steep -r- $1,500 to $5,000, depending on when the

steep -r- $1,500 to $5,000, depending on when the horse is nominated — making horsemen likely to submit only proven runners.

Horses also can have won multiple races since the novice date, but winners of races other than maiden, claiming or starter handicaps are penalized with extra weight to carry on the otherwise weight-for-age scale.

Three races in the U.S. join a pair at Cheltenham, England to crown the champion novice hurdler on two shores — including the birthplace (Great Britain) and the cradle (America) of hurdle racing, as it were. The $ 1 million goes to the superhorse capable of winning two of the three races here in the U.S. and .both Gloucestershire starts — a feat not yet accomplished.

The winner of one race in the U.S. and one in England will receive a bonus of. $50,000.

The first race in the series is the rich Arthur McCashin Supreme Hurdle stake, contested at 2 1/4 miles over Morven Park’s gently rolling, irrigated course. Though the late summer (effectively the training season for autumn ‘chasers) was bone dry, the thorough watering system on that course will play a big hand in attracting the nation’s top young young hurdle stars to highlight the card at the Leesburg event.

Runners will travel 14 days later to the Oct. 28, Far Hills meeting in New Jersey for the second leg of the series. The Foxbrook Supreme Hurdle is 2 1/2 miles for $50,000. Five stakes, an American record, dot the program.

Southbound again, on Nov. 4, the youngsters meet at Callaway Gardens near Columbus, Ga. to run for $75,000 in the Aflac U.S. Championship Supreme Hurdle. Two and three-eighths is the distance over the steep, sand-based course.

Cheltenham’s renowned racecourse 75 miles northwest of London hosts the final series events Nov. 22 and Dec. 9. Runners will chase a 10,000 pounds (today, about $15,000,) and 15,000 pounds (about $18,000) purses over that stiffly

i_See Novice, P^ge 15