GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP 



1839 



The first race in 1839 ^^^ contested on the 

 26th February, and is recorded to have " occasioned 

 unusual interest, as shown by the number of visitors 

 who made their way to the scene of action." I may 

 here quote from a writer of the period, who says, " in 

 the course of Sunday and Monday visitors poured in 

 from all quarters, and a high degree of excitement was 

 manifested. The racecourse was visited by hundreds ; 

 the line of country inspected (for secrecy here is impos- 

 sible) ; the sporting houses were crowded to excess, and 

 one of them — the Talbot — was honoured with the 

 presence of several Corinthians from Melton." The 

 mention of the "hundreds" of visitors and of the 

 " several " Corinthians shows that the National eighty 

 years ago was a very pale reflex of what it became. 

 For years before the war not only Liverpool but all 

 towns within reachable radius were thronged, and on 

 the day special trains bore their thousands from all parts 

 of England. Multitudes of Irishmen also found their 

 way. 



The chronicler goes on to remark, " on Tuesday 

 morning the folks were astir betimes, for in addition 

 to the grand afiair there was a second steeplechase in 

 heats to be decided. The town therefore was soon in a 

 delicious ferment ; the streets were thronged, the cus- 

 tomary queries, ' How many go} "* ' When do they 



