1959 Grand National

1959 Grand National
Grand National
LocationAintree Racecourse
Date21 March 1959
Winning horseEngland Oxo
Starting price8/1
JockeyEngland Michael Scudamore
TrainerWillie Stephenson
OwnerJohn E. Bigg
ConditionsGood
← 1958
1960 →
External videos
video icon Highlights of the 1959 Grand National (British Pathé)
video icon British Movietone

The 1959 Grand National was the 113th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, on 21 March 1959.

The race was won by the 8/1 second-favourite Oxo, ridden by Michael Scudamore and trained by Willie Stephenson. Thirty-four horses ran, including the previous year's winner Mr. What, who finished third. Wyndburgh was second and Tiberetta was the only other finisher, each finishing in the places for the third consecutive year.[1]

There was one equine fatality during the race: Henry Purcell, who was one of fourteen horses to fall or be brought down at Becher's Brook.[1] Additionally, Slippery Serpent broke a bone in his leg in falling at the thirteenth fence and was euthanised during the week after the race.[2] A debate was held in parliament[3] and the Home Secretary, Rab Butler, met the National Hunt Committee in response to safety concerns raised by the League Against Cruel Sports.[4]

Finishing order

Position Name Jockey Age Handicap (st-lb) SP Distance
01 Oxo Michael Scudamore 8 10-13 8/1
02 Wyndburgh Tim Brookshaw 9 10-12 10/1
03 Mr. What Tosse Taaffe 9 11-9 6/1
04 Tiberetta Alan Oughton 11 10-9 20/1 Last to Complete

Non-finishers

Fence Name Jockey Age Handicap (st-lb) SP Fate
01 Nic Atkins Francis Shortt 8 10-1 20/1 Fell
01 Stop List Tommy Shone 10 10-1 66/1 Fell
02 Southerntown Patrick Cowley 13 10-0 100/1 Fell
04 Oscar Wilde Taffy Jenkins 9 10-4 28/1 Fell
06 Done Up Fred Winter 9 10-3 100/7 Brought Down
06 Eternal Peter Major 8 10-4 50/1 Fell
06 Glorious Twelfth George Slack 10 10-7 33/1 Brought Down
06 Henry Purcell Anthony Keen 12 10-0 100/1 Fell
06 Mr Gay Derek Ancil 12 10-9 28/1 Brought Down
06 Sundawn III Jimmy Power 10 10-0 100/1 Brought Down
06 The Crofter Stan Mellor 11 10-0 100/1 Fell
06 Valiant Spark Johnny Lehane 10 10-3 40/1 Fell
11 Belsize II Mr G Rooney 10 10-0 28/1 Fell
12 Dondrosa Mr CB Taylor 7 10-11 66/1 Refused
13 Slippery Serpent Pat Taaffe 8 10-11 9/1 Fell
14 Richardstown Francis Carroll 11 10-1 66/1 Pulled Up
17 Royal Tournament Bert Morrow 8 10-0 100/1 Refused
22 Irish Coffee Cathal Finnegan 9 10-5 33/1 Fell
22 Kerstin Stan Hayhurst 9 12-0 25/1 Fell
22 Kilballyown E McKenzie 12 10-2 33/1 Brought Down
22 Mainstown Michael Batchelor 9 10-10 40/1 Fell
22 Soltown William Brennan 7 10-3 25/1 Fell
22 Surprise Packet Gerry Scott 10 10-5 100/1 Fell
24 Cannobie Lee David Nicholson 8 10-10 45/1 Fell
24 Green Drill George Milburn 9 10-6 22/1 Fell
24 Vigor Bill Rees 11 10-5 66/1 Fell
24 Turmoil John Hudson 9 10-1 20/1 Pulled Up
24 Pintail Jumbo Wilkinson 10 10-4 100/1 Pulled Up
26 John Jacques Johnny East 10 11-0 33/1 Fell
28 Eagle Lodge Johnny Bullock 10 10-0 45/1 Refused

[5] [6] [7]

First to be filmed in colour?

The Cinema series 'Look at Life' followed Oxo to Aintree and filmed the National in colour, claiming to be the first time the race was screened in such a way. [8]

Post race controversy

The debate regarding the safety of the race rolled into June when Mirabel Topham issued a rebuke of a claim that twenty-four horses had been injured during the race. Mrs Topham reported that every horse was checked by three stable lads after the race who reported that Mr What had an abrasion, Tiberetta a scratch and Eternal a cut lip. [9]


References

  1. ^ a b "The Grand National". The Times. London. 23 March 1959. p. 4.
  2. ^ "The Grand National". The Times. London. 26 March 1959. p. 16.
  3. ^ "The Grand National". The Times. London. 10 April 1959. p. 16.
  4. ^ "The Grand National". The Times. London. 12 May 1959. p. 7.
  5. ^ The Grand National : the history of the Aintree spectacular, by Stewart Peters & Bernard Parkin, ISBN 0-7524-3547-7
  6. ^ "1959 - The Grand National & Aintree 1946-1959". fiftiesnationals.webs.com. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Past Winners of The Grand National". grand-national.net. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  8. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q01JEespHLo
  9. ^ Daily Mirror, Page 5, Column 2, Article 'Horses like the Grand National. Says Mrs T.'


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