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STIMULATING EFFECT , » . Newly Aroused Interest in Crosscountry Sport in This Country. ■ ♦ ■ American Victory in Grand National Expected to Revive Steeplechasing. » NEW YORK, N. Y.. April 8.— That the recent victory of Sergeant Murphy in the Grand National at Aintree will have a stimulating effect on cross-country snort in this country may be accepted as certain, as Stephen Sanford. the fortunate owner of the gelding, has a host of friends among the younger set of racing men who have a particular fondness for steepbehasing. To win the Grand National is the ambition of every man racing through the lield no matter where he lives and Mr. Saniord is being hailed as one of fortunes favorites as success came to his colors at the first try for the "blue riband- of ncing through the field. Though he is the first American to win the great race, now that the ice is broken it may lead to an American invasion of steeplechase material as formidable as was taken abroad for flat racing at different periods when the thoroughbreds of this country were so ably represented by Prioress. Stark. Iroquois. Parole. Foxhall, Cap and Bells, Tracery, Democrat. Sandia. isibola. Caiman. Kings Counsel. KilmarnocK. David Garrick. Whisk Broom II.. Borrow and a lot of other good horses that first saw the light in this country. GOOD AND PLENTYS QUALITY. That we have had from time to time horses of the typo capable of winning the Grand National is certain. Good and Plenty, foaled In 1999, whose splendid quality is constantly referred to when steeplechasers of the highest caliber are being discussed was the sort of horse for that gruelling four and tine-half mile test, which has been a Waterloo for so many jumpers of distinction. Speed is not so much an essential In the National as sure-footedness. though ability to run fast has never been classed as a handicap in any race. Sergeant Murphy, winner Of the National is a plodder and lie won because he was capable of standing up ana taking his fences as they came. Good and Plenty was almost seventeen hands high. He was a product of USB Nan-tura Stud of Frank B. Harper, wno bred Longfellow, and was by Rossington, from Famine, by Jils Johnson, and the next dam. Miss Helen, was by Endorser. He passed into the hands of that finished horseman Thomas Hitchcock, who had as his chief rider Nat Ray, one of the most skillful crosscountry horsemen of his day and now a most successful trainer and driver of trotters. BEGIT IN 190L Good and Plenty made his debut in l!»0l as a four-year-old, and immrdiab ly won the favor of the public. Though a giant in stature he was as handy as a pony. He was a handsome big fellow, too, and his boldness through the field endeared him to every devotee of cross-country sport who saw him in action. He and Ray were a. powerful combination and in that first campaign Good and Plenty won eighr out of ten starts and was second in his other two races. He never made a mistake that ye u nor. as a matter of fact, did he Miinuef in any of his races In IMS, 1999 and 1997, and Ray is authority for the statement mat the gelding was never down, either racing or at school, once his education was completed. Oood and Plenty won the Champion Steeplechase at Morris Park in 1H01 with 16:» pounds up and the Westbury with four pounds less earlier in the season. One of his best races was for the Grand National at Belmont Park in 1906, when he carried 170 pounds and raced home In front of one of the best fields of the year. He also took the Whitney Memorial that same season with 16;! in the saddle. The big horse l an well in i: 07. too. and though beaten in both the Grand National and the Whitney Memorial by El Cnchilh and T. S. Martin he was giving away a lot of weight, carrying 172 pounds to 137 tt on El Cuchillo — a sterling jumper with Tim Donohue on his back. ItKCFNT IMPOKT VTIONS. Tt is a good omen for crcss-eountry sport to find our steeplechasing enthusiasts invading England for material. The horses brought over recently by the Clark brothers will be welcome additions to the cross-country brigade. So will Mrs. Ilitts Mythical, a sia year-oM boo of Myram, winner of some good races over the hurdles and through the field, among the latter the Welsh Grand National In 1922. Thin horse is now a member of Johnny Hastings stable and will be seen tinder colors before the season is far advanced. The purchase abroad by a committee of a number of jumpers that v. ill be distributed here in an endeavor to bolster Centiasei on eighth page. STIMULATING EFFECT Continued from first page. up the cause of steeplechasing will also have its effect. Another influence that should favor sport through the field is the probability of increased overnight values all along the line. To date the Westchester management stands pledged to offer ,500 for handicaps and ,200 for condition races. While the Aqueduct and Saratoga authorities have not as yet placed themselves on record they are among the progressives in racing and there seems little doubt but that they will be found in line when the time comes to issue their programs.
