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Interesting or boring?? I've enjoyed reading about them...
Aldaniti
In some sports, fairytales can sometimes come true. On no occasion had this been more applicable than with the 1981 Grand National. Aldiniti was bought from Ascot Sales for 3200 guineas. He had already been named by his breeder, who used the first two letters from each of his four grandchildrens first names, ALastair, DAvid, NIcola and Timothy. Aldanitis racing career was troubled by various injuries and in November 1979 he broke down for the third time, on his off fore leg and he was to spend most of 1980 recuperating.
Meanwhile, Aldanitis regular partner, Bob Champion was facing his own battle, Diagnosed with cancer in 1979, he was told that unless he underwent immediate chemotherapy treatment, his alternative was death within as little as eight months. Bob was kept updated with progress reports on Aldaniti, for Bob had so much faith in the young horse that he believed would win the Grand National. Bob won his own personal battle in January 1980.
On April 4th, 1981, Aldaniti faced thirty-nine rivals round the Grand National course at Aintree. Bob and Aldaniti started as 10-1 second favourites. Aldiniti jumped into the lead at the 11th and was still in the lead landing over the last, although Spartan Missile was closing in, threatening to put an end to the fairytale outcome. But it wasnt to be. Aldaniti might not have been the soundest of horses, or one with many appearances, but he was a true horse of courage, who possessed raw guts in bucket loads. After 4 and a half miles, it was this quality that Bob called upon. His partner responded willingly and ran on unflinchingly. Over the finish line, tongue hanging out in exhaustion, he held the last challenge to win the Grand National by 4 lengths.
The fairytale had been achieved and emotion overflowed at Aintree as the tears flowed, surpassing even the reception that Red Rum received 4 years earlier after his third win. Following his retirement in 1982, Aldaniti went on to star as himself in the 1983 film Champions alongside John Hurt. The Bob Champion Cancer Trust was set up in 1983 and its work has since given hope and inspiration to thousands of men affected by cancer each year.
Red Rum
In Ireland on 3rd May 1965 a Bay colt had begun his life - little did the people involved know that struggling to stay on his feet in front of them was the future King of Aintree.
Coincidently Red Rums first race, a 5 furlong seller, was at Aintree 1967. After nine more flat races and four seasons of National Hunt racing consisting of twenty four races over hurdles and thirteen over the bigger obstacles Red Rum's form began to go down hill and he was sent to Doncaster Sales, this is where the fairy tail started to unfold. Ginger McCain won the highest bid and paid 6000 guineas for the bay gelding. Two days after he arrived at Gingers yard in Southport, Red Rum went on to the beach, which is where Ginger trained his horses and to everybody's horror the horse was lame. He was sent into the sea for a good half hour and by some miracle he came out of the sea sound. Ginger had seen many broken down carthorses rejuvenated by the Southport sands and waters - they did the trick for Red Rum too.
The rest, as they say, is history and Red Rum went on to win a record three Grand Nationals and finished second twice, as well as winning eighteen other races over jumps, and two on the flat. He was retired in 1978, the day before the Grand National, aged thirteen, due to a stress fracture of a small bone in his foot. He did go to Liverpool that day and led the parade and so began his second life in which he was to be one of the biggest celebrities of his day and always attracted a crowd at any opening ceremony that he attended. He even made an appearance on the BBC Sorts personality of the year award!
The Statue at Aintree Racecourse captures the essence of Red Rum's, cocky stance; ears pricked, and eyes/head skywards. On the 18th October 1995 Red Rum suffered a stroke and sadly Ginger had no other option but to have the horse put to sleep. Hours later Red Rum had been buried in his rightful place, at Aintree's winning post.
Sea Biscuit
Sea Biscuit was born on May 23, 1934. He was never a complete outcast, as portrayed in the movie, although with his stumpy legs that wouldn't completely straighten, Seabiscuit wasn't considered a great prospect. Some said he wasn't worth the hay in a first-class barn! He did have one believer in Tom Smith, also known as "Silent Tom," a trainer whose reluctance to speak led some people to believe he didn't have a tongue. Smith found a jockey in Johnny "Red" Pollard. At 5'7", Pollard was too tall to be a jockey. He was also blind in one eye, something he tried to keep a secret. He spent years at the country's lowliest racetracks, talking his way onto as many mounts as he could.
