Just a photo ................
- Thread starter Reebok
- Start date
-
Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
-
Red Rum was always a favourite of mine growning up, his Grand National record was phenomenal, and will probably never be bettered. He carted top weight on 4 of his 5 attempts at the race, yet still had form figures of 11221 in the race.
I remember having won 2 GNs on the trot, and going for the hatrick, he put up one of the gutsiest displays ever seen conceding over a stone to former Gold Cup winner Les Cargot, who he had beat the previous years when both were carrying top weight. He may have just lost that race, but he more than enhanced his reputation getting as close as he did.
His 5th attempt and 3rd win will always stand out for me though, he was conceding chunks to the whole field and at the age of 12 most didn't give him much of a chance, but boy did he deliver. Pulling along way clear of the rest to score easily.
Red Rum was without a doubt one of the greatest national hunt horse of all time, even if much of his brilliance was on pure heart alone!
I remember having won 2 GNs on the trot, and going for the hatrick, he put up one of the gutsiest displays ever seen conceding over a stone to former Gold Cup winner Les Cargot, who he had beat the previous years when both were carrying top weight. He may have just lost that race, but he more than enhanced his reputation getting as close as he did.
His 5th attempt and 3rd win will always stand out for me though, he was conceding chunks to the whole field and at the age of 12 most didn't give him much of a chance, but boy did he deliver. Pulling along way clear of the rest to score easily.
Red Rum was without a doubt one of the greatest national hunt horse of all time, even if much of his brilliance was on pure heart alone!
Stumbled across this beauty on youtube ........................ 2 of the greatest finishes you will ever see anywhere. If you're not intimately familiar with them it's well worth taking 17 and a half minutes of Good Friday to relive 2 epic races................... The 1973 Grand National and 1984 Whitbread Gold Cup. Enjoy !!
[video=youtube;LpON1-n3tqk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpON1-n3tqk[/video]
[video=youtube;LpON1-n3tqk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpON1-n3tqk[/video]
Cheers Oddy... I just wanted to know a bit more about the Whitbread race and found this...
Just cut n pasted from an extract simply called, THE STORY OF THE RACE; AN EPIC CONTEST FOR THE 1984 WHITBREAD.
IT WAS a race that was to log an indelible memory for many. In the build-up the fortnight before there developed a variety of strands guaranteed to intrigue. It was to play out as an epic. Bizarrely, it was to become no more than a side issue that the 1984 Whitbread Gold Cup (now the bet365 Gold Cup) was expected to be a crucial decider in the trainers' championship as Michael Dickinson had an advantage of only pounds 11,000 over Fred Winter. The title contenders were, however, to be overshadowed by Fulke Walwyn, aged 74.
It was to be Walwyn stable jockey Bill Smith's final ride before retirement. As expected, he deserted Special Cargo for stablemate Diamond Edge, the 13-year-old who had won the race in 1979 and 1981. The two other main players were to be Dickinson's second string Lettoch and Winter's Plundering. From the final fence the four horses swapped the lead.
At the time, this Whitbread was heralded as the most remarkable finish of a chase ever witnessed. Lord Oaksey wrote that it was "the perfect steeplechase". The passing 28 years will not have challenged that view for many.
THE BUILD-UP Cath Walwyn, widow of Fulke Walwyn Special Cargo had the most dreadful legs, so bad that you'd hardly believe he was capable of racing. He'd undergone all the treatments, including firing, blistering and, in desperation, carbon fibre implants. Despite all his troubles he'd try his heart out and Sandown brought out the best in him. We thought he'd do well to make the frame in that Whitbread, but we'd high hopes of Diamond Edge because his preparation had gone so well. We felt he was unlucky not to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup - he went wrong two days before the festival.
Bill Smith, rider of Diamond Edge I'd ridden Special Cargo in the vast majority of his races. He adored Sandown and his style of running there was invariably the same - off the bridle a mile out going nowhere, but then he'd launch himself up the hill. He'd had a lot of work done on his legs and it was a tribute to Fulke Walwyn and his team that he was able to come back; I doubt any other trainer would have managed that. Diamond Edge was always likely to be my ride that day, especially after we'd worked the two horses at Newbury as part of their preparation; I had to hold on to Diamond Edge to let Special Cargo catch up. The fast ground was another factor because Diamond Edge loved it while the other horse hated it. Kevin Mooney, rider of Special Cargo It was assumed that Bill would be on Diamond Edge because in their work together, including on Barry Hills's all-weather, there'd be 20 lengths between them, yet in the race he was giving us only 7lb. I was secretly hoping that we'd get plenty of rain that week and he'd switch to Special Cargo, especially as he'd have liked to end his career on a winner for the Queen Mother.
