Mr. Bretherton 



said it was thirty-nine feet, and others thirty-seven, but 

 according to all accounts the last-named distance seems to 

 have been correct. 



Mr. bretherton 



One of the best of the self-styled gentlemen riders in the 

 earliest days of steeplechasing was Mr. Bretherton, who won 

 the Grand National — or rather the Grand Liverpool Steeple- 

 chase, as it was called in those days — for M. Villebois on 

 Jerry, in 1840, the second year of its existence. 



Flat races had been run there for many years previously, 

 but the first steeplechase meeting ever held at Aintree took 

 place on Monday, the 29th of February, 1836. 



Though the course was not the same, the horses had to go 

 round twice, as they do now, the conditions being as follows : — 



A sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each with 50 sovs. added for 

 horses of all denominatiofzs, 12 stone each, gentlemen riders, 

 second horse to receive back his stake ; winner to be sold for 

 200 sovereigns if demanded. 



There were ten runners, and Captain Becher won on Mr. 

 Sirdefield's The Duke, Mr. Bretherton (who was a Liverpool 

 man, by the way) steering Mr. Thomas's Cock-a-hoop. The 

 rider of the second horse is described as Mr. R. Christian, but 

 whether this was the famous rough rider of that name we are 

 not in a position to state. 



The second event on the card was a smaller affair, being 

 a sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, with 20 added ; three miles, 

 (gentlemen riders). Peacemaker, ridden by Mr. Tempest, won 



39 



