Years

Grand National Winners 1840 – 1849

admin October 19, 2025

The Industrial Revolution saw urbanisation intensify. Cities grew rapidly but for the poorest, housing and sanitisation remained inadequate. Workhouses reflected the harsh realities for many. Outbreaks of Cholera took their toll on public health. Huge investment added to ‘Railway Mania’ which peaked mid-decade transforming society. Queen Victoria got married to Prince Albert in 1840. The British Empire expanded. China was humiliated with their loss in the First Opium War, which saw them concede much in The Treaty of Nanking 1842. It was called a ‘Century of Humiliation’ which saw Hong Kong Island ceded to Britain. New Zealand became a British colony in 1840. Expansion continued in Africa and India. However, closer to home the Great Famine (Potato Famine) devastated Ireland with repeated crop failures. Over 1 million died and another million emigrated (mainly to the United States). The British Government were criticised for their inadequate or indifferent relief policies. With an emphasis on free trade, The Bank Charter Act (1844) regulated bank note issuance. The Victorian culture of respectability, family and duty held strong. Charles Dickens published major works including A Christmas Carol (1843).

The Aintree Grand National saw a decade of winners.

Although detailed as the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase much of the press recorded it for the first time as the Grand National.

These early races were very disorganised but developed into the steeplechase we know and love today.

Let’s take a closer look:

1840 – Jerry 12/1

1841 – Charity 14/1

1842 – Gaylad 7/1

1843 – Vanguard 12/1

1844 – Discount 5/1

1845 – Cure-All (Not Quoted)

1846 – Pioneer 20/1

1847 – Mathew 10/1

1848 – Chandler 12/1

1849 – Peter Simple 20/1

1840: Jerry won the 2^nd running of the Grand National, although until 1847 it was called The Grand Liverpool Steeplechase. This race featured a field of just 13 runners. It should be noted that it wasn’t a handicap as all horses carried 12 stone. Jerry won at odds of 12/1. Ridden by Mr Bartholomew Bretherton, trained by George Dockeray in the ownership of Henry Villebois. The gelding was meant to run the year before, but was withdrawn at the last minute. He won in a canter, beating the previous course record. The race was criticised as it was feared Tom Oliver had been killed by his fall, when brought down at the wall. He suffered a broken collar bone and concussion. Another jockey P. Barker had been found unattended in a nearby barn and connections had made no inquiries about his state.

1841: Noted for being the smallest field with just 11 runners. Charity, an eleven-year-old gelding, won at odds of 14/1. Trained by William Vevers, ridden by Horatio Powell in the ownership of Lord Craven, formerly Viscount Uffington. Race reports varied wildly with some newspapers suggesting Charity was a pre-race favourite while other said the going varied from good to heavy. The race started two hours late. Charity won by a length.

1845: Cure-All is something of a mystery in that he was a half-bred and his dam was unknown. Amazingly, he was walked from Grimsby to Liverpool and returned the same way after his noted victory. In their honour, church bells rang.

Cure-All won by two lengths.

William Loft, son of a Grimsby MP, originally purchased the horse at Horncastle Fair in 1843. He went on to win impressively at Lincoln. Thereafter, he was approached by William Stuart Sterling Crawford who wished to lease Cure-All for the 1845 Grand National, which Loft agreed as long as he could take the ride. He was trained by ‘Kitty’ Crisp.

In reality, William Loft owned, trained and rode the horse.

The gelding was an outsider (perhaps the reason there were no odds quoted). Sterling Crawford complained about the race conditions which had seen heavy rain followed by a sharp frost which saw parts of the course rock hard. Horse owners voted for the race to start at 5pm. However, Crocus, owned by Mr Robson, was withdrawn on safety concerns.

In those days, only the first four horses to pass the post were recorded as finishers. Some of the other runners to finish were so far behind they crossed the line with spectators.

Sadly, Clansman was fatally injured at the Canal Turn.

In years to follow, Tom Oliver detailed that Cure-All’s victory was due to not completing the entire course.

1849: Peter Simple won his first National at the age of 11 for owner-trainer Tom Cunningham in the ownership of Finch Mason Jr at odds of 20/1. He would win once more in 1853 at the age of 15. A feat that will never be beaten.

The oldest horse to ever win the Aintree Grand National.

Sadly, 3 horses were fatally injured (The Curate, Equinox & Kilfane.) There was a great deal of criticism regarding the horse deaths which had seen 6 horses fatally injured in two years. This would lead to modifications of the course.

