Grand National History from Lottery to Shaun Spadah, Daily Racing Form, 1922-02-26

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1 1 » r I , , . , 1 1 GRAND NATIONAL HISTORY FROM LOTTERY TO SHAUN SPADAH Tear. Owner. Winner. Start. Odds. Jockey. Second. Third. Time Value. 1839 J. Elmore Lottery 17 8-1 J. Mason . .Seventy -Four 1453 1840 Mr. Vlllebois Jerry 12 12-1 Mr. Bretherton.. .Arthur Valentine 1230 1841 Lord Craven Charity 11 14-1 Mr. Powell Cigar Pet. Simple. .1.3-v, 1842 J. Elmore Gaylad 15 7-1 T. Oliver . .Seventy-Four Pet. Simple, .isr.o 1843 Lord Chesterfield.. Vanguard 10 12-1 T. Oliver Nimrod Dragsmnn 1844 Mr. Quartermaine. Discount 15 5-1 Criekmere. .The Returned Tom Tug 13-r « 1845 W. S. Crawford ..Cure All 15 Loft Peter Simple T. Exquisite.. 10:47 ..... 1846 Mr. Adams Pioneer 22 Taylor Culverthorpe Switcher 1047 1S47 Mr. Courtenay Matthew 26 10-1 L. Wynne St. Leger Jerrv 1039 184S Capt. Little Chandler 30 12-1 Capt. Little.. The Curata Brit. Yeomanll-l 1849 Mr. S. Mason, Jr.. Peter Simple. ...24 20-1 Cunham T.Kn.of Gwynne Prince GeorgelO-no S 4 0°". 1850 Mr. Osborne Abd-el-Kader ..32 33-1 Green. .T. Kn. of Gwynee St. John ••57% 1851 J. Osborne Abd-el-Kader ..21 7-1 T. Abbott ...Maria Day Sir John 9:59 ., 1852 T. F. Mason Miss Mowbray.. 24 12-1 A. Gdmun.. Maurice Daly Sir P. Laurie n-jS". 3 400 1853 Capt. Little Peter Simple ...21 9-1 T. Oliver.. Miss Mowbray Oscar .. 10:37i 1854 Mr. Moseley Bourton 21 4-1 Taaker Spring iabbs ... 959 1855 Mr. Dennis Wanderer 20 25-1 J. Hanlon Freetrader Maurice Dalyloi5 1850 W. Barnet Freetrader 21 25-1 G.Stevens Minerva Minos lo-qjc. 1857 G. Hodgman Emigrant 28 10-1 C. Royce ...Weathercock Treachery lo-o« " ". 175 1858 C. Capel Little Charley ..16 100-6 W. Archer.. Weathercock Zanthus 1859 Mr. Willoughby ..Half Caste 20 7-1 C. Green. Jean de Quesne T. Huntsman 10 0 4 - 00 I860 C. Capel Anatis 18 7-2 Mr.Thomas.The Htsman Zanthus 1861 J. Bennett lealousy 24 5-1 Kendall The Dane Old Ben Roe 1014 4 jStg 1862 Viscount de NamurHuntsman 13 3-1 H. Lplugh... Bridegroom Romeo t-M 1863 Ijord Coventry ...Emblem 16 4-1 G. Stevens Arbury Yaller Girl 11-0 4 "75 1864 Lord Coventry ...Emblematic 25 10-1 G. Stevens Arbury Chester .... ll-.%0 1865 B. J. Angell Alclbiade 23 100-7 Capt. Covtry.Hall Court emblematic ..11:11 5 175 1801 Mr. Studd Salamander ....30 40-1 A. Goodman .. .Cortolvin Creole 11-0.". 1867 Duke of Hamilton. Cortolvin 23 100-0 J. Page Pan Shangarry 11P4- ~ UB 1808 Ixird Poulett The Lamb 21 9-1 Mr. Edwards. Pearl Diver Alcibiade . 7».ii» 1869 Mr. Weynian The Colonel 22 14-1 G. Stevens Hall Court Gardener ... 1100 8 800 1870 M. Evans The Colonel 23 4-1 G. Stevens ..The Doctor Primrose .... 10:10 73-,5 1871 Lord Poulett The Lamb 25 5-1 Mr. Thomas Despatch Scan ington . 9 35% 8 5 1872 E. Brayley Casse Tete 25 20-1 J. Page Scarring ton Despatch IOI41. 7275 1873 Capt. Machell Disturbance 28 20-1 J.M.Rrdson . .Rysh worth Columbine 9 800 1874 Capt. Machell Reugny 22 5-1 J. M. Rdson. Chim. Sweep Merlin ..." iooi MM 1875 H. Bird Pathfinder 18 100-6 Mr. Thomas Dainty Le Venie . io-» «7oo 1876 Capt. Machell Regal 19 25-1 J.Cannon Congress Shi fnal 11:14 7*50 1877 F. G. Hobson . . . .Austerlitz 10 15-1 F. G. Hobson.. .Congress The Libator.1010 6 450 1878 J. Nightlngall Sblfnal 12 100-15 J. Jones Martha P. of Kildare.lO:23 8 450 r879 G. Moore The Liberator ..18 5-1 G.Moore Jackal Martha 1012 9 500 1880 P. Ducrot Empress 14 8-1 T. Beasley. The Liberator Dnpa trick !!l:20 6°50 1881 Capt. KIrkwood ..Woodbrook 13 6-1 T. Beasley Regal Thomfield ...11:.".t 4 900 1882 Ixird Manners Seaman 12 10-1 Lord Manners Cyrus Kocdone 10*43% 0 075 1883 Prince C. Kinsky. .Zoedone 10 100-8 Prince Klnsky.BIk.Prince Dnpatrick ll::!» 