348 THE GRAND NATIONAL. 



later on ; these proved delusive, however, for just 

 before the time appointed for the start, a heavy 

 snowstorm began to fall, increasing in density to 

 such an extent that during- the latter part of the 

 race it was impossible to distinguish the colours of 

 the riders. In fact, when Drogheda galloped past 

 the post, few, if any, knew which it was. 



The jockeys who were in the race declared that 

 owing to the blinding snow, all the horses jumped 

 more or less wildly, two of the principal sufferers 

 being The Soarer and Barcalwhey. 



How the latter came to grief will always be a 

 mystery to his rider, who was knocked silly by the 

 fall, his first remark on " coming to "' being, " That's 

 won it ! I don't know what happened. All I do 

 know is that I've earned a fiver, and that it will 

 cost me twenty pounds for some new teeth." 



Mr. Reginald Ward rode a very plucky race on 

 Cathal, and but for the opposing elements it is 

 quite on the cards that the result might have been 

 different. As it was, the only horse which didn't 

 appear at all put out by the snow was the plain- 

 lookinof Droofheda, who seemed rather to like it 

 than otherwise. 



