A WAR NATIONAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 179, 2 June 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

A WAR NATIONAL.

f THIS YEAR'S RACE AT GATWICK. AS SBBN BY AN ANZAC.

(By A. Tronson.)

N.Z. Depot, Hornchurch, Essex, March 28. Any change whatever in the usually peaceable life of the staid Englishman in these stirring times is attributed to the fact that there is a war on. This applies to sport as well as to the commercial side of things in this country, but under the circumstances it is not to be wondered at. The present little dust-up on the Continent and in other and remoter parts of the world has had, and is having, a rather peculiar effect on horseracing. Imagine, for instance, a race-meeting at which turf followers are compelled to travel by road only, the railways being strictly taboo. Yet this is one of the effects the war has had so far on racing in England, and it is only by agreeing to fulfil this condition that the Jockey Club is permitted to hold any meetings at all. The reason for this condition being imposed by the British Government must be obvious to all who have become acquainted with the state of affairs, militarily, in England. Last year the new Derby, instead of being run at Epsom, was staged at Newmarket, where it will also be held this year, on May 30. Likewise the home of the Grand National Steeplechase had been removed from the renowned course at Aintree to a spot thirty miles from London City,, at Gatwick. This latter event duly came up for decision vn Friday last, the date (March 24th) being the original date the Grand National would have been decided at Aintree in pre-war times. Last week's meeting at Gatwick was further interesting in that it inaugurated the flat racing season. I have always expressed a desire to attend as many of the leading turf events as possible sojourn in England, and Wg^jfaf ame about that I booked Jgwfikaifr a private motor-car a w<mteMfeefld of Grand National day. ■jpjfa^# arc » 24th, found me point where the cars loads of sporting enfcfiusiastfi. We had been advised to be early, and it was as well that such advice was not neglected, for there was a scramble for cars, and a regular whirlwind rush for the numerous and familiar omnibuses that had been specially charted for the meeting at Gatwick. The run through the city and its environs was very interesting, made more so by reason of the fact that several ambuscades in the way of police-traps were placed in waiting for the unwily chauffeurs who would exceed the twenty-mila-an-hour speed limit. On the first day these traps did their work unsuccessfully, so far &s our car was concerned, for the chauffeur was too old a hand to be caught by them. A pleasant spin of an hour and a-half brought us to the course entrance, and here progress became very slow, as we had to wait for over a half-hour until the hundreds of cars ahead of us had got in. At last we drew up in the paddock allocated to the motoring visitors. This place was very heavily turfed, and more heavily sodden with rain, but this fact was not fully realised until after the day's racing had finished. Now an ordinary pre-war meeting at Gatwick is quite a small affair, similar perhaps to that held at Feilding. Consequently, when the Grand National was run on a course like this, there was an awful crush and squeeze on all sides; the space set aside for motors and 'busses was totally inadequate: a thousand of these machines were expected, but twice this number actually entered the course, the overflow extending to a big paddock, with disastrous results, however. The inside arrangements were also hopelessly inadequate. Notwithstanding the numerous inconveniences, I enjoyed thoroughly the day's sport, good as it was. The Grand National Steeplechase—(or to be correct, the Racecourse Association Steeplechase, according to the book), as the sporting public preferred to cail it, was of course the event de resistance. The distance for this race was about four miles 856 yards, precisely the same as the original Aintree event. The starters numbered twenty-three, of whom last year's winner, Ally Sloper, was a verv warm order with the books. The winner turned up, however, in the fairly well backed Vermouth, which carried 11.10, and won at the right end, being ridden a fine race by J. Rearoon. Vermonth (trained by J. M. Bell) Js reckoned to be the smallest horse to win this big race. The Grand National winner of 191G is a 6-year-old bay gelding by Barcadaile, out cf a mare by Bushey Park—Meanus. The excellence of the jumping can be gathered Irom the tact that only one horse came down and twenty finished; from a casual inspection of the obstacles they did not seem over-stiff. I'oth at Gatwick a'-d Aintree, open ditches arc taken seven times and the water once. At Gatwick there are 2!) jumps and CO at Aintree. Hut the country generally at Aintree is he'd by the sporting writers to bo far mere difficult. .Mr. I'. F. Iloybourn. the owner *;f the National winner, handed ovr-r the stake to t'-ie Hod Cross P'ujfl

When tlie day's sport had finished wo made cur way had; to t!:o car, which we had great difficulty ir> finding, and I he;: the trouble began. Diu'ir.g our five hours' ;ihseu''e ilie car. in common with other;:, had sunk into tlm ground almost to the nvlcs and it was a rare spectacle to S m fl u i. ■.-..>- '-rning-io in a.i effort .1 ■»;- ■ ■ ■ ifi-h to get tlieir ears ■ ■!! :. ;■ ■ hoiir we lli'to 1. pull- • : ■**".•'• .-I ■' and at last go; cut of i '■.•■ .-.'■.! '. • ho bog, and n ; onto r- '; ••'■ ■ • country, only to I.» !•■ - ■ .veriu',' fifty yar,.--. Ail ■■■•'•■..: tos were in a Mvlar !■•; '•'-.n .. it \vj!.<s amusing, ,i !a>it ir.t'-'or to see the tlcnisanris if ['Of)-.'' 1 placed Jn v.irfois ejviraorrlin&.'.v cicnnislnnces. At last t! e bOoS wee loft behind, and

wended our way slowly to London, dodgiug i dice traps all along the load —an oxi'it'i:g finish to an «."iiii!irating d-ay s s.Jirt. Others ware r.ct so fortuo:Ue «,'.c* J l is recordeJ that a large number o f pports wera < c:upelled to bivouac in their cars for the uight. This h&'i one .ndvai:.r.;e: tbey did '-ict have tc journey un tor the second day t races.