4t;- -, 1884 H. F. Boyd Voluptuary 15 10-1 E.P.Wilson Frigate Roquefort ...1005 "ilf", 1885 A. Cooper Roquefort 19 100-30 B. P. Wilsou Frigate Black Prince 1010 5 17". 1880 Mr. Douglas Old Joe 23 25-1 T. Skelton Too Good Gamecock ...10149- 6 8O1 1887 E. Jay Gamecock 16 20-1 W. Daniels Savoyard I. Longtail 1010? 0O8O IS8S Col. E. W. Baird.-Playfair 20 40-1 Mawson Frigate Ballot Box 10:l,,J -,94r, 1889 M. A. Maker Frigate . 20 8-1 T. Beasley Why Not M. P. .. looli .Vo 1890 G. Masterman Ilex 10 4-1 A. Nightlngall Pau M. P 10-41- s.T* . 1891 W. G. Jameson ...Come Away 21 4-1 H. Beasley Cloister Hex 958" 8 400 1892 C. G. Wilson Father OFlynn.25 20-1 Capt.E.R.Owen . .Cloister Ilex ., jjis- 8400 1893 C. G. Duff Cloister 15 9-2 Dollery Aesop Why Not 9-3i 9 «••-, 1894 Capt. C. H. FeuwkWhy Not 14 5-1 A. Ntingall. .L. Ellen II. W.M.f.Borneo 9!45 98r. 1895 J. Widger W.M.fr. Borneo.. 19 10-1 J. Widger Cattol Van der Berg «• •» •*•» ■ 1890 Lord Wavertree. . .The Soarer 28 40-1 D.M.G.Cpbell .F.OFlynn Biscuit .... Hlh- 987, o9I U" M" Dya Manifesto 28 6-1 T. Kavanagh Filbert Frd of Fyne. 9:49" 987-, 1898 C. G. Adams Drogheda 25 25-1 Gourley Cathal Gauntlet ... t*?Mr*i| 9 875 1899 J. G. Bulteel Manifesto 19 5-1 G.Wilmson Ford of Fyne Elliman . . •4B4j 9 V", 1900 Prince of Wales... Ambush II 16 4-1 A. Anthony .Barsac Manifesto 1001% ist-, 1901 B. Bletsoe Grudon 24 9-1 A. Nhtingall...Drtimcree Buffalo Bill. . •:«743 9x7-, ■J" A- Gorham Shannon Lass ..21 20-1 D. Read Mathew Manifesto ...10:03«i lbtiim SS MorrIson Drumcree 23 13-2 P. Woodland Detail Manifesto ...10:09-- 10090 „ „ ic 2 H-Go,lan Moifaa 20 25-1 A. Birch Kirkland The Gunner.. 9:58% lOlMli J™- f-.Bibby Kirkland 27 0-1 F. Mason. .Napper Tandy Bckawav II.. t:484 10 1", 1900 Prince Ha tzf eld t.. Ascetics Silver. 23 20-1 Hon.AHastings. .Red Lad Aunt May 9-34-i- 1087. ■ 7,1 ?; ?oward Eremon 23 8-1 A. Newey Tom West Patlander ... 9:47A 12001 1908 Maj. F. Douglas- p«nn»nt Rob* 24 60-1 H.B.Bletsoe.M. Macggor T. LawyerIII.10:04% 12,000 .nftn t 1909.1. nennessy Lutteur III 32 100-9 G. Parfrement Judas Caubeen 9-53-* - 1" 000 1910 S. Howard Jenkinstown ...25 100-8 R. Chadwick Jerry M. Odor 10-04 - £ 12.M0 E*t"»» Glenside 20 20-1 J.R.Anthony . .Rathnally Shady Girl. ..10:35 12500 1912 Mr. C. G. Asshe- ,„,„„. tonSraitn Jerry M 24 E. Piggott Bloodstone Axle Pin . . . .10:13?i 16 000 1913 Sir C. G. Assheton-/v,, mSm,U,h Covertcoat 22 100-9 P. Woodland . .Irish Mail Carsey 10:19 15,850 .914 T. Tyler Sunloch 20 100-0 W.J.Smith. .Trianon III. Lutteur III. .. 9:5814 17 575 191o Lady Nelson Ally Sloper 20 100-8 J. Anthony Jacobus F. Confessor.. 9:47% 17575 JS; ? F- He-Tbourn ..Vermouth 21 100-S J. Reardon Irish Mail Schoolmnev .10:22 s750 19l7»Sir G. Bullough ..Ballymacad 19 100-9 E. Driscoll Chang Ally Sloper.. .1012% r,o°-| !v!!nwr8- H- 1 oel Poethlyn 17 5-1 E. Piggott.. Capt.Dreyf us Ballymacad .9:50% 4,92.1 •9 i ? fft*- H. Peel Poethlyn 22 11-4 E. Piggott .. .Ballyboggan Pollen 10:08% 17 950 ,? JOr rrard Troytown 24 6-1 J.R.Anthny.The Turk II. The Bore 21800 .n m 1921*1. McAlpme Shaun Spadah. ..35 100-9 F. Rees The Bore All White 10:26 39,925 •Substitute races. No race in 1919. GELDINGS USUALLY WIN; FAVORITES OFTEN FAIL In the sixty-eight past Grand Nationals but fifteen favorites have won. Four have been second, four more third, twenty-five have run unplaced and twenty have fallen. Poethlyn, the 1919 winner, was the shortest in price, 11 to 4. Lutteur III., the French favorite of 1903, was the highest priced favorite. 