AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



When, in view of the great popularity of the Grand 

 National, which despite the undoubted decline of 

 steeplechasing, grows more pronounced every year, 

 it occurred to the Author that a History of the Race 

 from its commencement might be acceptable to its 

 admirers, not only from a readable point of view, but 

 as a book of reference, his first step was to propound 

 the scheme to a well known patron of the sports, 

 and ask his candid opinion thereon. That gende- 

 man's reply was given with a spontaneity quite 

 refreshing to listen to. " Such a book," said he, 

 " is bound to succeed! The only wonder tome 

 is that it has never been thought of before." And 

 his friends of The Biographical Press, on being 

 applied to, taking a similar view, the Heroes and 

 Heroines of the Grand National were at once put 

 into strong work with a view to meeting their 

 engagement with the public in the Spring. 



Though their trainer may claim to have a 

 tolerably intimate acquaintance with the subject, 

 still no one was more fully alive to the fact than 



b 



