J56 STEEPLE-CHASING, 



CHAPTER VIII. 



FAMOUS CHASERS AND THEIR RIDERS. 



To mention the Grand National is at once to suggest the names 

 of Lottery and Jem Mason, who head the hst of winners. 

 Nearly half a century has passed since Lottery won the Liver- 

 pool, under circumstances glanced at in the first chapter, 

 and it is necessary to trust to written tradition. He must 

 have been a wonderful jumper indeed. *The Druid ' records 

 that * when others could hardly rise at their fences, he seemed 

 to jump as if from a spring-board. His jumping muscles were 

 first brought into such high play by putting him in a ring, with 

 flights of rails round it, and a man in the middle to keep him 

 moving, and he perfected his jumping education with Mr. 

 Anderson's stag-hounds.' Lottery won in seven seconds under 

 a quarter of an hour. Next year — 1840 — he started, but fell, 

 making one of a struggling heap that came down over the 

 wall which had been built opposite the grand stand : eight 

 of the thirteen starters were down at one time or other during 

 the race, five at this wall. In 1841, when the wall had been 

 removed and an artificial brook put in place of it, Lottery 

 started again first favourite, but succumbed to Charity, a 14- 

 to-i chance. In other places the horse had carried all before 

 him, and when he reappeared at Aintree in 1842 he had to 

 carry 18 lbs. penalty over the 1 2 st. then allotted to all in the race. 

 The 13 St. 4 lbs. was too much even for Lottery, and Jem Mason 

 pulled up after going two miles, seeing that he had no chance. 

 Yet once again did the pair adventure ; but again Tom Olliver, 

 on a Lincolnshire horse (he had won on Gaylad in 1842), Van- 

 guard by name, carried off the race. 



