the same meeting, carrying 7st. 5lbs., he was not placed for the Kildare Cesarewitch, won by Mr. Bary's Emun-na-Knuck, 3 yrs., 7st. 3lbs.; Mr. Armstrong's Beatrice, 5 yrs., 7st. 13lbs. second; Mr. Irwin's b. h. Tearaway, 6 yrs., 8st. 10lbs. (3lbs. extra) third. Five others also ran.

At the same meeting, carrying 11st., he was distanced in the first heat for the second class of the Corinthians, won by Mr. McDonough's Fireaway, 5 yrs., 12st. 7lbs. Mr. Thompson's Idle Boy, 5 yrs., 10st. 11lbs., and two others also ran.

At Athy, he won the Town Plate of £50, beating Mr. Armstrong's The Star of Erin, Mr. Abbott's Ballybar, and six others.

In 1845, The Switcher commenced his career as a steeple-chaser at Naas, when, ridden by Mr. J. Abbott, he won in two heats the Challenge Cup with £20 in specie, added to a sweepstakes of 3 sovs. each, beating Dr. Kellett ns. Pullaway, Mr. Duffy's Clinker, Mr. Sharkey's Isaac, Mr. Flood's Gift, and Mr. Burgh's Swindler. Won easy.

At the Irish Grand National Steeple-chase Meeting he was not placed for the Kilrue Cup, won by Mr. Preston's Brunette; Mr. Murphy's St.