"THE LIVERPOOL" 



four times, from 1909 to 19 12. On a previous page 

 I have emphasised the necessity of luck if the owner of 

 the best horse in the field is to reap the reward, and in 

 the case of Caubeen the luck was persistently against 

 him, as we shall see when we reach the years in which 

 he went to the post. 



Some readers into whose hands this book may fall, 

 those not intimately acquainted with the subject of sport 

 under National Hunt Rules, will perhaps be inclined to 

 wonder why the Liverpool stands out by itself, as it does 

 admittedly, without question, unique. Good horses 

 are found at other meetings, where it often happens that 

 formidable fences have to be jumped, and the spectacle 

 frequently creates much enthusiasm and excitement. 

 But as a test of a great steeplechaser nothing approaches 

 the Liverpool. No other race is contested over so long 

 a distance, 4 miles 856 yards ; on no other course are 

 there fences which resemble the big, stiff obstacles at 

 Aintree. It is just about as severe a test as well- 

 schooled horses of proved capacity can reasonably be 

 called upon to undergo ; at the same time it is not too 

 severe for those who are really qualified to take part 

 in it. 



In normal times there used to be many hundreds of 

 'chasers in training, certainly not five per cent, of whom 

 had the least pretension to be regarded as Liverpool 

 horses. Many owners have found annually that their 

 aspirations were hopeless. Animals who had seemed to 



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