| Grand National | |
| Location | Aintree |
|---|---|
| Date | 7 March 1866 |
| Winning horse | Salamander |
| Starting price | 40/1 |
| Jockey | Mr Alec Goodman |
| Trainer | J. Walters |
| Owner | Edward Studd |
| Conditions | Soft (snowy) |
The 1866 Grand National was the 28th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 7 March 1866. [1]
The winning jockey, Alec Goodman, had also ridden the 1852 winner.
First circuit: Fence 1 {15} Ditch Fence 2 {16} Ditch and Bank, Fence 3 {17} Double Rails, Fence 4 {18} Rails and Ditch, Fence 5 {19} Becher's Brook Fence 6 {20} Post and Rails, Fence 7 {21} Post and Rails Fence 8 {22} Extreme Turn, often referred to as the Canal Turn in previous years, Fence 9 {23} Valentine's Brook, Fence 10 {24} Ditch and Quickset, Fence 11 {25} Post and Rails, Fence 12 {26} Stump Hedge and Ditch.
The runners then crossed the lane at the canal bridge to re-enter the racecourse proper, turning at the first opportunity towards the fences in front of the stands. Fence 13 Gorse Hurdle, Fence 14 Artificial Water Jump.
Second circuit: The runners then turned away from the Grandstands again and crossed what had been known in the 1850s as Proceed's Lane, following the same circuit until reaching the racecourse again. This time the runners continued to the wider extreme of the course before turning to run up the straight in front of the stands where Fence 27 Hurdle had to be jumped.
The runners then bypassed the Gorsed Hurdle and Artificial Water Jump inside before reaching the winning post in front of the Main Stand.
Laura was sent off as the 7/1 favourite, having looked very good in prep runs in Liverpool in the week ahead of the race. While many newspaper pundits agreed she had a great chance, only Don John in the Sporting Times named her outright as his tip to win the race. Harry Lamplugh was making his first appearance in the race since riding Huntsman to victory four years earlier.
Cortolvin went off at 8/1, having proven himself a strong contender in heavy going at Croydon in the weeks leading up to the National. Twenty-two year old Johnny Page took his second ride in the race, having completed a circuit on Joe Maley the previous year.
Alcibiade was 9/1 to defend his crown from 1865, but was deprived of his partner in victory as Bee Coventry arrived at Aintree with his arm in a sling from a recent fall. The vacant ride offered Ben Land a great chance at the seventh attempt to improve on having finished second twice.
Real Jam saw his price fall to 12/1 on the back of his trainer, rider, Di Hughes steering him to victory in the Annual Hurdle twenty-four hours before the National. This was despite the pairing having failed to complete the course in two previous attempts.
L'Africain at 100/7 was backed despite having a welter weight to carry of 13 stone 2lbs. George Holman would have no worries about making the weight for his fourth crack at the race, his previous best being a fourth placed finish.
In a very open contest there was also heavy support for Creole at 15/1, The Doctor at 20/1 and Ibex, Merrimac and Mistake at 25/1.
Among the lively outsiders was last year's runner up, Hall Court at 30/1 along with King Of Hearts, Salamander at 40/1 and a host of other chances at 50/1 including Effenberg, a first contender from Germany, Garotter and Thomastown representing Ireland, Philosopher, Stella and one horse that technically didn't even have a name, being referred to by the press as The Emma Gelding.
Sir William was inspired by the antics of Acrobat last year and followed suit, refusing to start until the rest of the field were almost at the first fence and although eventually encouraged to start, was quickly pulled up.
Thomastown, Creole, West End, Mistake and Ace Of Hearts were among the leaders going into the first fence where Ibex fell. However, Ace Of Hearts made to refuse at the second fence and, in so doing, caused half the field to either fall, refuse or just get stopped, including L'Africain aho collided with King Of Hearts both coming down along with many others including West End and Reporter. Mistake made to refuse at the third fence and cause more carnage with Laura, Stella and Philosopher among those all badly hampered.
Approaching the fourth fence the field had been reduced to half with Creole leading Alcibiade, Merrimac, Mistake, Thomastown, Salamander, Lightheart, Real Jam, Cortolvin, The Doctor, Milltown, Frank, The Emma Gelding, Garotter and Hall Court. The remainder were busy trying to remount or be put at either fence two or three again.
Becher's Brook claimed Milltown while the remounted Cutler was already tailed off when falling at the Canal Turn. Hall Court's race ended with a heavy fall at the Ditch and Quickset after Valentine's, taking Garotter out in the process to leave just a main body of twelve runners to re-enter the racecourse well clear of another half dozen or so who were persevering after the earlier melees.
Creole had opened up a strong lead but, and took the fences in front of the stands ahead of Mistake, while third placed Alcibiade was being harassed by two loose horses to the point that jockey, Ben Land had to take his whip to them to avoid being brought down. Salamander, Merrimac, Real Jam, Cortolvin, The Emma Gelding followed with a small gap to The Doctor, Lightheart, Frank and Thomastown next, with several others continuing a long way adrift.
Mistake was the first to crack going out onto the second circuit, rapidly dropping back and pulling up while Alcibiade took a heavy fall at the Post and Rails at fence eighteen when trying to challenge Creole who led over Bechers from Merrimac, Cortolvin, Salamander, Real Jam, Thomastown, Lightheart, The Emma Gelding, The Doctor and Frank.
Irish hopes ended with Thomastown falling at Valentines, while the race was effectively reduced to Creole, Lightheart, Salamander, Merrimac, Real Jam and Cortolvin coming along the Canalside.
