With the ending of World War I and formal signing of The Treaty of Versailles on the 28th June 1919, it was a period of social, political and cultural change.
The UK was heavily in debt with mass unemployment.
It was a time of high inflation, poverty, strikes and industrial disputes as workers fought for better pay conditions.
The General Strike in 1926 saw a nationwide strike by coal miners, supported by other industries.
On the good side, the Roaring Twenties saw a period of social liberation, especially for women. A time of jazz, cinema, art and literature.
Radio was a new medium of entertainment. In fact, the first BBC broadcast of the Aintree Grand National was aired in 1927. Sprig, a ten-year-old gelding, won at odds of 8/1f for trainer Tom Leader, ridden by his son Ted Leader in the ownership of Mary Partridge. Poignantly, she kept the horse in training in memory of her son who died in World War I.
Let’s take a look at the 1920s Aintree Grand National:
1920 – Troytown 6/1 Trianer: Algy Anthony
1921 – Shaun Spadah 100/9 Trainer: George Poole
1922 – Music Hall 100/9 Trainer: Owen Anthony
1923 – Sargeant Murphy 100/6 Trainer: George Blackwell
1924 – Master Robert 25/1 Trainer: Aubrey Hastings
1925 – Double Chance 100/9 Trainer: Fred Archer, Jr
1926 – Jack Horner 25/1 Trainer: Harvey Leader
1927 – Sprig 8/1f Trainer: Tom Leader
1928 – Tipperary Tim 100/1 Trainer: Joseph Dodd
1929 – Gregalach 100/1 Trainer: Tom Leader
1920 Troytown Wins the Aintree Grand National:
The Irish horse won well in heavy ground and pouring rain at odds of 6/1. Troytown was considered one of the best horses in the 1920s. The gelding was known for a robust style of racing crashing through fences. After winning the Aintree Grand National he headed to the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. Unfortunately, he was fatally injured. He had won the race in 1919.
Amazingly, in 1921, Shaun Spadah was not only the winner but the only horse to complete the course without falling. Placed horses: The Bore, All White & Turkey Buzzard were all remounted after falls to finish. Thirty-one horses didn’t finish in desperately heavy conditions. He finished runner-up in 1923.
Perhaps the most novel aspect of the 20s Aintree Grand National came in 1928-29 with successive 100/1 winners.
1928 – Tipperary Tim Wins the National at 100/1
Many readers will be familiar with the story of Tipperary Tim, trained by Joseph Dodd, ridden by Mr Bill Dutton in the ownership of Harold Kenyon. The ten-year-old Irish-bred gelding, a son of Cipongo by a mare called Last Lot. He was a son of the undefeated St. Simon.
Tipperary Tim was a slow horse but rarely fell and this would be his strength with the going described as ‘very heavy’. One of the jockeys shouted: ‘The only way you will win is if all the other horses fall!’
All 41 horses in opposition fell.
In misty conditions, there was a mass pile-up at the Canal Turn, and by the penultimate fence there were only three horses left standing. One of those saddle slipped and the other fell at the last, leaving Tipperary Tim to win by a distance.
Billy Barton was remounted to finish second.
Only two horses finished the race.
In 1929, Gregalach won at odds of 100/1. The seven-year-old won the 88th renewal of the Aintree Grand National for trainer Tom Leader, ridden by Robert W. H. Everett, in the ownership of Mrs. Marion A. Gemmell. There were 66 runners, the largest field for the National. Nine horses completed the course.