THE GRAND NATIONAL. 187 



The Race. 



Mr. McGeorge got them away at the first attempt, 

 Despatch beino- the first to break the fine, a place 

 he held until the first fence after the lane, when he 

 was passed by Royal Irish Fusilier. After clearing 

 Becher's Brook the field tailed considerably, quite 

 three hundred yards separating the first and last 

 horses. 



At the next fence Derby Day fell and Xuage. 

 overjumping himself, was placed /nvs dc conihat. 

 Along the canal side Primrose and Rufus joined the 

 leaders, and improving their position on getting on 

 to the race-course, were first over the water. At the 

 second fence Primrose came down heavily, and her 

 back being broken either by the fall or bv being 

 jumped on by Schiedam, she had to be destroyed, 

 Mr. Brockton being much hurt at the same time. 

 Marin and Philosopher also fell, and The Lamb 

 probably would have followed suit, but for the clever 

 way he jumped over the prostrate horses. In the 

 meantime both Rufus and Royal Irish Fusilier were 

 done with, whilst Rhyshworth fell at Becher's Brook, 

 and Cinderella two fencesafterwards, Acton and h'ranc 

 Luron also coming to grief in a collision. After pass- 

 ing through the ploughed fields, Scots Grey led to the 



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