CONTROVERSIAL CLASSIC

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28249, 10 April 1957, Page 5

CONTROVERSIAL CLASSIC

Grand National At Aintree

(From Our Own Reporter) LONXJON, April 1. The future of Britain s most exciting ana most controversial horse ‘ ace « the Grand .National, may well De A a - j et >P a ray. Some commentators in Britain have said they would be surprised if, within 10 years, it was not abandoned or, at least, considerchanged.

Before tms year's race, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals asked for the famous canai jump to oe removed, the canal turn fencing altered, rubber fenders to be fixed to the running rails to protect horses, and for the top weight to be reduced. None of these requests was heeded. The threat of an application to the Hign Court for an injunction re- , 5? ln j ne the P rom oters, Tophams, Btd., from holding the race was made the League Against Cruel Sports. These organisations had the support of hundreds of animal lovers, many of whom expressed thpir indignation in numerous letters to newspapers throughout the country before the race.

The spectacle of Devon Loch, the Queen Mother's horse, stumbling and sprawling from exhaustion when leading in the straight on the run to the winning post in last year’s event, was recalled.

Costs of upkeep to Aintree have mounted considerably in recent years and because it is used virtually only once a year when the Grand National meeting is held, there have been suggestions that if the pressure from the R.S.P.C.A., and others opposed to the race, does not succeed in ending the event, expense instead may be the deciding factor.

No money has been spent on facilities for years and the squat double decker stands cannot accommodate the big crowds that go to see the race. There are not the big flower beds or gardens usually seen on NewZealand race courses, but, instead, tubs of daffodils are placed in front of the County stand—the quivalent of members’ stands in New Zealand. Only Novelty Apart from the novelty of the booKinakers and their "tic tac’’ men, the Grand National does not give the New Zealand visitor the same excitement as the Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie or the Grand National at Riccarton, probably because it is not possible to see the whole race.

When the horses reach the notorious Becher’s Brook and Valentine's Brook fences they are barely visible even for those with powerful field glasses.

The top end of Aintree is a mile away from the stands. This year there W'as a haze over the field and it was not possible to see the horses near the back stretch. Anxious owners, trainers and punters had to rely on the announcers.

More stories have been told and more time spent searching for sensational incidents in the life of horses or riders in the Grand National than in any other race.

A crop of articles appears in the newspapers before the race recalling events in previous races. For New Zealanders, the most interesting this year was an account of the New Zealand-bred horse Moifaa.

The vessel in which Moifaa was shipped from New Zealand was wrecked off the South African coast but the horse swam through shark infested sea to land safely and complete the journey to Aintree. where he won the 1904 classic at 25 to 1. He was sold to King Edward VII.