1973 Grand National

Last updated

1973 Grand National
Grand National
Location Aintree
Date31 March 1973
Winning horse Flag of England.svg Red Rum
Starting price 9/1 JF
Jockey Flag of England.svg Brian Fletcher
Trainer Flag of England.svg Ginger McCain
Owner Flag of England.svg Noel Le Mare
Conditions Good to Firm
  1972
1974  
External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg The 1973 Grand National in full (BBC)

The 1973 Grand National was the 127th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at the Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 31 March 1973. [1]

Contents

The race is best remembered for being the first of Red Rum's three Grand National wins; Red Rum also broke the record set by Reynoldstown in 1935, and in doing so staged a spectacular comeback to beat Crisp on the run-in after having trailed by 15 lengths at the final fence. [1]

Just a furlong to run now, 200 yards now for Crisp, and Red Rum is still closing on him! Crisp is getting very tired, and Red Rum is pounding after him. Red Rum is the one who's finishing the strongest. He's going to get up! Red Rum is going to win the National. At the line Red Rum has just snatched it from Crisp!

Commentator Peter O'Sullevan describes the climax of the 1973 National

Before the off, Red Rum was 9/1 joint-favourite with Crisp to win the race. [2] However, by the time the runners had reached The Chair the Australian chaser Crisp, who was carrying the top weight of 12 stone, had already built up a significant lead and appeared unstoppable. [1] For much of the initial stages, Crisp's closest challenger was Bill Shoemark on Grey Sombrero, but he fell at The chair, giving Crisp an even greater lead which had grown to 20 lengths by the end of the first circuit. [3]

Crisp's jockey Richard Pitman later recalled that at Becher's Brook on the second circuit, fallen jockey David Nicholson shouted at him: "Richard, you're 33 lengths clear, kick on and you'll win!" At the same time, he heard the Tannoy commentator Michael O'Hehir declare: "And Red Rum is coming out of the pack, Brian Fletcher is kicking him hard!" [4]

At the 30th and final fence, Crisp was still 15 lengths ahead of Red Rum, ridden by Fletcher and given 10 stone 5 lb by the handicapper. However, Crisp was beginning to tire badly on the 494-yard run-in, carrying 23 lb more than his nearest rival. Red Rum made up considerable ground, and two strides from the finishing post he pipped Crisp by a mere three-quarters of a length in a record time of nine minutes, 1.9 seconds (a record which would stand until 1990). [1]

The third horse, L'Escargot, who would win the National two years later, was 25 lengths adrift at the finish. [5]

There was one equine fatality during the race when Grey Sombrero fell at The chair whilst leading the pursuit of Crisp. He suffered a broken leg and was euthanised, becoming the first fatal casualty of the Grand National since Racoon in 1970. Grey Sombrero is one of three horses to have been fatally injured while jumping The chair in the Grand National (the others were Land Lark in 1975 and Kintai in 1979).

1973 is often considered among the greatest Grand Nationals of all time, and the dramatic final-stretch battle between the two greats Crisp and Red Rum has also been described as one of the greatest sporting moments. [5]

Finishing order

PositionName Jockey AgeHandicap (st-lb) SP Distance
01 Red Rum Brian Fletcher 810-59/1¾ Length
02 Crisp Richard Pitman 1012-09/125 Lengths
03 L'Escargot Tommy Carberry 1012-011/1
04Spanish Steps Philip Blacker 1011-1316/1
05Rouge AutumnKen White910-040/1
06Hurricane Rock Bob Champion 910-0100/1
07Proud Tarquin John Oaksey 1010-1122/1
08ProphecyBob Davies1010-320/1
09Endless FollyJoe Guest1110-0100/1
10Black SecretSean Barker911-222/1
11Petruchio's SonDavid Mould1010-550/1
12The PookaArthur Moore1110-0100/1
13Great NoiseDavid Cartwright910-250/1
14Green Plover Mouse Morris 1310-0100/1
15Sunny LadBill Smith910-325/1
16Go-PontinentalJimmy McNaught1310-4100/1
17Mill DoorPeter Cullis1110-5100/1Last to finish

Non-finishers

FenceName Jockey AgeHandicap (st-lb)Starting priceFate
01RicheleauNeil Kernick910-050/1Fell
03AshvilleJeff King810-414/1Fell
06Beggar's WayTommy Kinane910-133/1Fell
06Culla HillNorton Brookes910-7100/1Fell
07Mr VimyJohnny Haine1010-2100/1Pulled Up
07Swan ShotMartin Blackshaw1010-0100/1Refused
08Nereo Duke of Alburquerque 710-366/1Pulled Up
09Highland Seal David Nicholson 1010-620/1Pulled Up
15CanharisPat Buckley810-116/1Brought Down
15Charley WinkingDerrick Scott810-0100/1Fell
15Glenkiln Jonjo O'Neill 1010-733/1Fell
15Grey SombreroBill Shoemark910-925/1Fell
15Proud PercyRichard Evans1010-0100/1Fell
19Fortune Bay IIGeorge Sloan910-366/1Fell
19Rough SilkTim Norman1010-066/1Pulled Up
21Tarquin BidJ Bracken910-0100/1Fell
22Beau ParcAndy Turnell1010-1100/1Pulled Up
26AstburyJimmy Bourke1010-250/1Pulled Up
27General SymonsPat Kiely1010-033/1Pulled Up
27Princess Camilla Ron Barry 810-416/1Refused
27RampsmanDavid Munro910-0100/1Pulled Up

[6] [7] [8]

Media coverage and aftermath

David Coleman presented the BBC's coverage in a special edition of Grandstand . Grandstand would also show the international rugby union match between Scotland and The President's XV from Murrayfield, along with a preview of the big heavyweight bout from San Diego between Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton, that was shown later on BBC 1 in a Sportsnight special.

