Most Grand National Winning Jockeys
.brilliantly, has stamina in buckets and the calm temperament needed for big occasions, but every jockey knows you need luck to win the Grand National. The name of Donald “Ginger” McCain will, of course, always be synonymous with that of the legendary Red Rum, whom he trained to win the Grand National.
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Friday 3 April 2009
DOUG R. (England)
More than just a horserace.
You don’t need to be interested in gambling or horses or racing to know about the Grand National at Aintree.
Its world wide fame is on a par with the Kentucky Derby in Churchill Downs USA.
The original race was held in 1837 at Maghull.
It moved to Aintree near Liverpool in1839, where it has stayed with modifications ever since.
600 million people World Wide watch it on TV. Why?
Don’t we all enjoy watching a battle, a contest?
When one of man’s oldest animal companions, a horse, is involved, this basic interest must be redoubled.
Maybe if prize money or potential gambling profits are possible……….
This race is a test of so many things;
inner spirit, determination, fitness, speed, power, experience, endurance, commitment.
Both horse and rider need all these.
Some claim the only motivation is prize money.
I doubt money could buy what you need to win this race.
What do you need?
Is it youth?
The youngest jockey was Bruce Hobbs aged 17 winner on Battleship in 1938.
The last 6 year old horse to win was 97 years ago.
The last 7 year old was 69 years ago.
Is it age and experience?
The oldest winning jockey was Dick Saunders on Grittar in 1982.
He was 48. This was his first and last Grand National Race.
12 of the last 19 winning horses were aged 10-12 years.
Is it sex?
Maybe it is a peculiar British trait, but anyone may enter -amateur or professional- provided they meet entrance criteria, not any formal professional requirement.
This applies to jockeys and trainers.
So far the only woman to train a winner has been Jenny Pitman.
She has had two successes; Corbiere in 1983 and Royal Athlete in 1995.
Is it luck?
The 1967 winner was Foinavon. At fence 23 a loose horse caused a shambles which blocked and temporarily stopped horses jumping that fence.
Foinavon found a way through the chaos and went on to win.
At odds of 100/1 the real winners were the bookies.
The Grand National race is a dramatic event. It is the longest of any UK course.
It has been a severe test of all the requirements quoted above plus some intangibles of guts and history.
So many heroes have gone before over those same jumps and that same course.
It attracts competitors of real quality.
It has always been a tough place to win. For the first five years one jump was a brick wall. There have been some other changes over the years, reflecting public opinion and attitude towards horses and their treatment.
Of the 16 fences, two are very famous or infamous according to your point of view.
Bechers Brook was named after a Capt Martin Becher who was leading the 1839 race. He was unseated and fell into the ditch now named after him.
The problem with this jump is the fence of 4 feet 10 ins but the Brook is 5 feet 6 ins.
The drop is made less by going wide which makes course longer.
The jockey chooses…..
The Chair is the last fence but one. It is the biggest at 6 feet high plus a ditch of 5 feet two inches. Horses are beginning to tire and make simple mistakes.
The course is two circuits of the same 16 fences over two and a quarter miles, therefore is run twice.
Modern entry numbers are around 40. The course is wide enough to accommodate all those abreast.
Imagine an old fashioned cavalry charge, 40 horses coming flat out towards you at 30 mph……….
Fence 1 is very close to the start line at 4 feet 6ins high. There are usually some falls.
Fence 2 is also close behind and bigger at 4 feet 7 ins.
Fence 3 is an open ditch followed by a fence.
Horses cannot judge distances unless they have a line on the ground to help mark the distance.
This jump has a fence of 5 feet with the ditch to jump first. Complicated by a gap of 6 feet from ditch to fence. Inexperienced horses all have problems here.
Fence 4 is a simple normal fence at 4 feet 10ins
Fence 5 a standard fence at 5 feet. The last one before Bechers.
Fence 6 Bechers Brook. See problems outlined above.
Fence 7 Now named the Foinavon Fence after the famous (lucky?)winner of the 1967 race as explained above.
Fence 8 The Canal Turn. A simple 5 feet fence but requiring a tricky and immediate sharp turn left. Easy place for the jockey to lose ground if taken at the wrong angle.
Fence 9 St Valentine’s Brook is a 5 feet fence with a 5 feet 6 ins brook.
Fence 10 a simple standard 5 feet high fence.
Fence 11 The Booth is an open 6 feet ditch and a 5 feet fence.
Fence 12 The Westhead is a double of one 5 feet combined with a 5 Feet 6 ins fence.
Fence 13 is a standard 4 feet 7 ins fence.
Fence 14 is a standard 4 feet 6 ins fence but tired horses make simple mistakes here.
Fence 15 The Chair. See above. The biggest and highest with a 5 feet 2 ins ditch.
Fence 16 a water jump requiring length not height capacity to clear.
Now do them all again….. except The Chair
I here mention these two famous names in the history of this fascinating event.
Both overcame incredible problems to make their winner’s mark.
A horse called Red Rum and the jockey Bob Champion.
Which Horse Has Won Most Grand Nationals
Red Rum was the only horse to win three times; 1973, 1974 and 1977.
Since then, no horse has won in consecutive years.
He always suffered from foot problems. His trainer used the sands at Southport believing the effect of salt water and action of hard sand helped.
These were temporarily not available when he was in training for the 1978 race and broke down.
A hairline fracture of a leg bone was diagnosed, meaning retirement beckoned.
He was retired to enjoy life as a TV star and popular personality.
He died in1995 and was buried directly in line with the winning posts.
An emotional story concerns the jockey Bob Champion.
He had ridden in 8 Grand Nationals without success. At the age of 31 he was diagnosed as having testicular cancer.
Medical advice was he had six months to live unless he rested completely and underwent a course of chemo-therapy. This would give him 40% recovery chances.
He elected to continue training for the 1980 race while taking the course of chemo-therapy.
One effect of chemo-therapy is to severely downgrade a person’s immune system.
In his case he nearly died from septicaemia.
By 1981 he was ‘in remission’. He chose to enter the race on Aldaniti, against the advice both of his medical advisors and from other experts on his choice of horse.
They won by over 4 lengths. He went on to win another 500 races.
He now spends his time in public speaking and fund raising for cancer charities.
So what is the motivation for competing against up to 66 other riders jumping 30 tough fences over nearly 4 and a half miles?
This has thrilled so many millions for over a hundred years.
Why do you think they do it?
Most British people do not bet.
But something makes it acceptable to have ‘a little flutter’ on The National.
This event is a British national treasure.
600 million around the World agree.
DOUG R. (England)
Recent articles of Doug R.:
Published in Woman's Magazine Russian Woman Journalwww.russianwomanjournal.com -3 April 2009
