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GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE TODAY The Worlds Most Famous Jumping1 Race to Be Run Again Over Its Home Course The Grand National Steeplechase will be run over the trying Aintree course at Liverpool today In it distance of about four miles and S5 yards tlio number and difficult character of its obstacles to be surmounted and its general characteristic features it has no rival and has been correctly styled the Blue Riband of steepleehasing It is a stout and stouthearted horse indeed that can survive its perils and finish its course to say nothing of winning We have never had anything like it in this country our distances being shorter and our obstacles much less severe Then as a rule tile age of the seasoned English steeplechasers average much older than ours This is exemplified in the fact that thirtyseven horses eligible to par ¬ ticipate in todays big race all but four are aged that is more than six years old the exceptions being the three fiveyearolds All White Black Archer ana Irish Dragoon and the sixyearold Sea Cock Great endurance and ability to jump high and far are the two great essentials ju a Liverpool horse rather than speed To secure these essentials Knglish experts hold that to be eijual to the stern requirements of this race it is requisite that the horse shall have attained the full development of its muscular structure and strength and to have had several years of preliminary practice in jumping races of lesser distances and lesser exhausting exactions exactionsThe The Grand National was first run in 1830 so its history is a long one replete with historical notes of great deeds and stirring incidents As a race it is lield in high esteem in England and ils decision is awaited with a measure of interest akin to that which hangs on the running of the Derby or the St Ieger Like the Derby it had to move away from its home while the Great War whs in progress and for three years it was run Tit Gat wick as the War National Poethlyn won it there last year and the latest advices was the favorite for this years renewal at 7 to 1 while Ally Sloper the last winner at Liverpool was third choice at 8 to 1 Wavetree at 13 to 2 being between the pair Vermouth and Iallymacad the Gatwick winners of 1815 and 1017 are also among the eligible of this year and both have been backed in the antepost betting THE THREE HIGH WEIGHT WINNERS WINNERSIn In the past history of the race 175 poundThas been the limit carried successfully Horses good horses have been asked to carry more but always without avail although Manifesto gallantly car ¬ ried 181 pounds into third place when the lale King Edwards Ambush won the race to the delight of all England in 1900 The three heroes which triumphed under the record impost of 175 pounds were Cloister in 1893 Manifesto in 1S99 and Jerry M under the more recent date of 1912 One Ameri ¬ can horse has won this famous race This was Knbio which took first honors in 1008 at the record price for the National of 50 to 1 He was bred in this country by the late T 15 Haggin and exported to England for sale when a yearling yearlingOne One of the most remarkable things about the Grand National is the manner in which some ex ¬ ceptional horses have stood its immense strain on bone sinews and muscle time after time In that way the connection of the great horse Manifesto with the race is one of its romances Besides winning it twice he was fourth in 1S95 to Wild Man from Borneo third in 1900 to Ambush third in 190 to Shannon Lass and third to Drumcree in 1903 then was unplaced in 1904 and fell in Hit race of 1901 Obviously he was well acquainted with the Aintree course and was iii all respects a truly wonderful steeplechaser Probably there never was a better betterAn An Americanbred horse Limeroek by Rock Sand Annot Lyle was considered one of the most dan ¬ gerous candidates for todays race but unluckily he broke down in the running of the Byfleet Steeplecjiase at Sandown Park February 28 A number of Grand National horses took part in this race at three miles and its running was held to be the first tiling that had thrown any real light on Grand National l robabHties its result making Wavertree one of the prime favorites Concerning the race London Sportsman of the next day said saidWAVERTREES WAVERTREES GOOD RACE RACEYesterdays Yesterdays dress rehearsal at Sandown Park was most interesting but unfortunately proved fatal to the Liverpool prospects of Limeroek which either broke down or split a pastern when going and jumping well a the end of the first circuit Nor was this the only contretemps as Captain Dreyfus fell all of a heap at the fence beyond the pay gate about threequarters of a mile from home All the runners stripped bright and well considering that there is a month before the big steeplechase is decided and Wavertree was perhaps the bcjstlook ing horse in the field He was doubtless all the better for his race at the last meeting and the work done since and was favorite from Pollen and Captain Dreyfus with Pay Only Itallymacad Schoolmoney and Bernstein all well backed As is his usual custom Captain Dreyfus went to the front and sailed away in clear command until reaching the stand when they were all set closely bunched with Wavertree Limeroek and Bernstein prominent and it must have been immediately afterward that the mishap befell Capt Patersons horse Along the Hallway Stretch Pay Only and Pollen improved their positions and coming ipto the straight there was little to choose between the favorite Pollen and Bersteiu the latter having none the best of the luck as he was somewhat hampered at the last two fences A splendid nice ensued between the other two and Pollen had his head in front for a few strides after landing on the flat but Answering with magnificent pluck to the vigorous calls of Mason who was seen at his best Wavertree came again and won handsomely Then the best offer against him for the Grand National was 100 to 15 At the same time SM to 100 was taken about Ally Sloper