Against all odds, Seabiscuit became an instant success, winning race after race. Seabiscuit became the most popular horse in America during the Great Depression. But trouble lurked around the corner. While riding another horse, Pollard fell and shattered his collarbone, broke his shoulder, and fractured his ribs. Doctors told him he wouldn't ride again for at least a year.
When a match-up was finally set up between Seabiscuit and War Admiral, an elegant East Coast champion, a new jockey, George Woolf, took the reins of Seabiscuit. The resulting race became a contest between two worlds: the East Coast establishment of bankers and their beautiful horses versus a nation of disillusioned have-nots who championed a hero that had been beat up just like them. Seabiscuit beat War Admiral by four lengths. Sports writers went crazy, calling it the greatest race in history.
Pollard returned in 1940 to ride Seabiscuit for the one race that had eluded the horse: California's Santa Anita. Seventy-five thousand people - the biggest crowd ever to attend an American horse race - watched as Seabiscuit came from behind to win in the fastest mile and a quarter the track had seen until then.
Soon after, Seabiscuit retired. He died of a heart attack on May 17, 1947. In 1996, magazine journalist Laura Hillenbrand stumbled across the story of Seabiscuit. Her book, Seabiscuit: An American Legend remained on The New York Times best-seller list for 30 weeks.
Sefton
Sefton the horse (or Sharky to his friends, as he had a habit of biting), a black nag of the Household Cavalry was simply doing his duty one summer morning when the world around him collapsed.
On Tuesday 20 July, 1982, at 10.44am, a nail bomb was detonated by remote control in Hyde Park just as the Household Cavalry was passing on its way from Knightsbridge Barracks to Horse Guards Parade. Regimental farriers sprinted from their barracks when they heard the explosion and, working desperately as there was fear of another bomb being detonated, the men searched for survivors amongst the devastation.
Regimental commander, Lt Col Andrew Parker-Bowles, raced to the scene on foot. Arriving quickly he met a groom leading a severely wounded horse Sefton. He had suffered 28 separate wounds to his body from the nail bombs, while another seven horses and two soldiers of the Queen's Lifeguard were killed in the blast.
Sefton went through an eight hour stint of surgery to remove as much of the shrapnel from the bomb blast as possible. The media at the time marvelled at the bravery of this horse and Sefton became a household name. Already 19 years old at the time, he was not a young horse and letters, cards and even cubes of sugar were sent to him by well-wishers and concerned members of the public.
Sefton retired from military service to The Home of Rest for Horses in Buckinghamshire shortly after the bombings. He was often visited there, along with Echo and Yeti, two other equine survivors of the attack. Sefton lived there until 1993, where due to his injuries from the bomb he had become incurably lame. He was unfortunately put down at the grand age of thirty. However, Household Cavalry tradition dictates that horse's names are re-used and Sefton's memory will always live on.
Milton
Born in 1977, Milton was bought by Caroline Bradley as a youngster - Milton was bred to jump. When Milton was young Caroline told her parents he would be her Olympic mount. Excellently produced, Milton was ready to go on when tragedy struck. Caroline collapsed and died at Suffolk County Show in 1983.
John Whitaker took over the ride in 1985 and this is when Milton really began to excel. The grey had many international victories, and became the first horse outside the racing world to win more than £1 million in prize money. John soon discovered that Milton loved the limelight. At one show, the grey gave little leaps of excitement during the prize-giving. So John went away and worked on it! The result was that if his rider moved his legs during a presentation, Milton would perform acrobatic leaps a Spanish Riding School star would have been proud of; this always led to a standing ovation. John once said about Milton, "Simply The Best"
Milton retired to the Whitakers' Yorkshire farm. He made some public appearances, but after he survived major colic surgery in 1998, the decision was made to let him live out his life in happy retirement with his best friend. The following year, the colic returned and this time, the old horse could not fight it off. He died in July 1998.
Milton may have been a superstar, but he was also a typical horse - he also used to take his rugs off and shred them, and if he didn't fancy doing something, he would blow raspberries!
Small claim to fame Milton had a very good friend called Pip (who was also a superstar!), an 11 hands grey pony. Unfortunately Milton had to say good bye to Pip when he left to be Sarahs first pony!
