The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-27
AvENCER, s TO l.,
 WAS CHOICE TO
 WIN BIG RAGE.
Heavy Course Brought Late Bets on Golden
 Miller
py H. .. PERCY

Copyright 103e by United Press) Aintree, England, March 27-(UP) Nearly two score gallant horses went to the post today for the 07th running of the most diflcult race in the world-the Grand National Hteeplechase.
 gcudding clouds, alternating with bright sunshine, caused showers to make the track c trifle heavy. though 1t was in almost perfect con- dition for jumping, for rain was needed after long dry spell.
 In consequence of the heaviness of the track much late betting money went on Golden Miller, the nine- year-old Il to { favorite, owned by Dorothy Paget, and winner of the race in 1884.
 Experts thought that the chance of Castle 1rwell, the eight-year-old which c. II. (pete) Bostwick, it's American sportsman owner, was riding himself, was reduced. Castle Irwell was fourth in the betting list at 100 to 9.
 First Choice
 Most race forecasters picked Avenger, Mrs. Violet Mundy's seven year old, second favorite-at 6 to 1 ito win.
 The horses were of the high noe bility of the racing world. They were picked for courage, age, skill, experience, for split second instinc- tive reaction to swerve in midair from the kicking legs of the horse and the limp silk bloused body of the man that might at any moment fall Q yard ahead of them.
 The horses stood irnpatiently, eager for the test that might leave some of them with broken legs, to be destroyed by a pistol shot while the others were still laundering around the course. Only a few were to finish, some running wildly with- out riders.
 On the horses were amateurs as well as tough, seasoned professional jockeys. Seven of the horses were American owned, and two were rid- den by Americans.
 .. s. Entries
 Bostwick, diminutive, confident, rode his own horse Castle 1rwell. American Louis Goddard rode American J. H. (Jock) Whitney's Rod and Gun, nine years old, at 66 to 1.
 whitney had two other entries, Double Crossed, eight years old, rid den by the veteran D. Morgan, at 2 to 1, and Royal Ransom, nine years old, ridden by Howell Jones. American J. B. Snow was repre- sented by 1l-year-old Delaneige, ridden by H. Nicholson, and Ameri- can Morgan D. Blair had Lynton, nine years old, ridden by o. Hook, at 06 to 1. Jesse Metcalf, American, had Kiltoi, 2 year old, ridden by Thomas Carey, at 50 to ].
 Bostwick hoped to be the first owner-rider to win the race since 1883 when Count Kin won on his Zoedone. The last American owned horse to win was Mrs. Ambrose Clark's Kellsboro Jack, in 1883.
 The horses stood at the inner toe of a track shaped roughly like the sole of c foot.
 There were 16 terrific jumps on the track, and the horses had to go round twice, taking all 16 jumps on the first circuit and the first IA on the second-30 in ali. Three of the jumps were punched at the narrow heel of the track, immediately after the terrific Becher's Brook--a thorn and fir fence four feet 10 inches high and three feet three inches thick, with @ five foot six inch na- tural brook on the farther side.
 Bostwick's Castle Irwell fell last year at the middle of the three ''heel" jumps, No. S-The Canal turn, e thorn and gorse fence five feet high and three feet three inches thick.
 Money Angle
 The course was about four miles 4BS yards and over every yard Of 1t some horse has fallen since in 1889 Lottery led Q field of 17 horses in the first Grand National.
 The purse was expected to be about $37,500.
 The horses as they strained over the green turf and hurled them selves at the jumps carried the hopes of some 49O ticket holders in the Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes for quick fortune. The ticket holders are those who drew runners in the Grand National sweep. To to IA holders of tickets on the winning horse, went R30000 ($i50,00O each. Fifteen thousand pounds each ($75.- OO0) went to the IA who held tic- kets on the second horse, and Rl0.- 900 (960,O00) each to the IA who held tickets on the horse to finish third.
 Crowds began arriving at the track early in the day from all over the world.
 The only stands were at the fin- ish line. No one could hope to see all of the race on the course of more than two miles round, and those who know Grand Nationals grouped themselves at fences. The biggest crowd was at the Hairpin Turn at the heel of the track. to sec the Becher's Brook, No. ', canal turn and Valentines Brook jumps.
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