100 to 9. He shared favoritism with Shady Girl, which fell in the race. One year in which Cloister was the 2 lo 1 favorite he was scratched before ths race. In the 1841 race Lottery, with 186 pounds up, was the 2M to 1 favorite and beaten. In 1879 Regal was 3ft to 1 choice and beaten. Both were unplaced. Charity and The Liberator won. The Grand National is usually a geldings race. Of its sixty-nine races nine only have fallen to mares, Miss Mowbray 1852, Anatis I860, Jealousy 1861, Emblem 1863, Emblematic 1S64, Casse Tete 1872, Empress 1880, Zoedone 1883 and Shannon Lass 1902. But five entire horses have won the Grand National. They were in recent years Grudon, Ascetics Silver and Covert Coat. All the balance of the winners have been geldings of maturity. Only four of the thirty-five starters of the 1921 Grand National finished and only the winner, Shaun Spadah, did not fall in the race. He nearly did. so at the second thorn fence. A parallel is found in 1911, when Glenside, the only horse not to fall, crawled past the post followed by three other remounted horses. Then Lutteur III., the favorite, was one of the first to find the ground. The largest field that ever ran for the race was thirty-five, in 1921. Then came thirty-Iwo in Abd el-Kaders 1850 year; thirty ran for Salamanders 1866 race; one less when Chandler 1848 got home; while twenty-eight have carried silk in four Nationals, won by Matthew 1847, Emigrant 1857. Disturbance 1873 and Manifesto 1897. Only ten were saddled when Zoedone 1883 was returned the winner; previously Charity 1841 had triumphed in a field of eleven. Since then both Shifnal 1878 and Seaman 1882 have carried off the spoils in fields of a dozen. A famous jockey in the early history of. the steeplechase was Tom Oliver, who had nineteen mounts between 1839 and 1859. He won on Gay Lad 1842, Vanguard 1843 antl Peter Simple 1853, and was second three times, first on Seventy-Four, the runner-up to Lottery 1839, then on St. Leger when he beat all but Matthew 1S47, and once again on The Curate when beaten by Chandler 1848. The next year Oliver got third on Jem Masons horse Prince George; the winner was Peter Simple. George Stevens made an unique record as regards jockeyship, winning the race five times— on Free Trader 1856, F]mblem 1863, Emblematic 1864, and twice on The Colonel 1S69-70. Previously Tom Oliver won three times, as stated above. Since then Mr. Thomas, T. Beasley and W. Nightingall have each been successful on three occasions. The former was an assumed name of Thomas Pickernell, the ritler of Anatis 1860, The Lamb 1S71 » and Pathfinder 18751. Tom Beasley was up on FOmpress 1880, Woodbrook 1881 ami Frigate 1889. While the latter famous jockey rode Ilex 1890, Why Not 1894 and Grudoa 1901 ; in all, Nightingall has ridden in fourteen Liverpool* and has been placed five times. Lord Coventry won the race in successive years with Emblem 1863 antl Emblematic 1864 ; they were sisters. Then, to add to the coincidence, they were both ridden by G. Stevens, and, strangely enough, second place on each occasion was occupied by Arbury. Anatis 1860 was trained entirely on the flat; in fact, she was never put over an obstacle after running unplaced the previous year, when Half Caste won. Neither had Alcibiade 1865; or Voluptuary 18S4 ; each of these horses made their debut in a steeplechase, with a success in the Grand National. Emblem 1863 won her Liverpool by twenty lengths; on the other hand, many winners have got home by a