THE RACE Mooney My instructions were to pull up if I thought the fast ground was putting the horse at any risk. We made the early running before Diamond Edge took over at the fourth fence and primarily we kept in the race because of his brilliant jumping. At the Pond fence he'd dropped to seventh and was probably 12 to 15 lengths off the leader. But he'd give everything plus a bit more. We got over the second-last and it was then I noticed Diamond Edge dropping away with Lettoch and Plundering looking sure to fight it out. Robert Earnshaw, rider of Lettoch He was all but brought down at the third and we got shuffled back to where I didn't want to be. I took my time and hunted him back into it but it had taken a fair bit out of him. We hit the front two out but got headed. When he rallied to lead again I was sure we had it. Ben de Haan, rider of Plundering We'd led at the last fence and I thought he was sure to win. Smith Diamond Edge bounced off fast ground like few chasers can. He met the Railway fences spot-on and nearing the line he stormed ahead.
Mooney The picture changed approaching the last. The front two were no longer getting away from us. I pinged the last and he took off. Passing the line I stood up and raised an arm high - that was most unlike me, but I thought I'd won. When I told that to Mrs Walwyn she said, 'you can't have'. Smith I thought we had it. Then the other two came and did us in the final strides. I couldn't believe it.
Earnshaw There's no doubt he was the unlucky one. I was very disappointed, but that was all forgotten the next year when I won the Whitbread for Mrs Dickinson [on By The Way].
De Haan Passing the line I couldn't believe that we'd finished fourth. But he pulled up very sore and had broken down. Plundering missed the following season but came back to win the Whitbread two years later when ridden by Simon Sherwood.
Cath Walwyn I thought Diamond Edge had won with Special Cargo second. The Queen Mother who, as always, was due to make the presentation to the winning owner, was keen to remain in the box until the result was announced because she didn't want racegoers to feel embarrassed by congratulating her only to find that Special Cargo had been beaten. Film footage of the dramatic four-horse charge from the final fence is available on YouTube, including Brough Scott's debriefing with Mooney, Smith and Walwyn. Sir Michael Oswald, the royal family's jump racing consultant It was one of the most remarkable races I've seen. Special Cargo was a thorough stayer and the Sandown hill could have been shaped with him in mind. The Queen Mother was thrilled. Sandown was her favourite racecourse - I think she had 75 winners there. It was fitting that Sandown was the last racecourse she visited and also the venue for her final winner, First Love.
Mooney That Whitbread meant everything to Mr Walwyn because he'd get quite emotional every time the horse's name was mentioned about the yard. That Whitbread meant everything to me too, and not only because it helped to secure the job as first jockey, taking over from Bill, when there'd been rumours floating about of Anthony Webber coming in. Mr Walwyn was a loyal man, the best of bosses.
Just cut n pasted from an extract simply called, THE STORY OF THE RACE; AN EPIC CONTEST FOR THE 1984 WHITBREAD.
IT WAS a race that was to log an indelible memory for many. In the build-up the fortnight before there developed a variety of strands guaranteed to intrigue. It was to play out as an epic. Bizarrely, it was to become no more than a side issue that the 1984 Whitbread Gold Cup (now the bet365 Gold Cup) was expected to be a crucial decider in the trainers' championship as Michael Dickinson had an advantage of only pounds 11,000 over Fred Winter. The title contenders were, however, to be overshadowed by Fulke Walwyn, aged 74.
It was to be Walwyn stable jockey Bill Smith's final ride before retirement. As expected, he deserted Special Cargo for stablemate Diamond Edge, the 13-year-old who had won the race in 1979 and 1981. The two other main players were to be Dickinson's second string Lettoch and Winter's Plundering. From the final fence the four horses swapped the lead.
At the time, this Whitbread was heralded as the most remarkable finish of a chase ever witnessed. Lord Oaksey wrote that it was "the perfect steeplechase". The passing 28 years will not have challenged that view for many.
