Grand Leicestershire Steeple Chase

London: R. Ackermann, Junr. Sporting Gallery, 1830. The Grand Leicestershire Steeple Chase
Eight Magnificent Hand-Colored Plates by C. Bentley after Henry Alken

ALKEN, Henry. Grand Leicestershire Steeple Chase. On the 12th. of March, 1829. London: R. Ackermann, Junr.Sporting Gallery, Jan[uar]y. 1st, 1830.

First edition. Oblong folio (16 1/2 x 20 1/2 inches; 420 x 521 mm.). Eight superb hand colored aquatint plates by C. Bentley after Henry Alken, all with descriptive letterpress. Plates mounted on card, with tissue guards. Plate size 14 1/2 x 18 1/4 inches; 370 x 463 mm. Plate image size 10 1/8 x 14 1/4 inches; 257 x 361 mm.
(truncated)
Mid-twentieth century three quarter maroon morocco over marbled boards, ruled in gilt, front cover with rectangular maroon morocco label lettered in gilt.

A very fine and complete set of these rare prints with exceptionally fine and bright original hand coloring.

A steeplechase is a distance horse race in which competitors are required to jump diverse fence and ditch obstacles. Steeplechasing is primarily conducted in Ireland (where it originated), the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Australia and France. The name is derived from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many intervening obstacles in the countryside.

The first recorded steeplechase over a prepared track with fences was run at Bedford in 1810, although a race had been run at Newmarket in 1794 over a mile with five-foot bars every quarter mile. The first recognized English National Steeplechase took place on Monday 8 March 1830. The 4-mile (6.4 km) race, organized by Thomas Coleman of St.Albans, was run from Bury Orchard, Harlington in Bedfordshire to the Obelisk in Wrest Park, Bedfordshire. The winner was Captain Macdowall on "The Wonder", owned by Lord Ranelagh, who won in a time of 16 minutes 25 seconds. Report of the event appeared in the May and July editions of Sporting Magazine in 1830.

The most famous steeplechase in the world is the Grand National run annually at Aintree Racecourse, in Liverpool, since its inception in 1836 (the official race was held three years later), which in 2014 offered a prize fund of £1 million.

The Grand Leicestershire Steeple Chase in 1829, preceded the first Grand National by seven years.

This set represents "The" steeplechase of the time, those taking part were members of the Quorn
Hunt to whom the dedication is addressed by the publishers.

Each plate is inscribed with the following descriptions: -

Plate 1: Nimrod reading the articles of the race; "Any one opening a gate; going more than a hundred yards. on a road; or if discovered three days after the race to have, either directly or indirectly, caused any fence to be broken or cut down; to be distanced. Anyone crossing or jostling another at a fence, or riding over another when down, to be distanced. No servant to be allowed to ride for this stake". The following are the entrants: "Mr Barclay; Mr Maxse's grey horse 'King of the Valley', riden by the very celebrated Dick Christian; Nicholson on his back; Captain Ross's bay mare 'Polecat', riden by himself; Sir Francis Mackenzie's roan gelding 'Spartacus' ridden by Mr Guilfort; Mr Barclay's bay gelding 'Bantum', jockeyed by Mr. Beacher".

Plate 2: Captain Ross leading - Mr Field Nicholson taking a line of his own. 'Magic' was riden by Mr Field Nicholson in his cool determined manner, and the tine he took to the left of the others gave him an advantage as he thereby avoided two distressing bottoms.
He had but one fall at a desperate place, where independent of a very strong fence, there was a watering place for cattle, but which Mr Heycock on 'Clinker' had just got well over before him. 'Magic', however, cleared both brooks in a very gallant style.

Plate 3: The Cocktail Floored. From left to right Captain Ross, Bill Wright, Mr Beacher, Dick
rails, with a wide ditch to boot, - which fall threw Mr Beacher completely out.

Plate 4: The Captain still leading. Here the Captain rode at wht he at a distance considered a weak place, which turned out to be an enclosed pond - but got well over.

Plate 5: A rich scene; and such as no other County can exhibit.
"What kills is the pace!" said the late Lord
Forester; and no man put it oftener to the test. Captain Ross's chance on the mare was now out, his stirrup having been left hanging in a thick fence.

Plate 6: Dick Christian's last fall; commonly called "A Header".
"'Tis nothing when you are used to it".

Plate 7: Clinker was sixty yards ahead, and within two small fields of winning, when, making a trifling mistake at a fence, his bridle slipped over his ears, and thus his chance was out.

Plate 8: The Winning Post at Billesden Coplow. This covert is celebrated for having produced the stoutest foxes in the Quorn Hunt. Here Mr Maher was appointed judge, and the horses were thus placed;

Sir Harry Goodricke's Magic 1
Mr Maxse's King of the Valley 2
Mr Patrick's Lazy Bet 3
Captain Ross's Clinker 4

The other three, nowhere…

Bobins II, 764; Mellon, Page 26; Siltzer, Page 61; Wilder, Page 69, Plate 22; Widener, no. 49. (Inventory #: 05896)