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LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL Incidents in the History of the Greatest of All Steeplechases Like Epsom Derby It Has At ¬ tracted Entries from America and Other Countries The recent statement of the London Sportsman that the Grand National will be decided next spring at Aintrce recalls many interesting details in con ¬ nection with the most famous of all steeplechase races Here is what W Allison has to say about the Gnind National NationalWere Were it possible to canvass the general body of those who take an interest in racing a greater num ¬ ber than might IK supposed would probably be found to give preference to crosscountry sport to that on tli flat despite the fact that jumping takes place for a considerable period in weather that is at the Wst uncertain and often inclement It is of course not actively participated in by so large a body as wlQW the fortunes of racing under Jockey Club rales but interest may l e just as keen and genuine 111 the one case as in the other and it can safely lie said that it culminates in connection with the JKIJH National In every respect that steeplechase i the greatest and most important in the world ITic course over which it is decided has no equal for trying the capabilities of the best of chasers and to have won the big race at Liverpool in almost any circumstances is evidence of the possession of the gift of staying and jumping ability Like the Derby the winning of it is a much coveted distinction and horses have been at various times sent from the antipodes from America and from France to com Uete in it to say nothing of Ireland which coun ¬ try has played quite a distinguished part in its history historyGoing Going for its institution as far back as 1839 ILpHRh it was not until 1843 that it became a ban fllrap the race bad a record as long as most and like those of old establishments has experienced vicissitudes in various directions The distance was slightly altered at one time without however de ¬ tracting from its quality as a high steeplechasing test and though occasionally a horse of compara ¬ tively moderate class has been successful its list of winners shows a fine array of great crosscoun ¬ try performers many of which were the property of wellknown staunch upholders of the snort As in the question of the best thoroughbred the British turf has ever produced or as to the order of merit of the winners of the triple crown the point occasionally raised as to the best winner of the Grand National is not susceptible of positive solu ¬ tion tionThere There have been extni good ones at various peri ¬ ods and some of them won twice but it may be taken for granted that not many have been better than Cloister whose victory in 1893 was a most brilliant affair He won by no less than forty lengths under 175 pounds thereby establishing a record that has not been beaten though it was sub ¬ sequently equaled by Manifesto and Jerry M He would in all nrobability have won again under the same weight in 1S94 but caught a chill a little while Ixfore the race and did not see the post tjimigh as little as C to 4 surely the shortest price ver quoted for a National horse had been taken about him Allotted 185 pounds the following year he broke down badly being again unable to run and the course over which he had won and been second to Come Away in 1891 and to Father OFlynn in 1891 knew him no more for he was turned out of training and eventually shot in 1903 WAS LAVISH PATRON OF SPOET SPOETCloisters Cloisters owner though then racing as Mr C Duff was as is now well known the late Sir C AsshctonSmith a lavish patron of steeplechasing who spared no expense in the purchase of likely horses for jumping and among others lie bought was Terry M By a curious coincidence he was destined to bring to his owner the CrossCountry Blue Riband for the second time after he had for a period re ¬ tired from the sjwrt and like Cloister Jerry M was also the victim of circumstances A successful fiveyearold career iwinted to Aintree possibilities but he was easily beaten for the Grand National of 1910 Jind the following year had 175 pounds in the handicap To the general disappointment he was struck out eleven days before the race and it was left for 1912 to see him pass the post first This lie did with 175 pounds up and though lie did not win by such a wide margin as Cloister the performance was enough to stamp him as a chaser of the best class That was his las appearance on the race course for the next year when handicapped at 17S pounds he did not accept and the race went to his stable companion Covert Coat Jerry M can fairly ranked among the topsawyers for in addition to his fine record in this country he had successes to his credit iii France