- This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 1 month ago by
.
- Posts
Passed away today at 76.
Not the most successful jockey of his time by any means but his legacy will be seared into The National for all time!
As the BBC pointed out earlier, his mount Foinavon is still a byword for a massive upset in the racing world.
Mike
RIP i remember sitting watching this live on tv all those years ago,imo one of the great moments in sport
RIP i remember sitting watching this live on tv all those years ago,imo one of the great moments in sport
I was wondering if there would be some of our members who saw the race! Can you remember your thoughts at the time? And more importantly, did you back him??!
Mike
Yes, RIP. I recently read his book ‘Tales From The Weighing Room’ which is very interesting. Most people remember him only for Foinavon’s National but there was a lot more to him. A backbone of NH racing for many years and highly valued by all who knew him as today’s tributes show.
It was the 67 GN that formed my lifelong love of Jumps racing. I was 6 and before that race too young to be able to store any more than brief grainy memories of infancy. However, this event left an indelible impression. I watched it with my grandparents, who liked a flutter, and recall black & white images of a seemingly endless stream of horses walking round the paddock. Pick one, they said, I knew what an alligator was so Red Alligator. Then they were racing. Suddenly utter chaos, mayhem, adults’ shocked excitement, the calm order that was all a child in the 1960s was meant to see disrupted, the first realisation things happen that grown ups can’t control. The look on John Buckingham’s face walking in, as if he, HE, had survived something no man had a right to.
That’s the Grand National my grandparents said. Foinavon became a hero to me. But next year a bob was put for me on Red Alligator!
I remember watching it ………I was mid teens at the time and had no interest in racing but like everyone else, I watched the grand national every year as the only race I knew of
Sad news. Used to meet up with him at the MRC Grand National preview evenings. Didn’t know about the book, though; must look out for a copy.
Yes, I recall it quite well and think it was the second National I watched live after Anglo the previous year: 1966 and all that
I had my mythical tanner each-way on The Fossa, who seemed to turn up and run well every year until circa 1970
Michael O’Hehir’s stereotypical machine-gun Irish twang was always a source of amusement; and although I didn’t realise at the time his immediate picking out of Foinavon following the carnage was superb race-calling
Found this colour Pathe footage of the race which is splendid
no mike didn’t back him,i think my dad let me have a shilling on honey end(think he was fav).
Sitting there in front of the tele,it was as if everything was happening in slow motion and as though it was not really happening,i remember the commentator trying to keep up with who had fallen or refused it really was an event i will never forget.Drone
i remember that old horse the fossa,great video you put up mate think its the first time i have seen it in colour
Yes, outstanding by O’Hehir.
The Fossa: 1966 – 4th, 1967 – Fell, 1968 – 5th, 1969 – 11th, 1970 – Ref.
Honey End was 15/2F in 67. Here is the relevant (to the mayhem) part of ‘How They Ran’ from the ‘Results’ section of what I hope will be the ultimate GN history website which I aim to have up in 2 or 3 years time. Listed in finishing/got furthest order:
2 Honey End – 21st (of 28 remaining) BB 2C. Froze & refused 23rd, kept going.
3R Red Alligator – 11th BB 2C. Hampered & UR before fence 23rd, remounted.
4 Greek Scholar – 7th BB 2C. Hampered & landed on top of 23rd, retraced steps.
5 Packed Home – Last BB 2C. Baulked by loose horse & refused 23rd. Kept going.
6R Solbina – Mid-div until spooked, refused & UR 23rd. Remounted.
7 Aussie – Chased leaders in 16th BB 2C. Brought to a halt by mayhem 23rd, kept going.
8 Scottish Final – Towards rear BB 2C. Brought to a halt by mayhem 23rd, kept going.
9 What A Myth – In rear of mid-div when brought to a halt by mayhem 23rd, kept going.
10 Kapeno – 5th BB 2C. Baulked & refused 23rd, kept going at third attempt.
11 Quintin Bay – Chasing leaders in 15th BB 2C. Brought to a halt by mayhem 23rd, kept going.
12 Bob-A-Job – Rear of mid-div BB 2C. Brought to a halt by mayhem 23rd, kept going.
13 Steel Bridge – Towards rear until brought to a halt by mayhem 23rd, kept going.
14R Castle Falls – Led again 21st until hampered & fell onto 23rd. Pushed over by Aussie and landed on back. Remounted well behind.
15 Ross Sea – Towards rear until brought to a halt by mayhem 23rd, kept going.
16R Rutherfords – 4th BB 2C but first to be hampered by loose horses (Popham Down & April Rose) who veered left then right 23rd & UR before fence. Remounted.
17 Freddie – Rear of mid-div BB 2C. Brought to a halt by mayhem 23rd, kept going at fourth attempt.
18 Game Purston – Chased leaders in 14th BB 2C. Brought to a halt by mayhem 23rd, kept going in last.
R Barberyn – Towards rear when brought to a halt by mayhem 23rd, kept going. (NB Refused 27th (OD)).
R Kirtle-Lad – 8th BB 2C. Hampered 23rd, got stuck on top of fence & UR. Pulled over by jockey & first to remount. (NB Clear 2nd but had pulled muscle & Refused 24th (CT)).
U Rondetto – 2nd at BB 2C. Hampered, bad mistake & UR 23rd.
U Princeful – 3rd BB 2C & when hampered & UR 23rd.
F The Fossa – 6th BB 2C. Hampered, jinked right & Fell 23rd, depositing jockey onto fence.
F Norther – 9th BB 2C & still chasing when leaped fallen horse but landed on 23rd, sending jockey over.
U Different Class – 10th when hampered & UR before fence 23rd.
F Leedsy – Still chasing in 12th when hampered 23rd & Fell onto fence where briefly stuck. Rider fell backwards, horse climbed through & continued loose.
F Limeking – Chasing leaders in 13th when hampered & Fell 23rd. Stuck on fence until fell backwards, winded.
R Harry Black – Rear of mid-div when hampered & Refused 23rd.Foinavon would probably be 1000-1 on betfair today. Incredible win.
My deceased Granny used to tell me some story about how she backed a completely outsider in the Grand national and everyone laughed at her (but she had the last laugh when it won.) Presumably she was one of the few who backed her.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.