view raw text
WORLDS MOST FAMOUS JUMPING RACE TODAY Tremendous Crowd Expected to Witness Grand National Steeplechase Over the Difficult Course at Aintree, Liverpool, England Conjuror II. the Favorite The greatest jumping race in the world will, be run today when the Grand National Steeplechase is decided over the difficult Aintree course at Liverpool, England. This spectacular contest through the field has always attracted the attention and interest of American sportsmen, who go in larger numbers each year to see its decision. That interest was enhanced last year when an American owner in Stephen Sanford won the coveted "blue ribband" of the steeplechase turf with Sergeant Murphy. Mr. Sanford is trying for the big prize again this year. Conjuror II. still remains favorite on the eve of the big race and will undoubtedly go to the post the first choice of the great multitu-de that will be present to see the race. Silvo is the second choice, with Shaun Spadah, Sergeant Murphy, Eureka II., Taffytus, Music Hall, Fly Mask, Ballinode, Chin Chin, Master Robert, Auchin, Rossie and Drifter next in demand in the order named. It is not certain how many will start, but it is expected that the field will be unusually large. In the domain of steeplechasing the Liverpool Grand National holds practically the same rank and fame as that attaching to the Epsom Derby in flat racing. It is annually contested over the longest and most difficult course in the world. To even traverse this course successfully, to say nothing of winning the race, calls for the display of endurance of an estraordinary character. In fact, so trying are its obstacles that it is of yearly occurrence that the majority of its contestants fall and lose any chance to reach its coveted finishing point in safety. Without exception the horses starting in this great race have gone through a long preliminary educational course in steepl?chas.n j over shorter distances, but sufficiently long to develop whatever natural aptitude they may possess to the highest point of efficiency. Below is a map of the Grand National course at Aintree, with an enumeration and description of the obstacles in the race to be run today. The drawing was made list year and shows the present course with exactitude. The description of the jumps also is accurate: DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE GRAND NATIONAL FENCES. Distance from tlio start to first fence is 546 yds. The straight run-in is 494 yds. 1 and 17. Thorn fence Scotch pine, 4 ft. 7 in. high, 2 ft. 0 in. wide. 2 and 18. Thorn fence Scotch pine, 4 ft. 7 in. high, 2 ft. 0 in. wide. 3 and 19. Thorn fence gorsed. 4 ft. 11 in. high, 2 ft. 9 in. wide, with ditch on take-oft side 6 ft. wide, 2 ft. deep, banked up to guard rail 1 ft. 6 in. high in front of ditch. 4 and 20. Thorn fence Scotch pine, 4 ft. 9 in. high, 2 ft. 9 in. wide. 3 and 21. Thorn fence gorsed, 4 ft. 11 in. high. 2 ft.-. 9 in. wide. 0 and 22. "Bechcrs Brook," a. thorn fence packed with Scotch pine, 4 ft. 9 in. high, 3 ft. wide, with a natural hrook on far side C ft. wide. 7 and 23. Thorn fence Scotch pine, 4 ft. 11 in. high, 2 ft. 9 in. wide. 3 and 24. The "Canal turn," a thorn fence gorsed, 5 ft. 1 in. high, 2 ft. 9 fn. wide, ditch .on take-off side C ft. wide, 2 ft. deep, banked up to guard rail 1 ft. 6 in. high in front ofditch. 9 and 25. "Valentines Brook," a thorn fence Scotch pine, 4 ft. 9 in. high, 2 ft. 0 in. wide, a natural brook on far side C ft. i in. wide. 10 and 26. Thorn fence gorsed, 5 ft. high, 3 ft. wide 11 and 27. Thorn fence Scotch pine, 4 ft. 10 in. high, 2 ft. 10 in. wide, ditch on take-off side 6 ft. wide, 2 ft. deep, banked to guard rail 1 ft. 0 in. high in front of ditch. 