A point considered to this day.

Grand National Winners 1850 – 1859

admin October 10, 2025

The height of the Victorian era.

Lord Palmerston becomes Prime Minister in 1855. A time of much conflict.

The Crimean War (1853 – 1856) saw Britain, France and the Ottoman Empire fight against Russia. The weakening Ottoman Empire saw European powers fighting over influence and territory. Known as the ‘Eastern Question’ Russia wanted to gain control of the Black Sea, while Britain and France feared this would threaten trade routes and global influence. It also had religious underpinnings with disputes between Catholic and Christians, which saw a religious dispute in Jerusalem. Major battles included The Charge of the Light Brigade and the Fall Of Sevastopol. Sadly, of the 750,000 who lost their life, the vast majority died through disease, infection and harsh conditions. Typhus and Cholera swept through armies. Russia lost the war and signed the Treaty of Paris in 1856.

This period saw Florence Nightingale reform nursing and hygiene.

It was the height of the Industrial Revolution. Cities such as Liverpool and Birmingham become industrial powerhouses. This was detailed with the Great Exhibition (1851), held at Crystal Palace, organised by Prince Albert.

A Victorian cultural boom saw Charles Dickens Bleak House and Little Dorrit hit the bookshops. The growth of popular journalism saw the penny press.

Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species was published in 1859.

The Aintree Grand National remained as popular as ever although there was criticism regarding horse fatalities.

Let’s take a look at the winners for this decade:

1850 – Abd-El-Kadar 30/1

1851 – Abd-El-Kadar 7/1

1852 – Miss Mowbray 12/1

1853 – Peter Simple 9/1

1854 – Bourton 4/1

1855 – Wanderer 25/1

1856 – Freetrader 25/1

1857 – Emigrant 10/1

1858 – Little Charley 100/6

1859 – Half Caste 7/1

1850: The decade started on a high note with Abd-El-Kadar who was an unconsidered Irish raider who won at odds of 30/1. ‘Little Ab’ was a tiny gelding owned and trained by Joseph Osborne and ridden by Chris Green (who went on to win again with Half Caste, 1859). He was born at Upwell, Norfolk. Abd-El-Kadar was considered by many a fortunate winner, holding on to win by half a length with much drama at the final fence. Fortune favours the brave, and this little horse would prove he was a star when retaining his title the following year with another battling victory to win by a neck. The first dual winner of the National. He would attempt to make it three wins on the trot but pulled-up at the 20^th fence (Becher’s Brook) after running across the wheat field for the second circuit. He would finish 5^th in 1853.

1853: Peter Simple was no stranger to the Grand National after winning in 1849 for Tom Cunningham and owner Finch Mason, Jr. In heavy ground, he won by three lengths at odds of 20/1. There were 3 fatalities in the race leading to much criticism in the press. However, Peter Simple would make history in 1853 when winning for a second time at the age of 15. This is a record unlikely to be beaten. His victory was all the more impressive for not completing the course in the three previous races.

1854: 4/1f Bourton won in a canter by fifteen lengths, ridden by John Tasker, trained by Henry Wadlow in the ownership of William Moseley. Reading the race report, it is quite distressing to hear the lack of compassion some jockeys had for their mounts. Half And Half finished sixth but was ridden lame for most of the second circuit after breaking down. A similar story for the veteran Peter Simple, who was 16, who finished in a very distressed state after breaking down badly. He was ridden by Newmarket-born Charles Boyce, the son of Classic winning jockey Frank.

1857: There is an interesting story behind Emigrant, who was won in a card game from Ben Land. Bookmaker and noted gambler George Hogman, bet heavily on his horse ante post but began to lay it to lose as the race neared as public confidence in the horse faded. However, Hogman made no secret that he thought the horse was a certainty. Trained and ridden by Charles Boyce, who was injured leading up to the big day, kept the ride. When asked for instructions Hogman said: ‘Do what you like.’

Emigrant won the race easily by three lengths at odds of 10/1.

Hogman won £5000. However, if he hadn’t laid much of his potential win with fears of his injured jockey not being at his best, he could have won ten times that sum. Boyce was rewarded with a gift of £1000. In today’s money, that would be worth £150,000.

1859: Half Caste concluded the decade winning at odds of 7/1 for trainer-jockey Chris Green in the silks of Mr Willoughby. The race saw spectators sabotage many of the fences endeavouring to make them less of a test. Some jockeys returned after the race to say their mounts had jumped spectators, so close to the jumps were the crowds! With the conflict of the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny there was concerns it had starved the sport of both good hunters and good hunting men. The field was made up of mostly flat race rejects and horses which had never taken part in a steeplechase. In one of the closest finishes ever, Half Caste won by a short neck.