Aldaniti
In some sports, fairytales can sometimes come true. On no occasion had this been more applicable than with the 1981 Grand National. Aldiniti was bought from Ascot Sales for 3200 guineas. He had already been named by his breeder, who used the first two letters from each of his four grandchildrens first names, ALastair, DAvid, NIcola and Timothy. Aldanitis racing career was troubled by various injuries and in November 1979 he broke down for the third time, on his off fore leg and he was to spend most of 1980 recuperating.
Meanwhile, Aldanitis regular partner, Bob Champion was facing his own battle, Diagnosed with cancer in 1979, he was told that unless he underwent immediate chemotherapy treatment, his alternative was death within as little as eight months. Bob was kept updated with progress reports on Aldaniti, for Bob had so much faith in the young horse that he believed would win the Grand National. Bob won his own personal battle in January 1980.
On April 4th, 1981, Aldaniti faced thirty-nine rivals round the Grand National course at Aintree. Bob and Aldaniti started as 10-1 second favourites. Aldiniti jumped into the lead at the 11th and was still in the lead landing over the last, although Spartan Missile was closing in, threatening to put an end to the fairytale outcome. But it wasnt to be. Aldaniti might not have been the soundest of horses, or one with many appearances, but he was a true horse of courage, who possessed raw guts in bucket loads. After 4 and a half miles, it was this quality that Bob called upon. His partner responded willingly and ran on unflinchingly. Over the finish line, tongue hanging out in exhaustion, he held the last challenge to win the Grand National by 4 lengths.
The fairytale had been achieved and emotion overflowed at Aintree as the tears flowed, surpassing even the reception that Red Rum received 4 years earlier after his third win. Following his retirement in 1982, Aldaniti went on to star as himself in the 1983 film Champions alongside John Hurt. The Bob Champion Cancer Trust was set up in 1983 and its work has since given hope and inspiration to thousands of men affected by cancer each year.
Red Rum
In Ireland on 3rd May 1965 a Bay colt had begun his life - little did the people involved know that struggling to stay on his feet in front of them was the future King of Aintree.
Coincidently Red Rums first race, a 5 furlong seller, was at Aintree 1967. After nine more flat races and four seasons of National Hunt racing consisting of twenty four races over hurdles and thirteen over the bigger obstacles Red Rum's form began to go down hill and he was sent to Doncaster Sales, this is where the fairy tail started to unfold. Ginger McCain won the highest bid and paid 6000 guineas for the bay gelding. Two days after he arrived at Gingers yard in Southport, Red Rum went on to the beach, which is where Ginger trained his horses and to everybody's horror the horse was lame. He was sent into the sea for a good half hour and by some miracle he came out of the sea sound. Ginger had seen many broken down carthorses rejuvenated by the Southport sands and waters - they did the trick for Red Rum too.
The rest, as they say, is history and Red Rum went on to win a record three Grand Nationals and finished second twice, as well as winning eighteen other races over jumps, and two on the flat. He was retired in 1978, the day before the Grand National, aged thirteen, due to a stress fracture of a small bone in his foot. He did go to Liverpool that day and led the parade and so began his second life in which he was to be one of the biggest celebrities of his day and always attracted a crowd at any opening ceremony that he attended. He even made an appearance on the BBC Sorts personality of the year award!
The Statue at Aintree Racecourse captures the essence of Red Rum's, cocky stance; ears pricked, and eyes/head skywards. On the 18th October 1995 Red Rum suffered a stroke and sadly Ginger had no other option but to have the horse put to sleep. Hours later Red Rum had been buried in his rightful place, at Aintree's winning post.
Sea Biscuit
Sea Biscuit was born on May 23, 1934. He was never a complete outcast, as portrayed in the movie, although with his stumpy legs that wouldn't completely straighten, Seabiscuit wasn't considered a great prospect. Some said he wasn't worth the hay in a first-class barn! He did have one believer in Tom Smith, also known as "Silent Tom," a trainer whose reluctance to speak led some people to believe he didn't have a tongue. Smith found a jockey in Johnny "Red" Pollard. At 5'7", Pollard was too tall to be a jockey. He was also blind in one eye, something he tried to keep a secret. He spent years at the country's lowliest racetracks, talking his way onto as many mounts as he could.
