MOONLIGHT ’CHASE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19887, 15 March 1939, Page 9

MOONLIGHT ’CHASE

FAMOUS RACE RECALLED LAST SURVIVOR’S STORY A fragrant breath from the “Naughty' Nineties” came down the years when Mr. Charles McNeill, O'BE, of Cobham, Kent, the only survivor in Britain of the famous Moonlight Steeplechase, recounted the event recently He said that the death of Major Algernon Edwin Burnaby had left him with this distinction— though one other of the midnight riders, Briga-dier-General Angus McNeill, is m Palestine. Lady Augusta Fane, sister of the present Earl of Stradbroke, was the sponsor of the steeplechase, said Mi. McNeill, the idea coming to her during her birthday on March 10, 1890. The schooling steeplechase course belonging to Mr. Behrens at Thorpe Arnold, near Melton Mowbray, was chosen for the race, and the gentlemen jockeys adjourned there afterdinner. The moon was clouded, so Mr. Edward Baldock, of Craven Lodge, who was organiser-in-chief for Lady Augusta, borrowed a van load of oil lamps from the Midland Railway to illuminate each of the fences of the twomiles course. Nightshirts were worn by most of tlie horsemen but neither Major Burnaby nor Mr. McNeill had brought

them. Lady Augusta thereupon lent one of her night-dresses (it had pink silk ribbons attached) to Major Burnaby, while Mr. McNeill had a white sweater and a racing-cap. “As soon as Lady Augusta produced this magnificent garment we all said, “It’s as good as over,” said Mr. McNeill, “and Burnaby did win.” First prize was a silver cup given by Count Z'oorowski. The second prize, which Count Zborowski won, was given by Lady Augusta, while Mr. McNeill won the third prize, presented by Lady Hilda Rous. Mr. McNeill, now 72, was during the Great War staff officer to the British Remount Commission in Canada.