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Page 14 · column 3 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
By BETSY BURKE and HILARY SCHEER GERHARDT
AiCom Newspapers Staff Writers
No longer do they race from steeple to yon’ steeple across often wild and wooly countryside for a day of fun.
Nor do the bold, daring horsemen gallop across rolling emerald fields or endless russet ploughs, negotiating all manner of fences — natural and manmade obstacles—just to see whose horse is fittest and fastest, as was done in Ireland during the first steeplechase in 1752.
With traditions deeply rooted, a steeplechase race is much like a 19th century racing print come to life. Gentleman (and lady) riders on superblybred, immpeccably turned-out horses race hell-bent-for-leather and trophies.
But this is the end of the 20th century, and such competition is limited to thoughtfully groomed farms and manicured race courses throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Steeplechasing is good, clean fun — good for the people, good for the psyche.
Today, races are run over timber (solid jumps made out of lumber) and natural brush fences (cedar trees stuffed into wooden boxes) or hurdles (properly called national fences, which are simulated brush fence made of plastic, metal and foam, offering horses identical fences week to weeki.
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