Grand National Winners 1860 – 1869

admin October 5, 2025

The death of Prince Albert in 1861 saw Queen Victoria dress in black for the rest of her life. Lord Palmerston, a Liberal, was Prime Minister from 1859 until his death in 1865. Campaigns for expanding voting rights would see increased numbers with the passing of the Second Reform Act (1867) under the Conservative rule of Benjamin Disraeli. Many urban working-class men voted for the first time. Cities grew, railways expanded and steel and coal production increased. The American Civil War (1861 – 1865) cut off cotton supplies from southern states hitting Lancashire’s textile industry leading to unemployment and hardship. The British Empire grew steadily in India and Africa, while troops were involved in colonial conflict with the Maori (1860 – 1869). Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859) continued to spark debate. Britain was the hub of innovation. In 1863, London opened the world’s first Underground railway from Paddington to Farringdon. The work of Charles Dickens Great Expectations (1861) was well received both critically and by public alike. Modern sports like football and cricket become more formalized. The Aintree Grand National saw an enthralling decade of winners. It was a place where aristocrats rubbed shoulders with ordinary people.

Let’s take a closer look:

1860 – Anatis 7/2f

1861 – Jealousy 5/1

1862 – The Huntsman 3/1f

1863 – Emblem 4/1

1864 – Emblematic 10/1

1865 – Alcibiade 100/7

1866 – Salamander 40/1

1867 – Cortolvin 16/1

1868 – The Lamb 9/1

1869 – The Colonel 100/7

1860: The 22^nd Grand National took place on the 7^th March. Race goers were expecting a 25-strong field but 6 late non runners caused anger amongst the crowd as the heavily backed favourite, Jealousy, didn’t take part (no doubt the first time ante-post backers heard of the news). Anatis had shown some class finishing 5^th the previous year and was backed to 7/2f. Her jockey Mr Tommy Pickering rode under the pseudonym Mr Thomas who said of his mount: ‘She’s a powerful, tearing mare trained specifically for the National.’ In a battle with The Huntsman, the 10-year-old, trained by H.E.May in the ownership of Christopher Chapel won by half a length.

The Aintree Grand National has a rich history dating back to 1839, but winning mares have been few and far between with only 13 tasting victory. In fact, the most recent mare to win is Nickel Coin (1951). The 19^th century was a time when mare held every chance of winning and the 1860s especially so with 4 mares.

1861: Punters who missed out on Jealousy, would have something to cheer about when the Charles Balchin-trained mare would take on her nemesis, previous year’s winner Anatis, who was backed to favouritism when looking impressive in the paddock. Some feared Jealousy would struggle to get home in the conditions after finishing 11^th and last in 1859. Joseph Kendall rode a fine race to win by two lengths from 33/1 shot, The Dane.

1862: Saw The Huntsman win under the ownership of Viscount de Namur Baron de la Motte, trained by Harry Lamplugh. The gelding, ridden by the trainer, won by four lengths and priced 3/1 favourite. He had finished third in 1859 and runner-up in 1860. The Huntsman would race two days later in the Great North of England Chase at Doncaster, breaking down to be retired to stud.

The race is remembered with sadness for being the only fatality of a jockey when Joseph (Joe) Wynne was crushed when his mount O’Connell fell at the 13^th fence. Tragically, Wynne had been told that his sister had died on the morning of the race and offered the chance to stand down. Making his debut in the race he said: ‘He had come so far to ride the horse.’

Truly tragic.

1863: Emblem proved an easy winner for the 25^th renewal winning by twenty lengths, ridden by George Stevens, trained by Edwin Weever, in the ownership of Lord Coventry. She defeated the previous year’s winner Jealousy, who finished 6^th. Stevens is still credited with being the most winning jockey of the Aintree Grand National with 5 wins (1856, 1863, 1864, 1869, 1870). Lord Coventry would follow up the next year (1864) with Emblematic, a full sister to Emblem, who won at odds of 10/1 by four lengths.

1866: For those punters who love to hear about big-priced winners, that honour for the 1860s was given to Salamander who won well by ten lengths on soft ground and snowy conditions for jockey Alec Goodman, from trainer J Walters, in the silks of Edward Studd.