FranceManifesto Manifesto Hie other horse to win the National with 175 pounds up was one of the most popular of crosscountry performers and stands on an even higher pedestal than Cloister and Jerry M by vir ¬ tue of having scored twice His record in connection with the Grand National is unique and whenever he ran he never failed of public support He seemed to make the course his own and competed in the great steeplechase on no fewer than eight occasions a performance not equaled bv any other winner or loser f the race On his first essay in 1895 he was fourth carrying 15 i pounds to Wild Man from Borneo fell in lSif won under 157 iHumds in 1S97 l eing then nine vears old won again in 1809 with 175 jionuds in the saddle was third weight 1S1 pounds to Ambush II in 1900 third 17 pounds to Shannon Lass in 1901 third 171 pounds to Driimcrce in 1903 and ninth 159 pounds to Moiffaa in K 04 In the course of his racing service which extended over twelve years lie won eight events and lost twentyseven last ran at Liven ool in the Valentine Steeplechase In Novem ¬ ber 1904 mid died when seventeen vears old the following year His was a truly remarkable and it njay be added honorable career and one not excelled by any chaser chaserThe The only other horses to win the race twice were The Colonel and The Lamb of which the former was successful in 18t 9 and 1870 and The Lamb in 1858 and 1871 The Lamb though a somewhat Email horse was little and good and the pair can be bracketed as among the best in the gallery of Grand National winners though in the matter of weight carrier neither approaches the 175 iwunds of Cloister Manifesto and Jerry M No inconsiderable proi ortion of the winners of the race have hailed from the Emerald Isle and they have often been ridden by Irish horsemen Among them are The Lamb Lilwrator Empress Woodbrook Seaman Come Away Cloister Wild Man from Borneo Mani ¬ festo Drogheda Ambush II Drumcree and Jerry M aud not uiauy of them brought more joy to the Hearts of the Irishmen than did AVild Man from Borneo in 1SJ15 The shout that went up from Ain ¬ tree when he passed the post first could almost have been heard on the other side of St Georges channel and the jubilation was the greater from the fact that he was steered by a popular rider in Mr Joe Vidger VidgerThe The Iloval House lias ben once concerned with victorv in the National aud its records are made illustrious by that of Ambush II in l jn It will be remembered that our late King Edward VII then Prince of Wales honored with his pat ¬ ronage crosscountry sport as well as that on the flat and an attempt had been made with Magic to win the Grand National under the royal colors the previous vear But he gave a poor show and when the situation was redeemed by Ambush II the enthusiasm on the course knew no bounds and the scene will never be forgotten by those who wit ¬ nessed it Allusion is made above to the frequency with which Manifesto competed for the Grand Na ¬ tional but lie is run close by Frigate which took Part in the race on seven occasions The mare ran five times before she secured the judges verdict in 1889 having as a sixyearold been second to Vo Inptuarv in 1884 second to Roquefort in 1885 fell in lS85 was unplaced iu 1887 and in 1888 was second to Playfair after meeting with bad luck in the contest and being carried out of the course through the swerving of one of the competitors Tims it was a case of perseverance rewarded and her success was the more appreciated since she was well backed when she won Though at one time the great race was open to fouryearolds a horse of that age lias not run for it since 1881 when Terrier was in the field nud most of the winners have been of considerable ma ¬ turity the oldest to win being Why Not which was thirteen years old iu 1894 the year of his success ihe fivevcarolds to earn brackets arc Regal US76 Empress 1SSO and Lutteur III 1J09 The best of this band was doubtless the lastnamed which had a brilliant career in France and won in irreproachable style at the first time of going over the course much to the credit of his victory being due to the skillful handling of his jockey Par frement who like bis mount was making a first acquaintance with the trying Aintree track Lut ¬ teur III is the only Frenchbred horse to win the race though others had made the attempt previ ¬ ously and as his owner Mr James Hennessy is one of the most liberal patrons of crosscountry sl rt in France aud he had many backers on this side of the channel the triumph was a popular one The son of St Damien again tried his luck in the race in 1911 and was well backed with 171 pounds P but he was one of a field of twentysix of which only four finished and he was not one of the four The race was a chanter of accidents and GleusiUc W0n by twenty lengths