THE BUILD-UP Cath Walwyn, widow of Fulke Walwyn Special Cargo had the most dreadful legs, so bad that you'd hardly believe he was capable of racing. He'd undergone all the treatments, including firing, blistering and, in desperation, carbon fibre implants. Despite all his troubles he'd try his heart out and Sandown brought out the best in him. We thought he'd do well to make the frame in that Whitbread, but we'd high hopes of Diamond Edge because his preparation had gone so well. We felt he was unlucky not to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup - he went wrong two days before the festival.
Bill Smith, rider of Diamond Edge I'd ridden Special Cargo in the vast majority of his races. He adored Sandown and his style of running there was invariably the same - off the bridle a mile out going nowhere, but then he'd launch himself up the hill. He'd had a lot of work done on his legs and it was a tribute to Fulke Walwyn and his team that he was able to come back; I doubt any other trainer would have managed that. Diamond Edge was always likely to be my ride that day, especially after we'd worked the two horses at Newbury as part of their preparation; I had to hold on to Diamond Edge to let Special Cargo catch up. The fast ground was another factor because Diamond Edge loved it while the other horse hated it. Kevin Mooney, rider of Special Cargo It was assumed that Bill would be on Diamond Edge because in their work together, including on Barry Hills's all-weather, there'd be 20 lengths between them, yet in the race he was giving us only 7lb. I was secretly hoping that we'd get plenty of rain that week and he'd switch to Special Cargo, especially as he'd have liked to end his career on a winner for the Queen Mother.
THE RACE Mooney My instructions were to pull up if I thought the fast ground was putting the horse at any risk. We made the early running before Diamond Edge took over at the fourth fence and primarily we kept in the race because of his brilliant jumping. At the Pond fence he'd dropped to seventh and was probably 12 to 15 lengths off the leader. But he'd give everything plus a bit more. We got over the second-last and it was then I noticed Diamond Edge dropping away with Lettoch and Plundering looking sure to fight it out. Robert Earnshaw, rider of Lettoch He was all but brought down at the third and we got shuffled back to where I didn't want to be. I took my time and hunted him back into it but it had taken a fair bit out of him. We hit the front two out but got headed. When he rallied to lead again I was sure we had it. Ben de Haan, rider of Plundering We'd led at the last fence and I thought he was sure to win. Smith Diamond Edge bounced off fast ground like few chasers can. He met the Railway fences spot-on and nearing the line he stormed ahead.
Mooney The picture changed approaching the last. The front two were no longer getting away from us. I pinged the last and he took off. Passing the line I stood up and raised an arm high - that was most unlike me, but I thought I'd won. When I told that to Mrs Walwyn she said, 'you can't have'. Smith I thought we had it. Then the other two came and did us in the final strides. I couldn't believe it.
Earnshaw There's no doubt he was the unlucky one. I was very disappointed, but that was all forgotten the next year when I won the Whitbread for Mrs Dickinson [on By The Way].
De Haan Passing the line I couldn't believe that we'd finished fourth. But he pulled up very sore and had broken down. Plundering missed the following season but came back to win the Whitbread two years later when ridden by Simon Sherwood.
Cath Walwyn I thought Diamond Edge had won with Special Cargo second. The Queen Mother who, as always, was due to make the presentation to the winning owner, was keen to remain in the box until the result was announced because she didn't want racegoers to feel embarrassed by congratulating her only to find that Special Cargo had been beaten. Film footage of the dramatic four-horse charge from the final fence is available on YouTube, including Brough Scott's debriefing with Mooney, Smith and Walwyn. Sir Michael Oswald, the royal family's jump racing consultant It was one of the most remarkable races I've seen. Special Cargo was a thorough stayer and the Sandown hill could have been shaped with him in mind. The Queen Mother was thrilled. Sandown was her favourite racecourse - I think she had 75 winners there. It was fitting that Sandown was the last racecourse she visited and also the venue for her final winner, First Love.
Mooney That Whitbread meant everything to Mr Walwyn because he'd get quite emotional every time the horse's name was mentioned about the yard. That Whitbread meant everything to me too, and not only because it helped to secure the job as first jockey, taking over from Bill, when there'd been rumours floating about of Anthony Webber coming in. Mr Walwyn was a loyal man, the best of bosses.
Great post that red .................... didn't realise it was so close in the trainers championship. Amazing stuff.
Thanks for posting up that clip Oddy. As you say we'll worth 17 odd mins on a Good Friday. I'd never seen the whole of the 73 GN until now only the run in. Crikey Crisp ran a hell of a race there, superb jump at Bechers second time round. Not the cameramans finest hour though.