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• 1 1 : i ■ SUBSTITUTE FOR THE GRAND NATIONAL. In London Sp rting Life of January 10, its editorial writer "Augur" said: "H transpired at Ungffetd oa Saturday that Messrs. frail iV Co. contemplate providing a Grand National uhstltnte, to he decided on the date on Which it w.i- originally intended the great Aintree Steeple chase should take place. I did not hear exactlj whit distal will be employed lor the Gatwick event, but presumably it will l«- four miles or there abouts. and thus some Inducement will be forthcoming fi- owners of the Jraud National type if steeplechaser to prepare their horses accordingly. Messrs. Frails race, it is understood, will lie- a sweepstakes of twenty or tweuty-nve sovereigns each, with Bve hundred sovereigns added, while possibly the National Hunt Committee may also provide financial assistance. The event, however, will be idrertised in the text Calendar. so that are shall soon know what the precisi nditions are to be. "It amy he, of coarse, that the National Hunt Committee themselves will arrange a big steeple .lias.- .a Cheltenham or elsewhere, which arould serve as an official substitute for the Grand National, just as did the New Derby and the Sep-1 tember Stakes :ii Newmarket for the Epsom Demy ami Doncaster St, Leger. As to this, however. I write without any inner knowledge of what the • ruling body contemplates in this direction. The sttg-1 gestion put forward in various naariirn thai a Grand i National substitute, if any, might be decided in Ireland this year does not appear to have met wit! the approval or support of practical ui-n in English racing circles. "Banks1 are larg -ly a feature of -t. cplecha-e c urses in Ireland, and as it stands to reason thai horses hum have some experience of obstacles of this type, they would either have to be ■ trained in the Bum raid Isle, or banks constructed for them to practice over at home, and as these would require a good deal of time to set. it would I-- impracticable to utilize them, this year at any rate." II now sppears that this project is t be carried through, a London dispatch f Tuesday saying: The National Hunt Stewards have decided that the . Grand National will be run off on the Gatwick race .onrse on March 21. the original Liverpool date. This famous race over the sticks, which is to 1 steeph chasing what the Perky is to Hat racing, has ; been run each year since ls:;!t. Although it will t shorn of many attractions through being decided I • way from the Aintree course all followers of hone . raring will certainly appreciate the stewards ruling. It was feared earlv this morning that the race . would be abandoned. Cr.at efforts were made by Irishmen to have the race transferred to the Em. .raid Isle, and the executives at LeopardstOWB 1 offered their course for a two days meeting. The ■ reason for tue transfer is that munition works on 1 • i an extensive scale are under construction close to the Aintree course and the stands, buildings and stables attached soon will be occupied by troops."
