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GRAND NATIONALS of the 1940's (1940, 1946-1949) and 1950's (1950-1954)
First run officially in 1839, it is a handicap steeplechase over 4 miles 3-1/2 furlongs (7,141m) with horses jumping 30 fences over two circuits. The course over which the race is run - the National Course - is uniquely challenging, featuring much larger fences than those found on conventional National Hunt tracks. Many of these fences, including Becher's Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn have become famous in their own right. These, combined with the extreme distance of the event, create what has been called, "the ultimate test of horse and rider."
The Grand National is the most valuable jump race in Europe, with a prize fund of £975,000 (in 2013). It is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year.
Aintree racecourse has overcome all the hardships and obstacles in surviving through the decades and today enjoys its most successful period in modern times.
The hallowed turf of Aintree is where legends are created, dreams realized and sporting immortality bestowed upon a select group of sporting heroes, both equine and human, who have triumphed in the greatest horse race of them all, the Grand National. Over the years the world's most famous race has brought with it its share of excitement and passion.
Although the Grand National was run as normal in 1940 and most other major horse races around the world were able to be held throughout the war, the commandeering of Aintree Racecourse for defense use in 1941 meant no Grand National could be held from 1941 to 1945.
During the 1950s the Grand National was dominated by Vincent O'Brien, who trained different winners of the race for three consecutive years between 1953 and 1955. EARLY MIST secured O'Brien's first victory in 1953; ROYAL TAN won in 1954, and QUARE TIMES completed the Irish trainer's hat-trick in 1955.
Re-live newsreel footage of select Grand Nationals from the decade of the 40's (1940, 1946-1949) and 50's (1950-1954). Picture and sound are compromised in various parts of the feature due to age, etc.
Below are the 1,2,3,4 finishers from each year shown in this compilation:
1940: 1) BOGSKAR 2) MAC MOFFET 3) GOLD ARROW 4) SYMAETHIS
1946: 1) LOVELY COTTAGE 2) JACK FINLEY 3) PRINCE REGENT 4) HOUSEWARMER
1947: 1) CAUGHOO 2) LOUGH CONN 3) KAMI 4) PRINCE REGENT
1948: 1) SHEILA'S COTTAGE 2) FIRST OF THE DANDIES 3) CROMWELL 4) HAPPY HOME
1949: 1) RUSSIAN HERO 2) ROIMOND 3) ROYAL MOUNT 4) CROMWELL
1950: 1) FREEBOOTER 2) WOT NO SUN 3) ACTHON MAJOR 4) ROWLAND ROY
1951: 1) NICKEL COIN 2) ROYAL TAN 3) DERRINSTOWN (last to compete)
1952: 1) TEAL 2) LEGAL JOY 3) WOT NO SUN 4) UNCLE BARNEY
1953: 1) EARLY MIST 2) MONT TREMBLANT 3) IRISH LIZARD 4) OVERSHADOW
1954: 1) ROYAL TAN 2) TUDOR LINE 3) IRISH LIZARD 4) CHURCHTOWN
(68 Minutes)
Listing Info: | |
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Listing ID: | 1422 |
Format(s) Available: | DVD And VHS |
Category: | National Hunt / Jumps / Steeplechase |