Foinavon

by David Owen

  Vincent Slevin – telephone interview with author.

  Princess Margaret’s Aintree outfit and other race-day details – Liverpool Echo, 27 March 1965.

  Freddie’s nostrils inflamed like anemones – A Horse Called Freddie, Vian Smith, Stanley Paul, 1967, page 99.

  Takings similar to 1958 – minutes of Tophams Ltd board meetings, volume XIII.

  ‘Court proceedings inevitably take a long time’ – Illustrated London News, 3 April 1965.

  Sources for personal details about Jack White include Aline White, his widow, and Tim Hyde, a former friend now owner of Camas Park Stud in County Tipperary.

  White pays £1,800 for Foinavon – Grosvenor Estate records.

  Tony Cameron offers to buy Foinavon – telephone interview with author.

  Decision to apply for 1965/66 fixtures – minutes of Tophams Ltd board meetings, volume XIII.

  1966 Grand National is on – Liverpool Daily Post, 23 June 1965.

  Taking the case to the House of Lords – minutes of Tophams Ltd. board meetings, volume XIII.

  Chapter 8

  Anne, Duchess of Westminster’s sensitive handling – for example, she would not agree to allow Arkle, her most gifted horse, to be subjected to the rigours of the Grand National.

  John Kempton, ‘He was very clean on the legs’ – face-to-face interview with author.

  Anglo, winner of the 1966 Grand National, was sold for $42,000 in February 1967; Rutherfords was sold for around £15,000 in March 1968.

  Expected to work a lot harder – details of the regime gathered from telephone and face-to-face interviews with John Kempton, Colin Hemsley, head lad, and Joy Smith (née Douglas), stable girl.

  Sandy Jane II – Second Start, Bobby Beasley, W.H. Allen, 1976, page 93.

  The Fossa – The Liverpool Daily Post ran an article on The Fossa and Amelia just two days before the 1967 Grand National on 6 April. The horse had finished fourth in the 1966 race.

  Clifford Booth – face-to-face interview with author.

  Rondetto’s best placing in the Grand National was third in 1969 as a veteran 13-year-old.

  Chapter 9

  Brough Scott – face-to-face and telephone interviews with author.

  Josh Gifford – face-to-face interview with author.

  Terry Biddlecombe, This is Your Life! – Winner’s Disclosure, Terry Biddlecombe with Pat Lucas, Stanley Paul, 1982, pages 215–6.

  Gloucester baths routine – ibid., pages 38–9.

  Cheapest bed in London – Richard Pitman, face-to-face interview with author.

  Pat Buckley – email exchange with author.

  Buckley could hardly stand – Kings for a Day, Reg Green, Mainstream Sport, 2002, page 69.

  Awful smell – Winner’s Disclosure, Terry Biddlecombe with Pat Lucas, Stanley Paul, 1982, page 80.

  Biddlecombe’s personal sweatbox – ibid., pages 30–40.

  Biddlecombe’s ‘usual’ – ibid., page 38.

  Barry Brogan in Edinburgh baths – The Barry Brogan Story – In His Own Words, Barry Brogan, Arthur Barker, 1981, page 33.

  Brogan not eating a crumb – ibid., page 34.

  Biddlecombe preferred the rigours of wasting – Winner’s Disclosure, Terry Biddlecombe with Pat Lucas, Stanley Paul, 1982, page 38.

  ‘I’d chew the steak and spit it out’ – face-to-face interview with author.

  Brogan ‘gulping Lasix pills by the handful’ – The Barry Brogan Story – In His Own Words, Barry Brogan, Arthur Barker, 1981, page 33.

  Pitman seven stops in 60 miles – Good Horses Make Good Jockeys, Richard Pitman, Pelham Books, 1976, pages 96–7.

  Laxatives ‘unpleasant but effective’ – ibid., page 95.

  Brogan’s ‘favourite trick – The Barry Brogan Story – In His Own Words, Barry Brogan, Arthur Barker, 1981, page 64.

  Biddlecombe’s irrigation – face-to-face interview with author.

  John Kempton taking tablets and running – face-to-face interview with author.

  Henry Blythe – Daily Mail, 26 February 1966.

  Tim Norman – telephone interview with author.

  Guarding the Grand National trophy – Liverpool Daily Post, 23 March 1966.

