National Memories

This is the week that brings a recurrence of an event which first happened in 1839.  My Dad had been interested in it all his life but sadly never saw it.  In 1927 when he heard that it was going to be broadcast he bought a wet battery radio.  I think it was the only one in our parish of Cloughaneely and the neighbours came from miles around to listen in to the GRAND NATIONAL.   When our kitchen filled up Dad opened the window so that the throng outside could hear the commentary.  The name of the winner was Sprig.  I remember that among the many I have forgotten.  The race became more popular all over the world as the years went by.  It was televised for the first time in 1960 and won by a horse called Merryman II.  Television exposed it to millions of people most of whom had never known a horse.  Of course the odd fall in which a jockey or horse was injured invited criticism.  It mainly came from people who had never taken the risk or enjoyed the thrill of riding a horse over a fence, climbed our highest mountains, flown a plane at the speed of sound, seen the bottom of our deep seas or stepped on another planet!  I don't object to fair criticism but there is no place or justification for the word 'ban' in a liberal society.  We recently saw the result of the infamous and loathsome legislation suffered by foxes and hares.  They used to get a natural and quick death in the jaws of hounds.  Now many thousands die a painful lingering death in snares or traps or from infection or gangrene resulting from pellets in their rear ends fired by poor marksman.

The late Dick Saunders on Grittar '82 National winner.

I have studied the mind of horses.  I am sure that they enjoy racing.  I grew up among people who love and are dependant on them.  We were proud of Vincent O'Brien and his jockeys Bryan Marshall and Pat Taffe, of Arkle fame  for their three victories with Early Mist in '53, Royal Tan in '54 and Quare Times in '55.  I was at Aintree to see Quare Times win and had never seen such a celebration.   I also attended the  National in '58 to see Mr What, in '65 to see Jay Trump and in '70 to see Gay Trip ridden by Pat Taffe.  The most amazing of my memories is of Red Rum trained by the late Ginger McCain.  He won in '73 & '74 ridden by Brian Fletcher and again in '77 under the great Tommy Stack.  I went to Aintree for the last time in '82 to see my friend Dick Saunders win on Grittar.  Dick was the oldest jockey ever to ride the winner.
Watching Mick Fitzgerald win it on Rough Quest in '96 made me regret that I was not there to join in the celebration with the brilliant trainer Terry Casey.  When he had so much to give to his family and to racing poor Terry died a cruel death all too soon afterwards.   He grew up only thirty miles from me and I had some great meals at his Rosapenna Hotel.

For the experience of the unique event I took  Jane and our three boys,  Denise Judge and Sheila Evans our loyal staff in the house and kennels and dear friends like John McConnell, Bill Dickens, Bill and Nuala Mannion, John & Creagh Black and John Brammar our Dental friend.  On two occasions, we watched the race from the Canal Turn because it afforded a close view of three of the jumps and on all the other days we were close to Beachers Brook.  With my camera I got a few good shots of a horse in the air.   They include one of Grittar which I still have - somewhere.