narrow margin. Seaman 1882 defeated Cyrus on the post by a short head; Half Caste 1859 won by a neck only from Jean du Quesne; the unlucky Hall Court f idled by a neck to Alcibiade 1865; later the race was landed by Regal 1876 when he defeated Congress by a neck. SOME INCIDENTS OF GRAND NATIONAL RACES Vanguards 1843i race was the first decided as a handicap since those far-off days. The only winners to carry 168 pounds or more have been Cloister 1893, Manifesto 1899 and Jerry M. 1912 1. All three sailed home under the welter burden of 175 pounds. Manifesto gallantly carried 181 pounds into third place behind Ambush II. 1900. When Salamander 1866 won LAfricaine was apportioned the pr.posterous burden of 184 pounds, but he was knocked over in running, so it is quite impossible to conjecture what he might have done, as Le was undoubtedly a wonderful steeplechaser; even such a celebrity as the late Mr. Goodman favored him as the be.-t he had seen during a long career. Iree Trader 1856 won with but 132 pounds in the saddle. With the "also ran" was Little Charlie, let in with 116 pounds; this is the lightest weight ever carried in a National. Reference to Alex Goodman recalls the fact that he rode eleven Grand Nationals and never once came to grief. He was successful twice — on Miss Mowbray 1852, then again on Salamander 1866. Another famous jockey equally fortunate at Aintree was J. Page. He like Mr. Goodman, never had a fall, and. strangely enough, he had eleven mounts and rods iwo winners. Over the severe steeplechase course Page was successful on Cortolvin 1867, when that horse finished in the van under 167 pounds, winning again five years later on Casse Tete 1872,i. This jockey had earlier in his career ridden sever: 1 winners on I he Hat, including Fravofo, in the now defuncl Eurl Spencers Plate, and First Lord, the hero of the Northumberland Hate Day in I860. It has been seen that 00 was added to the first Grand National. As the years have gone by its value has gradually increased. In 1915 it was a handicap with a guaranteed value of 0,000, the winners share of the prize being 7,575. The second horse got ,500 and the • third 50, while the breeder of the winner received 00. In 1920 the gross value of • the race was 5,000, out of which the second got ,000 and the third ,000. Last year the event became once more a sweepstakes of 50 each for starters, with forfeits of 50 and 5, together with 5,000 added. To the second ,500, to the third ,500 and to the fourth 50 was allocated. Such are the prizes for this years race. It is by far the biggest prize offered for jumpers in England, and so it should be. for it yields an enormous revenue to the Liverpool management. There was a time in the early history of the Grand National when horses that were not iuite thoroughbreds were able to win it. None but the stoutest thoroughbreds can live the ■ace at which it has been run these many years, however, and a horse must not only have the power to lift himself over the obstacles, but possess the speed to withstand a challenge on the flat. Some of the jumps, like Bechers Brook and Valentines Brook, are extremely trying. During all the years of its running only three foreign-bred horses have won the Grand National. These were Rubio. by Star Ruby — La Toquera, by Sir Modred. and the next dam louche Pas. by Spendthrift, bred by the late J. B. Haggin at his stud in California, which got hooM in front of twenty-three rivals in 1908; the French gelding Lutteur III. in 1909, and 1 Moifaa, from New Zealand, in 1904. Shortly before his real