Salamander moved upsides Creole as the pair led the way back onto the racecourse with Cortolvin also travelling well just behind them and by the time the final hurdle was reached, looked like the only danger to the leader. However, Salamander took the final hurdle cleanly and was never challenged on the run in, winning comfortably by ten lengths with Cortolvin four lengths up on Creole, the trio finishing a distance clear of fourth placed Lightheart. Merrimac, The Doctor and Frank were the only others to pass the judge, havig completed the course.
| Position | Name | Jockey | Handicap (st-lb) | SP | Distance | Colours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Salamander | Alec Goodman | 10-7 | 40-1 | 11 mins 5 secs | Scarlet, white sash and cap |
| Second | Cortolvin | Johnny Page [2] | 11-6 | 8-1 | 10 lengths [3] | Red, blue sleeves and cap |
| Third | Creole | George Waddington | 10-10 | 15-1 | 4 lengths | Red, blue sleeves and cap |
| Fourth | Lightheart | E. Jones | 11-5 | 100-1 | A distance | Pink, white sash and cap |
| Fifth | Merrimac | Arthur Tempest [4] | 10-7 | 25-1 | Blue and white stripes, blue cap | |
| Sixth | The Doctor | George Stevens | 10-0 | 20-1 | Walked in | Rose, white cap |
| Seventh and last to complete the course | Frank | Capt. John {Piggy} Lawrence | 11-8 | 100-1 | Green, gold braid, piping and cap | |
| Fence 27 {Final Hurdle} | Real Jam | Di Hughes | 10-0 | 12-1 | Pulled Up and walked in. | Light blue, orange cap |
| Fence 26 {Stump Hedge & Ditch} | The Emma Gelding | J. Holman | 10-10 | 50-1 | Pulled Up | Pink, white sleeves and cap |
| Fence 23 {Valentine's Brook} | Thomastown | James Murphy | 11-4 | 50-1 | Fell | Claret, blues sleeves white cap |
| Fence 18 {Rails & Ditch} | Alcibiade | Ben Land | 12-2 | 9-1 | Fell, Remounted Tailed off and walked in | Cherry, yellow spots and cap |
| Fence 17 {Double Rails} | Mistake | James Knott | 10-9 | 25-1 | Pulled Up | Red and blue stripes, black cap |
| Fence 10 {Ditch & Quickset} | Garotter | G. Ryan | 10-7 | 50-1 | Brought Down | Buff, pink cap |
| Fence 10 {Ditch & Quickset} | Hall Court | Johnny Reeves | 11-12 | 30-1 | Fell | Scarlet, white sash and cap |
| Fence 5 {Becher's Brook} | Milltown | Tommy Pickernell | 10-2 | 100-1 | Fell | Black, red cap |
| Fence 3 {Double Rails} | Cutler | Arthur Thorpe [5] | 10-0 | 100-1 | Hampered, Continued Tailed off, Fell Canal Turn, Remounted, Pulled up 2nd circuit | Black, yellow and red stripes, hooped cap |
| Fence 3 {Double Rails} | King of Hearts | Allen Sadler | 10-2 | 30-1 | Brought Down, Continued tailed off, Pulled up after Fence 13 | Light blue, black cap |
| Fence 3 {Double Rails} | Laura | Harry Lamplugh | 11-0 | 7-1 Fav | Brought Down, Remounted tailed off and Pulled up tailed off 2nd circuit. | Pink and white stripes, black cap |
| Fence 3 {Double Rails} | Stella | Bill Jarvis | 10-7 | 50-1 | Hampered and Fell, Remounted Tailed off and Pulled up 2nd circuit | Buff and purple stripes, black cap |
| Fence 3 {Double Rails} | West End | Walter White | 10-5 | 100-1 | Brought Down, continued tailed off, Pulled up end of 1st circuit | Black, red spots and cap |
| Fence 2 {Ditch & Bank} | Ace of Hearts | George Ede | 10-2 | 100-1 | Refused, Continued Tailed off, Pulled up 2nd circuit | Red, blues sleeves, black cap |
| Fence 2 {Ditch & Bank} | Columbia | William Reeves | 10-10 | 1000-15 | Hampered, continued tailed off and Pulled up 2nd circuit. | Pink and white diablo, white cap with pink diamonds |
| Fence 2 {Ditch & Bank} | Effenburg | R. Twiddy | 12-8 | 50-1 | Hampered and Fell, Remounted tailed off and Pulled up tailed off 2nd circuit. | Red, yellow sleeves, red cap |
| Fence 2 {Ditch & Bank} | Glencairn | James Jewitt | 11-4 | 100-1 | Hampered and Fell, Remounted tailed off and Pulled up tailed off 2nd circuit. | Indigo |
| Fence 2 {Ditch & Bank} | L'Africain | George Holman | 13-2 | 100-7 | Hampered and Fell, Remounted Tailed off and Pulled up 2nd circuit | Orange, black cap |
| Fence 2 {Ditch & Bank} | Philosopher | John Wheeler | 10-7 | 50-1 | Fell | Blue, tartan sash, red cap |
| Fence 2 {Ditch & Bank} | Reporter | A. French | 11-4 | 100-1 | Hampered, Tailed off and Pulled up end of the 1st circuit. | Red, blue sleeves, red cap |
| Fence 2 {Ditch & Bank} | Stanton | Welsh | 10-12 | 50-1 | Hampered, Tailed off and hampered again Fence 3, Fell Fence 6 | Blue, yellow sash and cap |
| Fence 1 {Ditch} | Ibex | Charles Boyce | 10-12 | 25-1 | Fell | Red, yellow cap |
| Fence 1 {Ditch} | Sir William | H. Ellison | 10-7 | 100-1 | Left at start, tailed off, Pulled up fence 2 | Blue, white cap |