1901 Grand National

1901 Grand National

Grand National
Location	Aintree
Date	29 March 1901
Winning horse	Grudon
Starting price	9/1
Jockey	Arthur Nightingall
Trainer	Bernard Bletsoe
Owner	Bernard 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.

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

Position	Name	Jockey	Age	Handicap (st-lb)	SP	Distance
01	Grudon	Arthur Nightingall	11	10-0	1009 9/1	4 Lengths [3]
02	Drumcree	Mr Charles H Nugent	?	9-12	1010 10/1
03	Buffalo Bill	Harry Taylor	?	9-7	1033 33/1
04	Levanter	Frank Mason	?	9-13	1005 5/1
05	Fanciful	Mr W P Cullen	?	11-6	1012.5 100/8
06	Curagh Hill	C Hagan	?	9-9	1025 25/1
07	Covert Hack	Algy Anthony	?	11-4	1010 10/1
08	Prince Tuscan	Mr H Hunt	?	10-6	1033 33/1	Last to complete

Non-finishers

Fence	Name	Jockey	Age	Handicap (st-lb)	SP	Fate
?	Model	Mr William Pawson	?	11-4	1040 40/1	?
?	Cushenden	Mr J G Davies	?	11-2	1020 20/1	?
?	Sunny Shower	Mr Joe Widger	?	10-6	1100 100/1	?
?	Coolgardie	A Waddington	?	10-6	1040 40/1	?
?	The Sapper	William Halsey	?	10-5	1012.5 100/8	?
?	Mayo's Pride	Mr James Phillips	?	10-5	1020 20/1	?
?	Hompool	Ernest Acres	?	10-5	1066 66/1	?
?	Greystone II	J H Stainton	?	10-1	1100 100/1	?
?	True Blue	Percy Woodland	?	9-13	1066 66/1	?
?	Barsac	Mr Harry Ripley	?	9-13	1007.1428571429 100/14	?
?	Chit Chat	C Clack	?	9-13	1025 25/1	?
?	Crosset	Mr Frank Hartigan	?	9-13	1020 20/1	?
?	Pawnbroker	J O'Brien	?	9-7	1016.6666666667 100/6	?
?	Zodiac	Albert Banner	?	9-7	1100 100/1	?
?	Padishah	Arthur Birch	?	10-0	1066 66/1	?
?	Gossip	J Polletti	?	9-7	1100 100/1	?

^{[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]

References

1. Sporting Life Souvenir Magazine, 4 April 1987, page 22
2. "1901 Grand National". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
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