In summary: This decade was noted for four winning mares (Anatis 1860, Jealousy 1861, Emblem 1863 & Emblematic 1864), the success of George Stevens winning 3 Nationals (Emblem 1863, Emblematic 1864 & The Colonel 1869). Stevens went on to win again in 1870 with The Colonel.

The most noted memory being the fatality of Joe Wynne.

He was just 20 years of age.

The Grand National – the ultimate test for horse and jockey.

The toughest steeplechase in the world.

Grand National Winners 1870 – 1879

admin September 28, 2025

A time of major political, social and industrial change. The Education Act 1870 saw the first steps towards compulsory elementary education for all children. The introduction of secret ballot boxes in 1872 would reduce voter intimidation and corruption in elections. The Licensing Act 1872 tightened regulations on the sale and consumption of alcohol. Gladstone was in power for the Liberal Government until 1874.

Disraeli would hold out until the end of the decade for the Conservative Party (1874 -1880). For the most part the emphasis was social reform. The Factory Act 1874 limited working hours for women and children. Local authorities were forced to improve sanitisation and clear slums. The Education Act 1876 made school attendance compulsory up to the age of 10. It is worth remembering that before 1870, children started work as young and 5-6 years old, especially from poor families. Their jobs included: factory work, mining, agriculture, street sellers and chimney sweeps. Life expectancy for a man was just 40 years.

The British Empire proved strong leading industry, although competition from the US and Germany emerged. Britain secured Cyprus to increase its influence in the Mediterranean, while the Zulu War (1879) and the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878 – 1880) raged. Railways expanded further, trade unions strengthened and urbanization continued. Rising literacy rates saw increased popularity in newspapers and mass political engagement. Charles Dickens’ work and Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd (1874) were must reads. Within the world of science and technology, Darwin’s Theory of Evolution sparked debate with the publication of The Descent of Man (1871).

The FA Cup founded in 1871 and The Grand National were major sporting events.

A decade of Grand National winners saw a mixed bag of results.

1870: The Colonel started where he had left off in 1869, winning the 32^nd renewal for a second time by a neck from The Doctor. R.Roberts would train National winners in consecutive years but never again. However, Jockey George Stevens won this steeplechase 5 times (1856 – 1870). He is famous for having the most wins in the Grand National. He died in 1871 when fracturing his skull in a fall after his horse stumbled while riding home to his cottage on Cleeve Hill. He was just 38 years old.

Let’s take look at this decade of Grand National Winners:

1870 – The Colonel 7/2f

1871 – The Lamb 11/2

1872 – Casse Tete 20/1

1873 – Disturbance 20/1

1874 – Reugny 5/1f

1875 – Pathfinder 100/6

1876 – Regal 25/1

1877 – Austerlitz 15/1

1878 – Shifnal 7/1

1879 – The Liberator 5/1

1873: Disturbance beat a 28-strong field to win the 35^th renewal by six lengths for trainer-rider Mr. J. M. Richardson in the ownership of James Octavius Machell who was a highly successful gambler. He was also a good judge of a horse and trained eleven English Classic winners. He owned two other Grand National winners: Reugny (1874) and Regal (1876).

The victory of Disturbance was somewhat novel with the news that a finishing time wasn’t taken as the watch stopped!

Machell, the son of a reverend, joined the army in 1857 and was involved in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny. Returning home, he was quartered at the Curragh, Ireland. During the next six years, he participated in horse racing. By 1862, he was one of the leading owners in Ireland. He was promoted to Captain. However, army life conflicted with horse racing so he resigned his commission and trained at stables in Kennett near Newmarket, Suffolk. In 1864, he landed a major gambling coup when Bacchus, a horse he trained in Ireland, which gave him funds to purchase Bedford Cottage Stables in Newmarket.

Never one to miss out on a good wager, Machell defeated a local running champion in a 100 yard sprint.

He was known for manipulating betting markets much to the dismay of John Richardson the jockey and trainer of both National winners Disturbance (1873) and Reugny (1874). He said he had been so ‘disgusted with the sordid nature’ of Machell’s behaviour that he withdrew from public riding after the latter Grand National.

Machell was said to be obsessed with horses and racing to the point he would spend a great part of his time making imaginary handicaps.

Other points to note include Chris Green who trained the 1871 winner The Lamb. He was also a talented jockey who rode two Aintree Grand National victories on Abd-El-Kadar (1850) and Half Caste (1859).

