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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 120, 10 November 1892, Page 4

Even allowing that a brilliant horse like Ahua won our last Grand National Steeplechase, there is no doubt that the present “ class ” of our hurdlers and chasers is very much below what it was in the days of Clarence, The Agent, etc. And the same state of things has to be recorded in V ictoria and New South W ales, even granted that there is one brilliant meteor there in the shape of Redleap. But taking him out of the calculation what is there ? Nothing we venture to affirm within stones of such as Blue Mountain, Cory thus, Sussex and Lone Hand. Herein we may point a moral and adorn a tale by mentioning that it is noticeable that some clubs in the Auckland district have steeplechases on their programmes from one end of the season to the other. The Canterbury Jockey Club —who until they took over the Grand National fixture—did not seem particularly anxious to foster hurdleracing and steeplechasing—have adopted this innovation, and introduced a Curragh Steeplechase to be run at their Spring Meeting this week. There is a proper time for everything, and having cross-country races in Spring, Summer and Autumn does not flavour of any great degree of wisdom If this sort of thing continues there need be no wonder at the marked absence of a good set of steeplechase horses in winter time. The Metropolitan Clubs’ delegates resolved some time ago to allow no flat racing in winter except at welter and high weights, and they might now, to be consistent, pass a resolution forbidding steeplechasing except at proper seasons of the year. Here is another question for them to grapple with at the Conference this month.