The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-03-04 00:00:00

Bj4Qielity' 4

WrEiiLlagNCl

Tiff~ GRAS NATIONAL STEEPLE CHA,QE.
This long looked-for and much talked-of event in the t.u..1 j
nals of sporting, took place on Wednesday. From the
characters of the horses named to contest for the prize, gig
anticipations of good sport were entertained ; nor were
expectations doomed to be disappointed, for a fin

race re.

and the utmost satisfaction was felt by 04
who witnesses it. Several horses had arrived at the differeta
stables on Friday, others came up on Saturday, and on MCA*
day and Tuesday the whole number had arrived. The betti24.--
at the Tv' ' t

ver took

_aibot on Monday was about as tollows
against Gay Lad, 6 to 1 against Peter Simple, S to 1 agaimiNi
Seventy-four. 10 to 1 against Lottery, 20 to 1 against Bow--
, galore and 20 to 1 against the rest ; and the same tigurat
might be quoted for the following day. There has not hem

much business done in this town, although some heavy sums

have been 1

id out in Manchester. Some of the irishhorsen.

were expected to have done wonders ; but it seems that they
have been far afield. The arrivals at the different hotels were
very pumerous in the course of Tuesday, " each particular"

train bringing in a lot of spicy knowing-looking blades, whose
occupations and pursuits might easily be guessed at. The
course had been heavy up to Sunday ; but the wind and line
weather of Monday, it was thought, would have some effect
upon the country. It was clear to all who knew the ground,
that it would try the strength of the cattle and the skill of
the riders. Wednesday morning broke, looking dismal as

ditch water. and wet as a blanket, damping the spirits of
many, who anticipated a bright day. The " pitiless pelting
of the storm" continued till about ten o'clock, when a hands-
breadth of blue sky gave a promise of fine weather : although
the day proved not quite so pleasant as we could have wished,
it still held up, and kept dry to the close. Those incorrigible
blackguards, the cabmen, seemed determined to make a har-
vest of the damp weather, by attempting all manner of ex-
tortion in the various streets where they hailed from ; some
asking 235., others 305., as their fare to Aintree and back,
and coming it very thick with impertinence if a fair offer were

made then;'. It is a pity that some of these fellows cannot
be made an example of. Towards eleven o'clock symptoms
of a movement towards Aintree seemed to be making along
Byrom-street and Scotland-road, in " vehicles" of every

description, size, and make. On'arriving at the ground, we
found but few persons assembled,_and began to fear for the

results of the day, as far as attendance went. In the course
of another hour the throng increased, and at the time df
starting there was a goodly muster of the loyal subjects of
Queen Victoria. A great deal of the usual talk took place
on the merits of the various horses, and speculation began
to be rife. As the ground selected was the same as last year,
we need not describe it. The betting previous to the race

was as follows :-
7 to 4 agst Mr. Elmore's three (Lottery, Gaylad, and
Peter Simple.)
6to 1 agst Seventy-four. 13 to 1 agst Honesty.
7to 1 Gaylad. I 15 to 1 Bannathlath.
hto I Peter Simple. I 15 to 1 Anonymous.
S to 1 Lottery. 20 to 1 Satirist.
10 to 1 Sam Weller. I 20 to 1 Bangalore.
12 to 1 20 to 1 Consul.
The weighing-room presented an animated scene, and great
interest was evinced as the various riders made their appear-
About two o'clock, all being prepared, the following