quality as a jumper was discovered i be was regularly driven to a hotel bus at Towcester. Rubio was sent to England with a Haggin Mud draft and sold at auction for 5. HOW THE GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE BEGAN. The Grand National, like some other great races, had a slapdash inception and has grown v ilh age. In 1838 a group of sportsmen had taken over the lease of the grandstand and racecourse at Aintree, on the outskirts of Liverpool, and it was decided to inaugurate the new order • f things by starting a contest that would suit the taste of the public. At that period the sport of racing over fences was in its infancy. In an organized form it began in 1830 at St. Albans, nbout twenty miles north of London. There was a steeplechase at Liverpool in 1836, the I conditions governing which read: "A sweepstakes of 0 each, with 00 added, for horses of : i II denomination, 152 pounds each, gentleman riders, second horse receives back his stak», • v iiiTicr to be sold for ,000, if demanded." That race was won on a horse called The Duke, , riddea by Captain Becher, whose name is mentioned in the description of every race for the , lirand National; the reason why will be given presently. The syndicate which had become the lessees at Aintree deemed it necessary to devise an i r cut that would greatly attract the public. With the instinct of an astute advertiser they proceeded to bestow upon their new race a high-sounding title, and having done so, came to th? conclusion that a modest endowment would suffice. Anyway, the conditions announced were : "The Grand Liverpool Steeplechase. — A sweepstakes of 00 each, 5 forfeit, with 00 added, 152 pounds each, gentleman riders, four miles across couutry, the second to save his stake, and the winner to pay 0 toward expenses; no rider to open a gate or ride through a t gateway, or more than one hundred yards along any road or footpath.* Lottery, with Jem Mason in the saddle, won the first race in 1839. The race was run 1 over five miles of the stiffest line of fences ever put up at Liverpool. Then there was a five-foot ; stone wall, which was lowered to four feet six inches when Jerry 1840 won, and finally pulled down and substituted by an artificial brook in Charitys 1841 year. In Lotterys , 1839 race Comrade, the mount of Captain Becher, fell when leading at the brook, now . known as Bechers Brook; but nine of the seventeen runners completed that severe course. In Jerrys 1840 race the distance was reduced. The race answered its purpose well. It brought sportsmen to Liverpool from all parts of r the country. Fifty-five horses were entered and seventeen faced lie shirtcr, one being Conrad, • ridden by Captain Becher, a famous horseman of those days. Early in the race a stream of f water, or brook, had to be crossed. About a yard from the bank, on the taking-oft side, a , stout timber fence three feet high had been erected, and as the brook was some six feet wide, • the obstacle had become at most formidable one. Conrad collided with the fence guarding 5 the stream and shot Captain Becher over his head into the water. From that day to this th» ■ , place has been known as Bechers Brook. On the other side of the course the same stream • has again to be jumped, and there it is known as Valentines Brook. RACING INCIDENT NAMED VALENTINES BROOK. Presumably, as merely a conjecture, it is in some way associated with the Irish horse Valen line, which finished third in the second Grand National in 1840. In that and the previous year one of the obstacles was a stone