THE GRAND NATIONAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 75, 29 March 1928, Page 14

THE GRAND NATIONAL.

TO-MORROW'S GREAT RACE.

t THE WORLD'S PREMIER i "CHASE."

; A)n ri:}.i; s famous fences.

(Ry HOKACH WYNDIIAM.)

.The last Friday in March of each yrar a.l\\a\> looms large in the history of utoeplccfiaslng. This is because it i-J then that is held the time-honoured Grand National, and all the sporting World makes for the Aintree course at l4vc rpool to attend it. Origin of the Race.

"What, has now become the Grand National had its real origin in the St. .yban's steeplechase, which was established several years before the Aintree courso was planned. This meeting attracted sonic good horses, prominent ahioug them being Moonraker, the 1831 ujinner. Yet, he had begun his career between the shafts of a Birmingham water cart, and his owner had bought h|m for less than £20. Lottery, the winner of the first Grand National at .Vpntrcc, had also been picked up for a "Kong." Still, a very musical one. STbo date of the first Grand National oh the present course was 1839, and the nice ting (for which there were fifty-five Sitries, but only seventeen starters) as largely due to the sporting spirit of Lord Sefton and a Liverpool publican. Among the gentlemen Tiders on this occasion was Captain Martin Becher, a Waterloo veteran who gave his name to the well known "Becher's Brook" jump, which still figures there. He himself, although an admirable horseman, "took a toss" very soon after the flag fell. The race was won by Lottery, second favourite. This circumstance so ahnoyed the mob that they hustled Jem Mason, who was. up; and an outsider that looked like winning was hemmed in at a jump by a crowd of disappointed backers. The stewards, anticipating trouble, had asked for the services of a body of police, but the request had been refused. As a result, a gang of pickpockets and roughs held high revel.

.The .Tom Mason, alluded to as the first professional to ride a Grand National winner, was something of a "character." He was a tremendous dandy, always wearing white kid gloves, and having his top hoots from two different makers, one supplying the and the other being responsible for the feet. As "Mr. Varnish," he appears in several of Whyte-Melville's sporting novels.

During its long history, the Grand National has probably provided more "thrills" than even the Derby. On two occasions a horse that has been first oyer the last fence has lost in the finish 05 the flat. This happened to Congress in ,187 ft and 1877. Two years later, Austerlitz, the 1877 winner, was heavily backed by the public. At five minutes to 12. however, on the morning of the race, Mr. R. C. Harvey, his owner, had him scratched. There was good reason for this-decision, as a leg had suddenly gone wrong. None the less, the scribes were furious, and wrote stinging criticisms. "The ostentible cause of the withdrawal," declared one journalist with a grievance, "was a 'leg,' and any excuse will do as well as another. There is an evil savour about the affair."

A Sensational Win.

A sensational win was that of Sunlock, 1014, ridden by Mr. W. J. Smith. A gallant little hunter, with the heart of a hero in his small body, Sunlock took the lead directly the flag fell. AH the others, feeling convinced that his pace was much too fast and furious to fast, let him tear ahead. It looked as if they were right, for gradually a string of thrim began to pass him. At the final jump there were several hot on his heels, and he stumbled. Instantly, there was a .deafening road, "Sunlock's down!" But if down, brave little Sunlock was not done. Recovering himself by a mighty effort, he managed to get over the fence, and galloped up to the judge's box in front of all his competitors. In the following year there was another sensation, when Ally Sloper was bumped into, and as neariy as possible Hfiset, Despite this, he managed to win.

The Grand National has disappointed the hopes of many an owner, and horses that looked certain of victory have failed in the last few yards. One such was Limerock, who, in the 1017 race was six lengths ahead and going strong as ho cleared the final obstacle. But "there's many a slip," etc., and, as illluck would have it, Limerock landed on a bad patch and threw his jockey. The truth is, this is a race in which people go wrong more often than in any other. Writing of the chances of Casse Tete, in 1872, a well-known judge of "form" declared, "if she wins, I will eat her, saddle and bridle and all." Well, she did win. It was unexpected, as she was in poor condition, and had been bought for fifty guineas. Her owner was said to have started his career with a Punch and Judy show; and it was on this account, perhaps, that the theatrical element backed the mare heavily, J. L. Toole, the comedian, pocketing a substantial sum. Confounding the Prophets.

A wealth of experience shows that it is not always a well-fancied horse wins at Aintree. On several occasions a despised animal has romped home, to confound' the "prophets." A classic instance was that of Pathfinder, 1875, who had changed hands for a £10 note and six dozen bottles of beet. After the race, his price went up somewhat. Then, Ruhio, the 1008 winner (at 66 to 1) had pulled a cart, and Master Robert (1924) was said to have earned his corn by drawing a plough. But the most, prominent among the non-fancied starters to upset the "knowing brigade" was Voluptuary. A castoff from Lord Rosebery's stable, he won the Grand National at his first attempt in 1884. He had a curious end, for he afterwards faced the footlights in a Drury Lane melodrama, where he was ridden by a popular actor. Part of his "business" wns to pitch a jockey into a water jump at every performance. This always drew loud cheers from the gallery'.

From the far-off days of the redoubtable Captain Becher onwards military men have often figured in the Grand National. Conspicuous among them was Captain "Roddy" Owen, who was "up" six times at Aintree. H« began in 1885, when he rode for Mr. Ernest Benzon, the "Jubilee Plunger," and finished seventh. At his sixth attempt (18&) ho was successful on Father O'Flynn, beating Cloister, the following year's winner, by twenty lengths. Other namei that occur are those of Captain Machell, Captain Bennet, and Major Wilson, i Then, in 1806, the race was won by a subaltern of the oth Lancers, who

had been offered a mount on Colonel Hall Walker's The Soarer, which started at 50 to 1. In the thirty years that have since elapsed that young Laijcer has developed into Lieut.-General Sir David Campbell, K.C.M.G. Royalty and the Grand National.

There has been a long and close connection between Royalty and the Grand National. So far, however, only one success has been scored. This was in 1900, when Ambush 11., ridden by Anthony, carried off the prize for King Edward, then Prince of Wales. It was a great race from start to finish, watched by a record crowd. A couple of fences from home, Ambush 11. crept up and took second place to Manifesto. A better jumper, he negotiated the final obstacle first, and snatched the victory by four lengths in a field of sixteen.

Three years later, when the Prince had come to' the throne, Ambush 11. attempted to repeat his performance. He was now, however, carrying 12.7, and unfortunately fell at the last fence. Nor did he have much better luck when he tried again in 1904. The truth was that, all unsuspected, the day of poor Ambush 11. was over. He was being prepared at the Curragh, for the 1905 race, when he broke a blood vessel and fell dead, nearly killing his jockey.

It was at an earlier Grand National, that of 1884, that the Royal stable entered The Scot, which was considered to have good prospects. While on the course the Prince wak handed a telegram telling him of the death of his brother, the Duke of Albany.

British as is the event, the winner of the Grand National has not always been of British birth. In 1883 the race was won by Count Charles Kinsky, an Austro-Hungarian nobleman, riding his mare Zoedone. The count was a very popular figure in English society, and was an honorary member of the Jockey Club. In 1885 he attempted to repeat his success. This time he failed, for Zoedone fell at the first hurdle. There were ugly whispers that she had been "got at" by some evil-disposed stableman who had poisoned her food. In fact, the count had received anonymous warnings that this would be done. The 1926 winner, Jack Horner, had an English name but an American owner, for he belonged to Mr. Schwartz, a citizen of the United States.