6o8 



A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH TURF. 



The year 1887 saw Savoyard beaten by Mr. Jay's Gamecock, who won after 

 having been twice placed second. Both horses, together with Old Joe, tried again 

 in 1888, but the winner proved to be Mr. E. Baird's Playfair. Magic carried 

 the Royal Colours, and it is a curious coincidence that the horse stumbled and fell 

 at the same place which had proved fatal to The Scot. A fair number of previous 

 starters were comprised in the twenty making up the field in 1889. Frigate, who 

 had run second behind Playfair, won, beating Why Not, who gained the victory in 

 1894. Voluptuary, Roquefort, and Gamecock, all three Grand National winners, 

 started in 1890, and Frigate would have made the fourth, but as the partnership 

 had not been registered, she was a non-starter. The race was carried off by 



Mr. Masterman's Ilex, a six- 

 year-old, the first non-aged 

 horse to win since 1885. In 

 1893 Mr. Duffs Clo ister won 

 in the record time of 9 mins. 

 42! sees, for the four miles 

 and eight hundred yards, 

 under I2st. 7lb., a weight 



* o 



only carried by Manifesto 

 besides of all the other 

 winners. The year 1900 is 

 memorable in the history of 

 the Grand National, as the 

 winner in that year was the 

 King's Ambush //., which 



won amid every token of enthusiasm, and never before had Aintree witnessed a more 

 brilliant scene. It was the first time the then Prince of Wales had witnessed the 

 Grand National since the unhappy day mentioned above, when the telegram arrived 

 announcing the death of the Duke of Albany. Ambush II., by that good stout 

 horse, Ben Battle, ran in the previous year (1899), and was in a prominent position 

 when the final struggle began ; but Manifesto won with so much in hand that 

 nothing else had the semblance of a chance. Grudon, Shannon Lass, and Drumcree 

 complete the list of winners to 1903. Up to and including 1903, thirteen horses 

 have won the Grand National at the first time of asking, viz. Jerry (1840), Gay lad, 

 Discount, Wanderer, Halfcaste, Salamander, Austerlitz, Empress, Seaman, Playfair, 



" Grudon" (Grand National, 1901). 



