The Grand National

An American Wins Where

Kings and Peers Have Failed

The nine days' talk of London is Stephen ("Laddie") Sanford, American sportsman. Sanford's 13-year-old gelding, Sergeant Murphy (by General Symons, out of Rose Craft, English bred) won the Grand National, the steeplechase classic of the world, over the Aintree Course, near Liverpool, the most hazardous four miles known to the racing turf. It was the first time (and this was the 83rd Grand National) that an American horse has won. Out of 28 starters only seven horses finished. Sergeant Murphy went to the pole at odds of 100 to 6 against and finished three lengths beyond the field.

The Bang and Queen with English citizenry to the number of 100,000 assisted at the Grand National. Crowds clogged the mist-streaked course, restless with suspense and excitement. Sixteen jumps obstruct the Aintree Course, 14 of which must be twice crossed before the finish. Annual efforts are made by well-intentioned groups of the British public to reduce the number and the rigor of the hazards. At the 82nd Grand National only one horse finished without a fall.

Through the morning the sun shone brightly, but just before the horses went to the barrier fog fell, and the mists blew fitfully across the course throughout the running. Sergeant Murphy, handled by Captain G. H. Bennett, an amateur rider, got away well and fencing boldly struggled for the lead with Shaun Spadah, Sir Malcolm McAlpine's winner of the race in 1921. Over half the field fell in the first round, and the American-owned gelding started for home in the van of the twelve remaining jumpers. Two fences from the finish Sergeant Murphy came up with a rush to steal the lead from Shaun Spadah and increase it to three good lengths across the line.

The Significance. The classic story of Rosebery illustrates the place of the Grand National in British thought. In 1868, when the young lord was expelled from Oxford for keeping a racing stud, he proclaimed to his young friends three ambitions: to marry the richest woman in England; to be Prime Minister: to win the Grand National. He married Hannah, only daughter of Baron Meyer Amschel de Rothschild. He became Queen Victoria's Prime Minister in 1894. He won the Derby three times. He is alive today (one year younger than Chauncey Depew) with one chief regret: no horse of his ever won the Grand National.

English tradition not uncommonly associates the amateur sportsman with the public servant: " They who hunt also serve," " Every Englishman loves a lord," etc. Now the shift of economic power to the United States brings to America the problem of aristocracy. The modern world has known, generally speaking, two types of aristocracy: the English, based on obligation with honor; the French (of Louis XV), based on privilege without obligation. Which tradition is being accepted by rich Americans'? The answer will come from the sons of Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Stotesburys, Armours, Mel-Ions, Bakers, Biddies, Fords, who can, if they like, win Grand Nationals. This is the purport of considerable serious comment across the water.