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The history of the chase is linked directly to the ancient tradition of foxhunting. The Paul Mellon Foxhunters’ Chase contested prior to the Virginia Gold Cup feature on Saturday has ties to the very origins of the sport from the British Isles.
Prior to the time when the Irish countryside was enclosed with hedges and walls, a foxhunting man never had to ride over any obstacle more formidable than a ditch or narrow stream. As fencing increased in the mid-18th century, jumping ability became an important aspect for foxhunters.
Because of greater speed and jumping, it is possible to imagine the challenge flung from one gentleman rider to another after a day’s sport in the hunting field: “I’ll race you to yon steeple ...” a church steeple being the only visible marker rising above woodlands.
The shortest distance betvyeen two points has always been a straight line, and obviously the two sporting riders may not care what lay between them and the steeple. Ditchfs. hedges and/pqk, walls did not slow or stop the race. Though 1 '•*' sounds a tancitul tale, historic » fact places* the tjrst “jteeplg” r^T‘, in history in 1792 Ireland between.
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