Against all odds, Seabiscuit became an instant success, winning race after race. Seabiscuit became the most popular horse in America during the Great Depression. But trouble lurked around the corner. While riding another horse, Pollard fell and shattered his collarbone, broke his shoulder, and fractured his ribs. Doctors told him he wouldn't ride again for at least a year.
When a match-up was finally set up between Seabiscuit and War Admiral, an elegant East Coast champion, a new jockey, George Woolf, took the reins of Seabiscuit. The resulting race became a contest between two worlds: the East Coast establishment of bankers and their beautiful horses versus a nation of disillusioned have-nots who championed a hero that had been beat up just like them. Seabiscuit beat War Admiral by four lengths. Sports writers went crazy, calling it the greatest race in history.
Pollard returned in 1940 to ride Seabiscuit for the one race that had eluded the horse: California's Santa Anita. Seventy-five thousand people - the biggest crowd ever to attend an American horse race - watched as Seabiscuit came from behind to win in the fastest mile and a quarter the track had seen until then.
Soon after, Seabiscuit retired. He died of a heart attack on May 17, 1947. In 1996, magazine journalist Laura Hillenbrand stumbled across the story of Seabiscuit. Her book, Seabiscuit: An American Legend remained on The New York Times best-seller list for 30 weeks.
Sefton
Sefton the horse (or Sharky to his friends, as he had a habit of biting), a black nag of the Household Cavalry was simply doing his duty one summer morning when the world around him collapsed.
On Tuesday 20 July, 1982, at 10.44am, a nail bomb was detonated by remote control in Hyde Park just as the Household Cavalry was passing on its way from Knightsbridge Barracks to Horse Guards Parade. Regimental farriers sprinted from their barracks when they heard the explosion and, working desperately as there was fear of another bomb being detonated, the men searched for survivors amongst the devastation.
Regimental commander, Lt Col Andrew Parker-Bowles, raced to the scene on foot. Arriving quickly he met a groom leading a severely wounded horse Sefton. He had suffered 28 separate wounds to his body from the nail bombs, while another seven horses and two soldiers of the Queen's Lifeguard were killed in the blast.
Sefton went through an eight hour stint of surgery to remove as much of the shrapnel from the bomb blast as possible. The media at the time marvelled at the bravery of this horse and Sefton became a household name. Already 19 years old at the time, he was not a young horse and letters, cards and even cubes of sugar were sent to him by well-wishers and concerned members of the public.
Sefton retired from military service to The Home of Rest for Horses in Buckinghamshire shortly after the bombings. He was often visited there, along with Echo and Yeti, two other equine survivors of the attack. Sefton lived there until 1993, where due to his injuries from the bomb he had become incurably lame. He was unfortunately put down at the grand age of thirty. However, Household Cavalry tradition dictates that horse's names are re-used and Sefton's memory will always live on.
Milton
Born in 1977, Milton was bought by Caroline Bradley as a youngster - Milton was bred to jump. When Milton was young Caroline told her parents he would be her Olympic mount. Excellently produced, Milton was ready to go on when tragedy struck. Caroline collapsed and died at Suffolk County Show in 1983.
John Whitaker took over the ride in 1985 and this is when Milton really began to excel. The grey had many international victories, and became the first horse outside the racing world to win more than £1 million in prize money. John soon discovered that Milton loved the limelight. At one show, the grey gave little leaps of excitement during the prize-giving. So John went away and worked on it! The result was that if his rider moved his legs during a presentation, Milton would perform acrobatic leaps a Spanish Riding School star would have been proud of; this always led to a standing ovation. John once said about Milton, "Simply The Best"
Milton retired to the Whitakers' Yorkshire farm. He made some public appearances, but after he survived major colic surgery in 1998, the decision was made to let him live out his life in happy retirement with his best friend. The following year, the colic returned and this time, the old horse could not fight it off. He died in July 1998.
Milton may have been a superstar, but he was also a typical horse - he also used to take his rugs off and shred them, and if he didn't fancy doing something, he would blow raspberries!
Small claim to fame Milton had a very good friend called Pip (who was also a superstar!), an 11 hands grey pony. Unfortunately Milton had to say good bye to Pip when he left to be Sarahs first pony!
