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THIRTY-SIX FOR GRAND : NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE a . WORLD-WIDE INTEREST In Most Spectacular Steeplechase toj Be Run at Aintree Today, j Twelve American-Owned Horsed Among Probable Starters Sea Soldier Chicagos Hope. Special Cablegram. LIVERPOOL, England, March 17. Thir ty-six jumpers were posted today to start in the worlds most famous steeplechase, the Grand National, over the four miles 856-yard Aintree course here tomorrow. The same number completed in the Classic last year when C. R. Taylors Grakle led home Mrs. M. A. Gemmells winner of the year before, Greglach; Lord Glenapps Annandale and fourteen other timber toppers that managed to negotiate the gruelling course. Twelve of this years probable starters are owned by Americans and one of these was bred in the United States. The most formidable member of the division, judging strictly by the standards of past perform- ances, is the Irish-bred seven-year-old mare Heartbreak Hill, which carries the colors of Mrs. C. S. Bird, Jr. She is second choice to Grakle at 11 to 1. Interest of the American contingent, however is even greater in Sea Soldier, as he is an "all-American" candidate. A ten-year-old gelded son of Man o War Seaname, he was bred in the United States, where he raced for a time without distinction in the name of Friendship Two. He is still a maiden. Sea Soldier was entered in the Grand National in the name of A. H. Nib-lack, but he is owned by the Millcreek Stable, a syndicate of ten Chicago turf enthusiasts. They are Mrs. R. P. McCormick, B. L. Behr, Walcott Blair, Edward A. Cuda-hy, Jr., Charles F. Glore, Noble B. Judah, V. C; Spalding, R. J. Thorne, Austin H. Niblack and D. L. Ryerson. Sea Soldier was 50 to 1 in the betting today and his weight is 156 pounds. GLANGESIA FORMIDABLE. The other American-owned starters are R. K. Meltons, pair, Alike, and Glangesia, the gray-coated son of Le Souvenir Mailline, which won the Grassland International Steeplechase at Gallatin, Tenn.; M. D. Blairs trio, Aruntius, Great Span and Prince Cherry; John A. Drakes Coup de Chapeau; J. B. Snows Delarue; John Hay Whitneys Dusty Foot; H. G. Self ridges Ruddy Man, and J. Metcalfes Theras. Six of these are Grand National veterans. Alike fell in the last two renewals. Glangesia finished fourth in 1930 and seventh last year. Great Span fell in 1928, was pulled up in the 1929 running and finished ninth last year. Delarue was eighth in 1929 and fell in 1930. Ruddy Man was unplaced in 1928, fell in 1929 and 1930 and refused in 1931. Theras fell last year. Heartbreak Hills trainer is supremely confident that the mare is of Grand National caliber, despite her rather weak conformation. "She never was better," he says, "and her training has been entirely satisfactory." The trainer of Sea Soldier is hopeful, if not confident. He said today: "I am hoping that he will make a good showing." WHITNEYS CHIEF RELIANCE. Dusty Foot is Whitneys second string can-" didate. The young American sportsman was a victim of cruel fortune a few weeks ago when his chief candidate, Sir Lindsay, went amiss in training. Jack Anthony, trainer of Dusty Foot, says his charge has trained well and is fit and ready. H. S. Harrison, trainer of Theras, believes Metcalfes colorbearer has the advantage of light weight and youth "and he is in excellent condition," Harrison adds. "Much depends on the going. If it is not too heavy, I think he will stay the distance." Of Blairs three starters, Great Span is the chief hope, if the going is good. All are in good condition. Selfridge expects much of Ruddy Man, despite his failures in the four previous runnings. "Ruddy Man has been a victim of the faults of other runners heretofore," said Selfridge. "Given an equal break in luck, this time, he will be among the leaders at the end." Grakle was a firm favorite at 8 to 1 today Continued on iwenty-fxrst page.. ! ! j : 1 1 j j I ! : 1 1 1 1 1 ; 1 1 : GRAND NATIONAL TODAY Continued from first page. and there was considerable demand for Heartbreak Hill at 11 to 1. Gregalach, top weight of the field, under 175 pounds, is third choice at 100 to 7. He won at 100 to 1 three years ago. Shaun Goilin, which won at 100 to 8 two yeai z ago, is now 50 to 1, and is second to Gregalach in the handicap under 172 pounds. Grakle paid 100t to 6 when he won last year. His impost is 171 pounds tomorrow. Following is the betting today: Grakle, 8 to 1; Heartbreak Hill, 11 to 1; Gregalach, 100 to 7; Vinicole, 22 to 1; Annandale, 22 to 1; Hank, 28 to 1; Holmes, 28 to 1; Dusty Foot, 28 to 1; Pelorus Jack, 28 to 1; Coup de Chateau, 33 to 1; Ottawa, 40 to 1; Quite Calm, 40 to 1; Great Span, 40 to 1; Inverse, 40 to 1; Glangesia, 50 to 1; Sea Soldier, 50 to 1; Shaun Goilin, 50 to 1; Theras, 50 to 1; Alike, 50 to 1; Apostasy, 66 to 1; Merriment TV., 66 to 1; Near East, 66 to 1; Prince Cherry, 66 to 1; Aruntius, 100 to 1; Aspirant, 100 to 1; Delarue, 100 to 1; Egremont, 100 to 1; For-bra, 100 to 1; Gibus, 100 to 1; Harewood, 100 to 1; K. C. B., 100 to 1; Redlynch, 100 to 1; Ruddy Man, 100 to 1; Tamasha, 100 to 1; The Ace II., 100 to 1; Tootenhill, 100 to 1. Indications today were that the footing will be good for the running of the most dangerous of alL turf events. Soft turf, coupled with the large fields, takes heavy toll of Grand National starters. The crowd, as usual, will number into the hundreds of thousands. All of the Liverpool hotels report capacity reservations and more special trains have been put on the railroads than in any other year. "Because of postal restrictions, Daily Racing Form will not publish names of winners in Grand National Sweepstakes." The Grand National, in every respect, is the greatest and most famous jumping race in the world. .The 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 compete in it to say nothing of Ireland, which country has played quite a distinguished part in its history. Going for its institution as far back as 1839 though it was not until 1843 that it became a handicapr the race, had 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, detracting from its quality as a high steeple-chasing test and, though occasionally a horse of comparatively moderate class has been successful, its list of winners shows a fine array of great cross-country performers, many of which were the property of well-known stanch upholders of the sport. 