12 and 28. Thorn fence gorsed, 4 ft. 10 in. high. 2 ft. 10 in. wide, ditch far side 7 ft. wide, 3 ft. deep. 13 and 29. Thorn fence spruce fir. 4 ft. 7 in. high. 2 ft. 9 in. wide. 14 and 30. Thorn fence Scotch pine, 4 ft. 7 in. high, 3 ft. wide. ID. The "Open Ditch," a thorn fence packed with Scotch pins, 5 ft. 2 in. high, 3 ft. wide, ditch on takeoff side C ft. wide, 2 ft. deep, and banked to guard rail 1 ft. 0 in. high in front of ditch; 16. The "Water Jump," 15 ft. 6 in. wide, with thorn fence gorsed, 3 ft. high, 2 ft. 3 in. wide. Between Jumps 12 and 13 the land has been plowed as to one portion of the distance. The description of the obstacles in the course at Aintree gives some idea of the reason why high value is placed on the horse that can carry big weight over them and race through plowed fields and various other kinds of footing at a slashing pace from end to end of the journey. The Grand National Steeplechase was first run in 1S39 as a sweepstakes of 00 each, 5 forfeit, with ?500 added, 1GS pounds each. Lottery, with Jem Mason in the saddle, won the first Grand National ; that year the race was run 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 1S10 won, and finally pulled down and substituted by an artificial brook in Charitys IS 11 year. In Lotterys 1839 race Conr-rade, the mount of Captain Becher, fell when leading at the brook, now known as Bechcrs Brook; but nine of the seventeen runneis completed that severe course. In Jerrys 1840 race the distance was reduced. A famous jockey in the early history of the great steeplechase was Tom Oliver, who had nineteen mounts between 1S39 and 1S53. He won on Gay Lad 1S42, Vanguard 1843 and- Peter Simple 1S53, 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 1847, 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. The first horse to win the race a second time was Abd el Kadir 1850-51. Others to complete the "double" have been Peter Simple 1849-53, The Colonel 1869-70, The Lamb 1S68-71, and Manifesto 1897-99. The latter was also placed in 1900, 1902 and 1903. The only winners to carry 168 pounds or more have been Cloister 1893, Manifesto 1899 and Jerry M. 1912. All three sailed home under the welter burden of 175 pounds. Manifesto gallantly carried 131 pounds into Continued on eighth page. j WORLDS MOST FAMOUS STEEPLECHASE Continued from first page. third place behind Ambush II. 1900. When Salamander I860 won, LAffricaine was apportioned the preposterous burden of 184 pounds, but he was knocked, over in running, so it is quite impossible to conjecture what he might have done, as he was undoubtedly a wonderful steeplechaser ; even such a celebrity as the late Mr. Goodman favored him as the best he had seen during a long career. Free 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." IN ELEVEN GRAND NATIONALS. 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 rode two winners. Over the severe steeplechase course Page was successful on Cortolvin 1S67, when that horse finished in the van under 167 pounds, winning again five years later on Casse Tete 1872. This jockey had earlier in his career ridden several winners on the flat, including Fravola in the now defunct Earl Spencers Plate, and First Lord, the hero of the Northumberland Plate day in 1860. Jealousy, the heroine of 1861, was ridden by Joe Kendall, a jockey who had carried off a French Derby, a double that has in later history been completed by Percy Woodland, the rider of Drumcree 1903. A flat-race jockey not quite so fortunate in his attempt at Liverpool was Bob Sly. In Free Traders 1856 "National" he was second on Minerva beaten three-quarters of a length; later in that campaign, when riding Melissa in the Epsom Oaks, he was beaten in a sensational finish by Mincepie, which won on the post by a neck. The oldest horse to win the blue riband of the steeplechases was Why Not 1894, successful when thirteen years old. The youngest were Regal 1S76, Austcrlitz 1S77, Empress 1SS0. and Lutteur III. 1909 all five-year-olds. The oldest animal that ever ran at Aintree was Liberator. He was seventeen years old when he started for Old Joes 1S80 race. Only two four-year-olds have ever been saddled. The first was Real Jam in Emblems 1863 journey; the other, by name Terrier, started in Voluptuarys 1SS4 year. Chandler 1S48 defeated three previous winners Matthew, Pioneer and Jerry also a much-fancied candidate named