Evening star., 1935-03-30
ENGLISH BO0K|ES
SAVED FROM RUIN
Wilson Says Golden Miller
Tried to Refuse lump
and Unseated Him.
BY the Associated Press.


T ONDON, March 30.-The fall
that was heard around the
l. world-Jockey Gerry Wilson's
tumble from Golden Miller in
the ninety-seventh running Of the
Grand Acknowledgement an after
math of raging controversy today.
The Daily Express precipitated the
argument with an eight-column front
page series Of six photographs. They
showed Golden Miller, the hottest
favorite in Grand National history,
taking the Jump where Wilson fell,
thereby putting the 1884 winner out
of the race and wrecking the hopes
of thouSansd who had wagered mil
lions on Golden Miller to win.
The photos showed Dorothy Paget's
3-to-1 betting choice made a perfect
-four point" landing, without lurch-
ing, then dashed along the straight
away while Wilson rolled along the
ground.
Golden Miller didn't fall, he re
fused" the Daily Express quoted
Wilson as explaining to Trainer Basil
Briscoe. "I felt there was something
wrong"
Whatever it was" the paper added,
at must have been momentary, for
Golden Miller will run again today in
the champion chase at Liverpool.
Wilson, however. will not be in the
saddle"
Wilson Gives Explanation.
THE daily express said it was in
formed by Briscoe that two
veterinarians examined Golden
Miller last night and found nothing
wrong with him."
Wilson later amphfied his explana-
ton of the tumble, telling Sporting
Life:
IT found the Miller going short on
his off-leg during the race. After
passing Valentines Brook Zone OF the
jumps) he seemed to fall lame be-
fore reaching the next fence. He
didn't actually fall, but blundered
into the obstacle and shot me out OF
the saddle"
This statement, added Sporting
Life, fairly mystified Briscoe and
Harry Beasley, who has ridden
Golden Miller over the Grand Ma
tional course many times.
The Morning Post quoted Wilson as
saying that when Golden Miller "came
to the open ditch he tried to refuse"
This sent me onto his w1thers."
Wilson added, "and then he hit the
fence so hard that though he didn't
actually fall, I was sent over his
shoulders. He didn't give me the I'M
preston he was quote at his best"
Bookies Faced Ruin.
THE suggestion that something was
amiss with the favorite, the Post
continued, left Trainer Briscoe
"incredulous."
British bookmakers admittedly were
faced with ruin had Golden Miller
won yesterdays race. Trevor Wignan,
Daily Express sports authority, esti-
mated that Golden Miller's failure to
win saved the bookmakers f2,000,000
(about SO 9,600,ooo).
The bookmakers' position became
critical after Flamenco had won the
Lincolnshire Handicap Wednesday.
Flamenco and Golden Miller were
backed heavily by doubles players to
win the Lincolnshire and Grand Ma
tional, respectively. At that time it
was said that scores of the country's
oldest and richest commission houses
were faced with bankruptcy should
Golden Miller win at Aintree.
One commissioner told the Associ-
ated Press his firm stood to lose
around ESQ, 900 if Golden Miller should
win.
But that's only chicken feed" he
added, ito what will happen to some
of the bigger boys"
So serious was the situation that a
special callover was held in the Vic
toria Club in London Wednesday night
TO give the bookies a chance to ease
their liabilities. Golden Miller then
was knocked down from to 2 to 5 to
2. an unprecedented short price for the
Grand National.