Long Shot

Half a million persons, transported by boats, motor cars, trains and airplanes, gathered last week around the Aintree racing course, shadowed by the murk of Liverpool. They watched 16 horses charge, as though in a Cossack attack, at the start of the Grand National Steeplechase. Horses stumbled. Horses straddled hedges. Horses fell into ditches. Ten reached the finish line at the end 856 yards. Leading them was one the name of which the half-million scarcely knew -a 100 to 1 shot, owned by a woman, ridden by a former sailor -Gregalach II, a chestnut gelding.

Americans owned eleven of the horses which made the first charge. Among them was the favorite, Easter Hero, 9 to 1, from the stable of John Hay ("Jock") Whitney. Easter Hero carried 175 pounds. Shortly after the start he swung gracefully into the lead. Over Becher's Brook, over Valentine's Brook, around the treacherous canal turn he swung, taking the leaps with daring ease. On and on to what seemed to be sure victory. But the turf was soggy from two days of rain. The field crept closer and closer. At the last hedge but one, Easter Hero and Gregalach jumped together. When they landed Gregalach was ahead. He kept the lead across the final barrier to win by six lengths. Far behind staggered Richmond II to finish third.

Meantime U.S. citizens in the stands, and there were many, had been straining their eyes for the silks of Billy Barton, the only U.S.-bred horse in the race. For a time he had raced well. Then, at the nineteenth jump -a rail obstacle, a difficult hedge and a ditch -he faltered and fell. Tommy Cullinan, thrown, jumped up and remounted. But Billy Barton was through. He fell again and with this fall went a small fortune, including a single bet of $50,000.

The winner had not been mentioned among the possibilities before the race. He is a half-brother of Easter Hero. He cost his owner, Mrs. M. A. Gemmell, $25,000. This was his first victory for her and carried a prize of $65,000. Mrs. Gemmell saw little of the race herself. She is small and was wedged into the huge crowd so tightly she could hardly turn her head.