wall four feet eight inches high. It was built opposite the stands I and so had to be negotiated after the completion of the first circuit of the course. Mr. Power, who rode Valentine in 1840. had made a bet that he would be first over the wall. Valentino 5 and Lottery, at the head of the field, approached the wall side by side, racing toward it as if r it were the winning post. Mr. Power won his bet because Valentine was the first over. Lottery, on the other hand, charged into it and fell heavily. Three of the hor-es immediately IbBowing r tumbled over Lottery and the displaced stones, so that the occupants of the stands saw right ci 1 front of them a somewhat horrifying spectacle. It was the end of the wall. The following year : it was displaced by an artificial water pump, which is still in use. Lottery, by the way, . had won the first Grand National. He was the greatest steeplechaser of his time and countles„-thousauds of words have been written about his wonderful exploits. Such, then, were the beginnings of the world-renowned Grand National Steeplechase. Tt t is beyond all doubt the greatest event of its kind, and the crowds that collect each year to witness it must be seen before their dimensions can be realized. The course, which has to be ; traversed twice, is two and one-quarter miles round, and for an hour before the race is run ! it is framed the whole way by a wide ring of humanity. The immense range of stands are j.lways packed to suffocation. If you want to see anything of the race from the stands you I must take your place early in the afternoon and remain fixed until the winner has passed the post. Then you may push your way to the near-by railway station and take your chance of getting into an early train back to Liverpool. Before the war the Grand National crowd was I becoming larger each succeeding year. Since the war it has grown to a prodigious size Visitors from other parts of the country find it necessary to travel to places many miles from 1 Liverpool in order to get a bed. But it is no use trying to describe the scenes witnessed before, • during and after the race. Two years ago visitors reached the entrance to the paddocks an l hour before the first race of the day was run, and so great was the throng waiting to pass 5 through the turnstiles that the turn to gain admittance did not come for half an hour. Last 0 year hundreds of late comers never got through the gate at all. If the day is fine and the atmosphere clear, a fine spectacle is presented by Aintree on Grand . 1 National day. Once seen it cannot be forgotten. The course and its surroundings are, let it 1 be said, anything but picturesque. On the one side of the course there is a high railway I embankment, with factories and their tall chimneys beyond. On the other side there is a canal. the near bank of which, like the railway embankment, affords the public a chance of seeing J the race. Away beyond the country is open, flat and bare. The long range of stands is 3 impressive, but strictly utilitarian in character. It is the people and the horses that make the spectacle. For the time being the whole place pulsates with excitement and enthusiasm. The , great city of Liverpool has for weeks been living for this day. Practically every one of its I hundreds of thousands of inhabitants has something at stake on the issue. Lotteries are illegal I in England, but they exist under the name of "Sweeps," and hundreds of them are organized in 1 connection with the Grand National. .


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800