The Liberator concluded this period winning in 1879 at odds of 5/1. The ten-year-old Irish gelding won by ten lengths, ridden by rider-owner Mr Garret Moore, trained by J. Moore.

Grand National Winners 1880 – 1889

admin September 15, 2025

William Gladstone won the 1880 General Election, leading to over a decade of Conservative rule. This may have been helped by the 1884 Representation of the people Act which doubled the electorate by giving the vote to many rural working men. Britain expanded colonial rule in Egypt. In 1885, the public was shocked to hear General Charles Gordon was killed in the Sudan Crisis during the Mahdist uprising. The rise in new unionism saw the Matchgirls’ Strike (1888) highlighting labour conditions and workers’ rights. Elementary schools were more common and literacy rates rose. Oscar Wilde was popular within arts and literature. While Jack The Ripper lurked somewhere in the poverty-stricken streets of Whitechapel, London. The Married Women’s Poverty Act allowed married women to own property in their own right. Electricity and telephone uptake grew in the 1880s although it was only for business and wealthy individuals. At this time, betting was still done in person, on the street or on course.

The Aintree Grand National remained extremely popular.

Let’s take a look at the winners from this decade:

1880 – Empress 8/1

1881 – Woodbrook 11/2 jf

1882 – Seaman 10/1

1883 – Zoedone 100/7

1884 – Voluptuary 10/1

1885 – Roquefort 10/3 f

1886 – Old Joe 25/1

1887 – Gamecock 20/1

1888 – Playfair 40/1

1889 – Frigate 8/1

A couple of jockeys proved positive with 5 wins between them. Mr Tommy Beasley had the first two winners of the decade riding for Henry Linde. In relatively small fields, Empress and Woodbrook took the 42^nd and 43^rd Aintree Grand Nationals by less than four lengths each. The trainer and jockey, both from Ireland.

Beasley would taste victory once more with the victory of Frigate in 1889 for trainer-owner Mat Maher. The 11 year old won at odds of 8/1 by one length from Why Not, who would go on to win the National in 1894.

Mr Ted Wilson was the other jockey to make his mark with two wins in the mid part of the decade with Voluptuary (1884) and Roquefort (1885).

Voluptuary raced on the flat. In fact, he ran in the Epsom Derby. He was the first winner of the Aintree Grand National without having previous experience in the race. Interestingly, the bay gelding was bred by Queen Victoria. After retirement, he received critical acclaim portraying the racehorse ‘The Duke’ in the play The Prodigal Daughter. Originally in the ownership of Lord Roseberry, he won the National in the silks of H.F.Boyd at odds of 10/1. Interestingly, Voluptuary was originally named Battersea. However, his name was changed before this racing career.

Roquefort was the shortest priced of this decade when winning for Wilson at the odds of 10/3f, trained by Arthur Yates in the ownership of Arthur Cooper. The six-year-old gelding won by two length from Frigate, who would be the star of the show in 1889.

There is an interesting story behind the 1882 winner Seaman. It is as much a story about owner as horse because Lord Manners made a wager. John Thomas Manners-Sutton, a nobleman, liked a bet and he wagered he could buy, train and ride the winner of the 1882 Aintree Grand National. Added to the scenario he only had months to prepare. The horse was bought from an Irish man who questioned whether it could achieve the standard to compete in such a prestigious race. Few believed Manners had the riding skills or experience necessary. By the day of the race, the weather was horrendous with snow storms and ice which played in Manners’ favour. While other jockeys were more cautious and held back, Manners pushed on until drawing level with the favourite at the last fence. Seaman, started to go lame, but the pair won by a short head.

Seaman won at odds of 10/1.

The winning wager must have been substantial as he built a 52 room mansion called Avon Tyrroll at Sopley, Hampshire. The Grade I listed building is considered to be one of the archetypal Arts & Crafts buildings. Commonly known as a calendar house.

Although Seaman never raced again, he lived with the family and family home for the rest of his life. He was buried between two trees on the grounds.

What a story.

This decade had a number of big priced winners including:

1886 – Old Joe 25/1

1887 – Gamecock 20/1

1888 – Play Fair 40/1

As seen with this post, the Aintree Grand National is a race of the great and the good.

It is worth noting that nobility was attracted to the Grand National like no other race. For example, in 1883 Zoedone won at odds of 100/7. The chestnut mare was not only owned but ridden by a very rich Count from Austria.

His full title: Karl, 8^th Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau.

He has two ambitions in life: to be made Austo-Hungarian attache to Britain and the second to own and ride a Grand National winner.