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 solution. There have been extra good ones at various periods, 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 subsequently equalled by Manifesto and Jerry M. He would in all probability have won again under the same weight in 1894, but caught a chill a little while before the race and did not see the post, though as little as 6 to 4 surely the shortest price ever 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 1892, knew him no more, for he was turned out of training and eventually shot in 1903. Cloisters owner, though then racing as "Mr. C. G. Duff," was, as is now well known, the late Sir C. Assheton-Smith, a lavish patron of steeplechasing, who spared no expense in the purchase of likely horses for jumping and among others he bought was Jerry 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 retired from the sport and, like Cloister, Jerry M. was also a victim of circumstances. A successful five-year-old career pointed to Aintree possibilities, but he was easily beaten for the Grand National of 1910, and the following year had 176 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 he did with 175 pounds up and, though he 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 last appearance on the race course, for the next year, when handicapped at 178 pounds, he did not accept, and the race went to his stable companion, Covert Coat. Jerry M. can fairly be ranked among the top-sawyers for, in addition to his fine record in this country, he had successes to his credit in France. Manifesto, the other horse to win the National with 175 pounds up, was one of the most popular of cross-country performers and stands on an even higher pedestal than Cloister and Jerry M., by virtue 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 equalled by any other winner or loser of. the race. On his first essay in 1895, he was fourth carrying 156 pounds to Wild Man from Borneo; fell in 1896; won under 157 pounds in 1897, being then nine years old; won again in 1899 with 175 pounds in the saddle; was third weight 181 pounds to Ambush U. in; 1900; third 176 pounds, to Shannon Lass in 1902; third 171 pounds, to Drumcree in 1903, and ;ninth 169 pounds, to Moiffaa in 1904. In the course of his racing service, which extended over twelve years, he won eight events and lost twenty-seven, last ran at Tiiverpool in the Valentine Steeplechase in November, 1904, and died when seventeen years old the f olloving y ear. His was a truly remarkable and, it may be added, honorable, career and one not excelled by any chaser. The only other horses to win the race twice were The Colonel and -The Lamb, of which the former was successful in 1869 and 1870 and The Lamb in 1868 and 1871. The Lamb, though a somewhat small 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 pounds of Cloister, Manifesto and Jerry M. No inconsiderable proportion 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, Liberator, Empress, Woodbrook, Seaman, Come Away, Cloister, Wild Man from Borneo, Manifesto, Drogheda, Ambush U., Drumcree and Jerry M., and not many of them brought more joy to the hearts of the Irishmen than did Wild Man from Borneo in 1895. The shout that went up from Aintree 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" Widger. The Royal House has been once concerned with victory in the "National," and its records are made illustrious by that of Ambush U. in 1900. It will be remembered that our late King, Edward "VTJ. then Prince of Wales, honored with his patronage 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 year. 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 witnessed it. Allusion is made above to the frequency with which Manifesto competed for the Grand National, but he 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 six-year-old,- been second to Voluptuary in 1884, second to Roquefort in 1885, fell in 1886, was unplaced in 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. Thus 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 four-year-olds, a horse of that age has not run for it since 1884. when Terrier was in the field, and most of the winners have been of considerable maturity, the oldest to win being Why Not, which was thirteen years old in 1894,the year-of his success. The five-year-olds to earn brackets are Regal 1876, Empress 1880, and Lut-teur HI. 1909. The best of this band was doubtless the last named, which had a brilliant career in France, and won in irreproachable style at the first time of going over, the course, much of the credit of his victory being due to the skilful handling of his jockey, Parfrement, who, like his mount, was making a first acquaintance with the trying Aintree track. Lutteur III. is the only French-bred horse to win the race, though others had made the attempt pre- , viously, and as his owner, Mr. James Hen-nessy, is one of the most liberal patrons of cross-country sport in France, and he had many backer 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 up, but ho was one of a field of twenty-six, of which only four finished, and he was not one of the four. The raco was a chapter of accidents, and Glensido won by twenty lengths.
