1901 Grand National

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1901 Grand National
Grand National
Location Aintree
Date29 March 1901
Winning horse Grudon
Starting price 9/1
Jockey Arthur Nightingall
Trainer Bernard Bletsoe
OwnerBernard Bletsoe
Conditions Very bad
  1900
1902  

The 1901 Grand National was the 63rd renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 29 March 1901. The race was run in a howling snowstorm and was won by the 9/1 chance, Grudon.

Contents

Leading Contenders

Grudon was among the leading contenders on the day but with the weather conditions being what they were, most of the trainers and jockeys knew that the race would be reduced to little more than a lottery. Trainer Bernard Bletsoe hit on the idea to pack Grudon's hooves with butter in the hope that this would prevent snow from clogging in them. [1] It is not recorded if any of the other trainers followed this example but it worked as Grudon, a horse who was not rated that highly by his rider, Arthur Nightingall set off without any difficulty while most of the other competitors struggled. Legend has it that Nightingall became so confident that he hacked around most of the second circuit alongside Algy Anthony on his struggling mount Covert Hack until leaving his rival behind with the words "Well I must be going now so ta ta" [2]

Finishing Order

PositionName Jockey AgeHandicap (st-lb) SP Distance
01GrudonArthur Nightingall1110-09/14 Lengths [3]
02DrumcreeMr Charles H Nugent?9-1210/1
03Buffalo BillHarry Taylor?9-733/1
04LevanterFrank Mason?9-135/1
05FancifulMr W P Cullen?11-6100/8
06Curagh HillC Hagan?9-925/1
07Covert HackAlgy Anthony?11-410/1
08Prince TuscanMr H Hunt?10-633/1Last to complete

Non-finishers

FenceName Jockey AgeHandicap (st-lb) SP Fate
?ModelMr William Pawson?11-440/1?
?CushendenMr J G Davies?11-220/1?
?Sunny ShowerMr Joe Widger?10-6100/1?
?CoolgardieA Waddington?10-640/1?
?The SapperWilliam Halsey?10-5100/8?
?Mayo's PrideMr James Phillips?10-520/1?
?HompoolErnest Acres?10-566/1?
?Greystone IIJ H Stainton?10-1100/1?
?True BluePercy Woodland?9-1366/1?
?BarsacMr Harry Ripley?9-13100/14?
?Chit ChatC Clack?9-1325/1?
?CrossetMr Frank Hartigan?9-1320/1?
?PawnbrokerJ O'Brien?9-7100/6?
?ZodiacAlbert Banner?9-7100/1?
?PadishahArthur Birch?10-066/1?
?GossipJ Polletti?9-7100/1?

[4] [5] [6] [7]

Media Coverage and Aftermath

Arthur Nightingall gave credit to his victory to the genius of owner-trainer Bletsoe for having the foresight to prepare the horse with butter as he was convinced the horse would have come to grief without the preparation. Of the race he said, "My orders were to let Grudon run his own race and I found myself laid up with the leading division, never out of the first two or three. Indeed Archie [Algy] Anthony [Covert Hack] and I enjoyed a long and animated conversation for the most part of the journey. It was with a feeling of regret that at last I was obliged to say goodbye to him about a mile from home. "Ta ta old chap. I must push on a trifle faster or the cupboard will be bare when I get there, and wouldn't disappoint old mother Hubbard for the world." "The only mistake he made came 200 yards from the winning post when he jumped a footpath across the course and gave me a bit of a shock." [8]

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References

  1. Sporting Life Souvenir Magazine, 4 April 1987, page 22
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "1901".
  4. "Aintree 1901 Grand National".
  5. The Grand National 1839-1930 by David Hoadley Munroe
  6. "Heroes and heroines of the Grand National". 1907.
  7. "1901".
  8. My racing Adventures, Arthur Nightingall, Published by T. Werner Laurie, London, undated, early 20th Century