We are going to begin in 1956, with the Queens horse Devon Loch, who had the race won but just before the winning post, he lept in the air and went flat down on his stomach, many thought he had broken down or had a heart attack. He layed, sprawled out on the track as the whole field went past him. Some say, he tried to jump a shadow but what ever the reason, later he got up and walked off the track, uninjured. This became a sporting metaphor in Great Britain, doing a Devon Loch meaning a last minute failure. Dick Francis, his jockey, was so shocked by what had happened , he gave racing away and became a famous mystery writer.
Devon Loch 1956
We skip forward to 1967 Grand National where most of the field were hampered badly or lost their riders,allowing a 100/1 outsider Foinavon to become a surprise winner . The villains name was Popham Down, he had unseated his rider at the first jump, and then suddenly at the 23rd fence, veered across the leading group, causing mayhem. From this day on, the fence, now the seventh has been called Foinavon.
1967 National and the famous fall at Foinavon
The steeplechase is run over 6907 kilometres with thirty jumps . Fourteen are jumped twice with the second jump being The Fan . The sixth jump the biggest and most famous of them all Beechers Brook. Named after the jockey who fell at this jump in its first running. The eigth is the Canal Turn followed by Valentines. The fifteenth is The Chair and the longest jump the Water Jump is the sixteenth.
Now we are tracking forward to 1973 and possibly the greatest national ever run and won by a legend who would go on and win the race three times as well as running second twice. His name was Red Rum or murder backwards. LOL ! He won in 1973,1974,1977 and was second in 75 and 76. What made this go down as a classic race was the enormous lead set up by the legendary Australian chaser, Crisp. Which ultimately set up the breaking of the race record by 19 seconds. Crisp nicknamed The Black Kangaroo was sired by a sprinter called Rose Argent. Crisp won chasers in Australia by big margins under huge weights and it was decided after his second Hiskens Hurdle win under 76.5 kilos to send him to Britain for the chase season. His initial start in England in the Queen Mother Champion Chase saw him win by 25 lengths.
Following this, it was decided to set him for the National at Aintree. He was issued with a massive weight of 76 kilos, a weight which is now forbidden. During the race he opened up a big lead with Grey Sombrero in second place and when Grey Sombrero fell fatally it left Crisp over thirty lengths in front. An enormous lead which was gradually wittled away by Red Rum but Crisp, still over twelve lengths in front jumping the last, looked to have it won until a terrible loss of concentration by his jockey Dick Pitman . He misjudged the elbow, having to stop riding Crisp and straighten him. The loss of momentum and change of direction, ultimately costing victory and Red Rum finishing strongly, beat him on the line. In 2013 Crisp was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
1973 Grand National Red Rum and Crisp
This was the start of the legend which was Red Rum. Red Rum born 3rd May 1965 died 18th Oct 1995. He never fell in over 100 starts and in his final start in the national as a twelve year old won the national again. This performance was voted, the 24th greatest sporting moment of all time . He is buried at the winning post at Aintree. The plaque reads ; Respect this place /This hallowed ground/a legend here/his rest has found/his feet would fly/our spirits soar/he earned our love for evermore.
Battle of tradition and horse safety !
The last few years have seen major changes to fences in size and formation to try and avoid any horse and jockey casualties. I know here in Australia we have made a lot of changes over the past ten years that have seen our fences turn into just small synthetic brushes. Due to years of animal welfare protests and after many years of jumps racing in the wilderness . I can finally see some light in the return of the new jumps racing style with fewer deaths. Aintree is a tradition and authorities are in a bind. Whatever they do
will never be enough to satisfy critics of the race, who want it banned.
And every change they make offends the traditionalists, who argue that
the race's uniqueness resides in its degree of difficulty. Reduce the
field and the length, strip away the peculiar features of the fences the height of The Chair, the fearsomeness of Becher's, the sharpness of
the Canal Turn and you are left with standard three mile chase and I can see this point . Australian jumps racing is definately a very simple affair now days. The National
became a cultural phenomenon a truly national event because of its
bizarreness.
The big positive though is the improved safety of the animal and jockey. I suppose sacrifices have to be made.