Unfortunately, Grey Sombrero, who had fallen at the 15th fence was badly injured and had to be euthanized.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand National</span> English steeplechase horse race that takes place at Aintree Racecourse, Merseyside, England

The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse, Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap steeplechase over an official distance of about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs, with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. It is the most valuable jump race in Europe, with a prize fund of £1 million in 2017. An event that is prominent in British culture, the race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Rum</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Red Rum was an Irish champion Thoroughbred steeplechaser. He achieved an unmatched historic treble when he won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and also came second in the two intervening years, 1975 and 1976. The Grand National is a notoriously difficult race that has been described as "the ultimate test of a horse’s courage". He was also renowned for his jumping ability, having not fallen in 100 races.

Crisp was a champion steeplechase horse. He was a bay Thoroughbred gelding that was foaled in 1963 in Australia. In his native country, he won many important jumping races, particularly two-milers, including the Hiskens Steeplechase in 1969 and 1970. So well did he jump, he was nicknamed "The Black Kangaroo". However, Crisp is probably best remembered for his epic contest with Red Rum in the 1973 Grand National in England.

Brian Fletcher was an English jockey known for riding the horse Red Rum to win the Grand National in 1973 and 1974 and for second place in 1975. He first won the Grand National at the age of 20, in 1968 riding Red Alligator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Grand National</span>

The 2006 Grand National was the 159th official annual running of the Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 8 April 2006 and attracted the maximum permitted field of forty competitors for total prize money of £689,360 including £399,140 to the winner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Grand National</span>

The 2004 Grand National was the 157th official annual running of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 3 April 2004 and attracted the maximum permitted field of 40 competitors for total prize money of £600,000 including £348,000 to the winner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Grand National</span>

The 2002 Grand National was the 155th official renewal of the Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 6 April 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Grand National</span>

The 1994 Grand National was the 147th official renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 9 April 1994.

The 1977 Grand National was the 131st renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 2 April 1977.

The 1967 Grand National was the 121st renewal of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 8 April 1967. The race is best remembered for being won by outsider Foinavon at odds of 100/1, after being the only horse to avoid a mêlée at the 23rd fence and jump it at the first attempt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 Grand National</span>

The 1990 Grand National was the 144th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 7 April 1990. The off time was 3.20pm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 Grand National</span>

The 1985 Grand National was the 139th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 30 March 1985.

The 1984 Grand National was the 138th official renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 31 March 1984.

The 1983 Grand National was the 137th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 9 April 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Grand National</span>

The 2012 Grand National was the 165th annual renewal of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase, which concluded a three-day meeting which is one of only four held at Aintree throughout the year, took place on 14 April 2012. The maximum permitted field of 40 runners ran the last 4 miles 856 yards (7.220 km) of Aintree's National Course featuring 30 fences, competing for record prize money of £975,000, making it the highest-valued National Hunt race in the United Kingdom.

The 1978 Grand National was the 132nd renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 1 April 1978. In a close finish between the leading five horses, the winner was Lucius, by about half a length.

The 1976 Grand National was the 130th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 3 April 1976. The race was won by Rag Trade, who was the fourth winner trained by Fred Rimell and the second winner owned by Pierre Raymond Bessone. Red Rum finished second for the second year in a row. Rimell's fourth winner gave him the outright record for training most National winners which he had previously shared with six other trainers. His record was equalled by Ginger McCain in 2004.

The 1975 Grand National was the 129th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 5 April 1975. The race was won by 13/2 second-favourite L'Escargot, ridden by Tommy Carberry, in a time of nine minutes and 31.1 seconds and by a distance of 15 lengths over 7/2 favourite Red Rum, who was thus denied a third consecutive win.

The 1974 Grand National was the 128th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 30 March 1974. The race is famous for the second of Red Rum's three Grand National wins. L'Escargot finished second.

The 1968 Grand National was the 122nd renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 30 March 1968.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "History". Grandnational.org.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  2. "BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2001 | Grand National | Red Rum - a life in pictures". BBC News. 30 March 2001. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  3. "Grand National Runners 2021 (Full List of Horses & Riders)". Archived from the original on 12 February 2008.
  4. "The Independent | 404". The Independent. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  5. 1 2 Wood, Greg (3 April 2009). "The Joy of Six: great Grand National moments | Sport". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  6. "1972 & 1973 - The Grand National & Aintree 1970-79". Seventiesnationals.webs.com. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  7. The Grand National : the history of the Aintree spectacular, by Stewart Peters & Bernard Parkin, ISBN   0-7524-3547-7
  8. "Grand National Anorak |". freewebs.com. Retrieved 27 August 2014.