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WON ENGLANDS GREATEST STEEPLECHASE. Features of the Running of the "War National" at Gatwick Last Month. Tbe "War National." wartime substitute fat the more valuable UvetpasJ Grand National of peaceful days, was run at Gatwick March 21. and was viewed by a big crowd. The American-bred horse Kimorock, a cast-off from A. P.clmonts stable, seemed to have the race won, when ho unluckily fell after taking the last jump, an accident that gave the spoils to Ballymucad. In the next days London Sporting Life "Augur" said of the htj contest: "War National" day furnished far more surprises in the matter of weather than in the aeiual racing, and there was a moment when it appeared quite probable that the feSg event, to which everyone connected with stocplechasing hat looked forward with keen interest, would have to be postponed. The threatened trouble, however, did not materialize, as although the start for the second race was delayed owing to a driving Stana of snow, this unwelcome visitation soon gave way to conditions of a more agreeable kind. A walk around tie-course during the morning disclosed everything in the apple pie order to Which Messrs. Pratt and Co. have accustomed us at Gatwick, the fences and the approaches thereto having been tended in the most careful manner, and the going being as near to perfection as can ever be attained. A fine dryfcsg wind was in evidence to apply the finishing touches, and it would have been a thousand pities had any interference with the program arisen. Alls well that ends well, though, and the only drawback to be recorded was the uncertainty of the light, which during the latter half of the long journey for the big steeplechase, was so bad that colors were quite uudistiiiguishable on the far side of the course. Toiler an Absentee from the Race. "There were nineteen competitors for the great race. Toilers withdrawal hi lag balanced by the appearance in the field of Hackhrs Hey. which li.nl given so disappointing a dssptay at Colwall Park. Thus there were two fewer reamers than last year, a number in proper proportion to the slj-.-htly reduced entry. The wagering found Carrig Park as pronounced a favorite as ever, though he eas d somewhat in face of the strong support forthcoming for Chang, whoso connections were brimful of confidence The Winchester representative, indeed at one period pressed Carrig Park oloselv for market honors. Yet mouth, which was ousted from the second position he held overnight, sharing With the Koyston first string the honor of heading tbe re in.ler. As was tin- case in tin- "Laaca- shire" Steeplechase at Windsor, th,. Hon. Aabsey Hastings ran his whole fleet of three, .insisting of Ally Sloper. Kallymacad. and Denis Auburn, hut whereas on Saturday the former was the ehasea of the party, Kallymacad was now in the greatest favor. sir Geerge Battossrhs gilding. moreover, won the race easily, ha, ing Ally Sloper to finish third, and thus the fPreaghtoa stable repealed its Aintree triumphs of 1 »o» with Ascetics Silver and of 19K"i with yesterdays third. Limerocks Quite Remarkable Mhchancc. "It was the irony of fate, however, that Pally macads victory was achieved at tiie expense r ,m animal trained in a neighboring establishment, viz. I.imeroek. whose mi ntor is Arthur Gordon. Mr! Patersons well-bred betel — he is by the triple-roivn wir.ner Kock Sand-hold a winning lead at the last fence, but he came down on landing, and the spoils were thus dashed from his grasp just as they appeared to lie seiun — a piece of bad back for every** sactratd. The horse had finished weal in boat of Kallymacad in the Windsor race, and thus the form there would have been confirmed to the letter had all gone well with Kimeiock. Altogether, by the nine horses way, finish -d. :1s compared wilh twelve a year ago: seven ,,f the competitors fell and the rem:inder being pulled up at varieas stages of the race, which, by the way, was a r.ist run one. nearly ten seconds being cut off the tine registered last .March. The first to conic to grief was Kenia. which had separated I.imeroek and Kallymacad on Saturday, and the mares example was followed during the first circuit by Hacklers y. After goiag half way the favorite. to the dismay of his legion of followers, came down, and thus the question of his stamina remains in abeyance. :,s it was not on account of anv deficiency in that respect that he failed. The lightly-weighted Fargue was the next "casualty." and it was at the last fence — where, as already related, Kimcvoek met his unhappy fate— that Teatptedow-ncy found himself at length undone. Tcmpledowncy the Pacemaker. "The performance of T.nipledowney was. it must at once be admitted, a remarkable one. || v..,s strange to see the top wehrht in a foir an I half miles steeplechase niakiug the running, but that is icmpledowiieys way. ami I was franklv sHtonislied to see him last as lone as he did. His stable companions Yellow Chat and Qaeea Imaal were i» t !i prominent at one point or another, and bath finished; but it was reserved to hang to follow P.-illy-macad home at a respectful list. uue. thereby showing that little mistake had lieen made in estiSMtiag his prospects. Ally Sloper. as is his went, sceapied one of the rearmost psaltluSM for the greater put of the joaraey, hut began to move no as the straight Was reached for the last time. In his persevering way. Kady Nelsons fine fencer went on to do his place backers a good turn, though he was obviooxry inferior at tiie weights to his successful stable eon panion. As for the rest, a tribute must be paid to the gaaseaess of last years little hero Vermouth. Which carried his 171 pounds into fourth place, and it only remains to add congratulations to all concern id in P. illym. leads victory, especially his reter-an rider Driscoll. whose industry and perseverance have at length been suitablv rewarded. It is a great pleasure to be able to state that Sir Geerge Hullough intends presenting the value of the stakes -roughly, a thousand pounds -to the St. Dun-tins Home for Bliaded Soldiers, thus cmulati.ig tie generosity of Percy Heyboiirii. who last year passed on tin- proceeds from Vermouths triumph to soother of our most deserving institutions the Star and Barter.**