Eagle, the mount of Johnny Brom, a champion middleweight boxer. Hall Court ran second three times, behind Alcibiade 1865, Salamander 1S66 and The Colonel 1S69-70. He was the most unfortunate horse at Aintree and ran in seven races. Frigate also started for seven "Nationals" and was second twice, but she won in 1S99. Other horses that have run in seven different years are Gamecock 1S77 and Liberator 1879; but they both won in their turn. NATIONAL FULL OF ROMANCE. The records of the famous steeplechase are full of romance. Chandler had been picked up for 25 when drawing a grocers gig. Miss Mowbray, having been returned as useless for racing, was then sold for ?500, but she was returned as unsound. Later Miss Mowbray was sold to a Mr. Mason for a few pounds, and after winning three steeplechases with her she was sent to Mal-ton to be trained by John Scott. During the winter she was ridden by Harry Lampaugh with Lord Middletons hounds, finally winning the "National" 1852 in a field of twenty-four. Miss Mowbray ran second to Peter Simple the following year. Two years later she broke her neck at Bechers Brook. Abd el Kadir, the first dual winner, was bred from a mare that had run in the Shrewsbury Coach. Later Voluptuary, the winner in 1884, was destined to finish a romantic career as a stage horse. As a three-year-old lie ran unplaced in Bend Ors City and Suburban. The winner in 1909, Rubio. was bred in America and sold with Mr. Haggins horses at Newmarket for 5. Before winning at Liverpool he had been broken for hunting, but broke down and, like Chandler, was driven in a travelers gig. Lord Coventry won the race in successive years with Emblem 1863 and 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 Ar-bury. Anatis 1S60 was trained entirely on the fiat; in fact, she was never put over an obstacle after running implaced the previous year, when Half Caste won. Neither had Alcibiade 1865, or Voluptuary 1884 ; each of these horses made their debut in a steeplechase, with a success in the Grand National. Emblem - 1S63, won her- "Liverpool" by twenty lengths ; on the other hand, many winners have got home by a narrow margin. Seaman 18S2 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 failed by a neck to Alcibiade 1S65 ; later the race was landed by Regal 1S76., when he defeated Congress by a neck. Many outsiders have pulled through. When Pioneer 1846 had a runaway win he started without a quotation. Rubio 1908 stands out as the only winner to start at 66 to 1. Three winners Salamander 1S66, Playfair 1SS8 and The Soarer 1896 were all returned at "40s." Twenty-five to one was the official starting price returned against Regal 1876, Old Joe 18S6, Drogheda 1898 and the New Zealand-bred Molfaa 1904. When Huntsman 1862 won "threes" was the best offer ; at flag-fall at 7 to 2 Aiatis starting price, the same price was returned against The Colonel 1870. When Lottery 1S59 won 4 to 1 against was bet ; since then Emblem 1863, Ilex 1890, Come Away 1S91 and Ambush II. 1900 have all started at Lotterys price. Little Charlie 1S5S was ridden to victory by William Archer, father of the more famous jockey Fred Archer. Shifnal 1S78, of a later date, was piloted by J. Jones, father of Herbert Jones, now his majestys jockey. Matthew 1847 was the first Irish-bred horse to win the event ; since then nearly half of the winners have been bred on that side of St. Georges Channel. Lutteur, the Frenchman, came over to England and after easily accounting for the Champion Steeplechase at Hurst Park defied tradition for so youthful a horse he was five years old to win the Grand National by capturing the big race under the able riding of George rarfrement. Captain Little, successful on Chandler 1S46, was the first amateur horseman to win a Grand National. Since then the amateurs have won no less than one in three ; to be exact, twenty-four. Many have Avon the race twice, including Mr. Richardson on Disturbance 1S73 and Reugny 1S74 ; E. P. Wilson on Voluptuary 1884 and Roquefort 1885 ; also Alex Goodman and Thomas Picker nell.
