The Bismarck tribune., 1935-03-26
ENCLAND'S SUPREME
Horse RACING test
SLATED FOR FRIDAY
SteepIechase Has Wide Appeal
to Sportsmen and Long
History of Thrills
GOLDEN MILLER FAVORED
Horses and Jockeys Will Risk
Their Lives in CruelIing
4H2 Mile Run
By NEA Service Turf Writer,

England's annual race Of the giant
killers, the Grand National Steeple-
chase, will have its 9th renewal
Saturday. This race is q sort Of equ-
Inc indianapolis Speedway race, in
which horse and jockey risk their
lives over q grueling four and one
half mile course, with 20 jumps rang
ing up to almost six feet.
Possibly no race in the world has
the far-flung appeal for sportsmen as
the Grand National. In token Of its
worldwide fame, millions Of dollars
are wagered on its outcome In Can
ada, the United States, South AM
erica, India and Australia. It makes
rich people out Of stenographers,
tavern keepers, and bootblacks.
Yet all this is secondary to q con-
test which annually proves what re-.
markable things man has done In the
way Of breeding horses for speed and
endurance. The deeds Of Grand Ma
tional horses and riders live on,
making kaleidoscope saga Of su-
preme and curious facts.
More than q mans span Of years
ago, the famed Captain Becher loaned
his name to the notorious and haz-
ardous brook by making . quick-wit-
ted dive into its waters to escape the
pounding hooves Of the pack.
Changed Scenery Disastrous
A jockey once walked the course
before the race, setting small flags at
the spots easiest to Jump. But
another, watching him, reset them in
the most difficult places, causing the
schemer no end Of trouble and fall
as well.
In 1928, ~ horses accepted the
issue. Two finished, and the Ameri-
can horse, the famed Billy Barton,
fell on the last Jump while running
neck and neck with Tipperary Tim,
He was remounted to finish second.
Earlier in the race, Easter Hero had
stuck on the top Of Jump. stopping
more than 20 Of the contestants. But
Billy Barton performed the incred-
ible feat Of jumping both the jump
and Easter Hero.
The ordinary top weight good flat
racer Is asked to carry is only 12d
pounds, but no horse ever won Ma
tional with less than 1872 pounds up
Moreover, the average weight car.
ried by the winners has been around
$50, and winners have carried as high
as l75-the weight Golden Miller will
have to carry this year.
Golden Miller Is an outstanding
favorite to win, Notwithstanding the
fact odds Of 5.1 can be had on any
horse that he will not finish thu
course. And in Golden Miller's case
he must buck the fact that he L
carrying q crushing burden Of II.
pounds and that only two horses have
been able to win twice In . ROW
over the Aintree Course.
Miller Is Standout Favorite
Yet Golden Miller Is without I
doubt the finest steeplechaser In thu
world. He has not been beaten To-
more than q year, and in the middle
|of February he won the Grand In
Iternational Steeplechase Handicap o
sandown Park from q field Of six.
He has the speed Of . flat race
coupled with unlimited stamina ant
| an absolutely perfect jumping tech
niuue. Last year his record -breakinl
performance Of . minutes 20 2-5 SEQ
onds was little short Of amazing. an
he since has shown he Is prepare'
to duplicate that record.
As for the others. particular atten
ton is being paid two entries b
America's own John Hay "Jock
whitney. He was unlucky to los
With Easter Hero and Sir Lindsay, an
his Thomond II was third last veal
The latter horse is one part Q
Whitney'S entry this year. He 3 nc
50 accomplished as Golden Miller, bu
that he has ability has been ade
ouately demonstrated in the Beeche
Isteeplechase.
The second half Of the entry
Royal Ransom, q horse for whic
whitney paid 42S.000 when the 90
OF NY Prince was making turf histof
In Ireland. He now Is making
comeback after . years absence.
Delaneige, another American owne
| horse, y . master fencer and It va
his four mile pace-setting whic
caused Golden Miller to establish n
record last year. Yet Golden Mile
heat him easily In February. and IN
less the J. B. Snow entry shows pet
ter form 1t Aintree, he hardly ZIG
/ ,,.>. nth snsne Of the others.