  Chapter 10

  Jeremy Speid-Soote – face-to-face interview with author.

  Ken White – telephone interview; Go Down to the Beaten, Chris Pitt, Racing Post Books, 2011 page 163.

  Jeff King, ‘He was left hanging there …’ – ibid., page 139.

  ‘That of a spy story’ – Liverpool Daily Post, 28 March 1966.

  ‘Aintree Can Be Sold For Housing’ – Liverpool Echo, 30 March 1966.

  Denis Howell, ‘The future of Aintree …’ – The Times, 31 March 1966.

  Mrs Topham, ‘a moral victory’ – Liverpool Echo, 30 March 1966.

  April Fools’ day meeting of Tophams board – minutes of Tophams Ltd board meetings, volume XIII.

  Leslie Marler letter – The Times, 20 April 1966.

  Mrs Topham’s disapproval & co. – minutes of Tophams Ltd board meetings, volume XIII.

  Sales proposition sent to the council – minutes of Tophams Ltd board meetings, volume XIII.

  Proposed American advert – minutes of Tophams Ltd board meetings, volume XIII.

  1967 Grand National is on – Liverpool Echo, 2 August 1966.

  1966 financial details – minutes of Tophams Ltd board meetings, volume XIII.

  Watkins and Bennellick keen for Foinavon to run in big races – John Kempton, face-to-face interview with author.

  Britain’s worst spring blizzard for 16 years… – The Times, 15 April 1966.

  John Buckingham – never sat on a horse until he was 15 – Tales from the Weighing Room, John Buckingham, Pelham Books, 1987, page 3.

  The best-known Courage horses included the mares, Tiberetta and Tiberina, and the tough steeplechaser, Spanish Steps.

  Bobby Beasley’s ‘angora finger’ – Second Start, Bobby Beasley, W.H. Allen, 1976, page 163.

  Commentating one-liner – Kenneth Wolstenholme’s ‘They think it’s all over … It is now.’

  Mac Bennellick’s attempt to sell his share in Foinavon – Havering Recorder, 14 April 1967.

  The Aberfan disaster occurred when a slag heap collapsed on to a Welsh village, killing 144 people, mostly children.

  Kempton Park’s Pay TV experiment – Arkle – the Classic Story of a Champion, Ivor Herbert, Aurum Press, 2003, page 187.

  Biddlecombe’s frustration – Winner’s Disclosure, Terry Biddlecombe with Pat Lucas, Stanley Paul, 1982, pages 120–1.

  The articles say Pettitt had been doping his horses – the Sun, 17-21 November 1969. However, a law report in The Times nearly four months later says that the then manufacturers of Collovet ‘accepted a statement and apology over publication in the Sun of articles by a horse trainer describing it as “dope” and an “illegal mixture”’ – The Times, 12 March 1970. The report says: ‘The defendants wished to make it clear that Collovet, when used as directed in accordance with the instructions always enclosed therewith by the manufacturers, was neither illegal nor harmful; nor was it in any sense “dope”.’ Pettitt had contravened Jockey Club rules. However, the defendants “had not intended to attack or belittle the product Collovet or Crookes, and they apologized for any such imputation”.

  Jeff King on Dormant – Go Down to the Beaten, Chris Pitt, Racing Post Books, 2011, page 140.

  Clifford Booth’s arrangement with Peter McLoughlin – face-to-face interview with author.

  Chapter 11

  Nobby Howard – telephone interviews with author; also interviewed by Clement Freud in the Sun, 8 April 1967.

  Paul Irby – face-to-face interview with author.

  John Kempton didn’t make it to Aintree start-line in 1967 – nor, as it happened, did the Duke of Albuquerque, though he had pulled up only four fences from home the previous year on a horse called L’Empereur.

  Ron Atkins father’s shoe shop – Go Down to the Beaten,
Chris Pitt, Racing Post Books, 2011, page 177.

  Foinavon wearing blinkers – John Kempton face-to-face interview with author.

  Foinavon ‘ducking the issue a little bit’ – Ron Atkins face-to-face interview with author.

  Bobby Beasley’s farm – Second Start, Bobby Beasley, W.H. Allen, 1976, page 144.

  Atkins, ‘What’s the deal?’ – face-to-face interview with author.

  Bruce Gregory also rode Out and About to 14th place in the 1964 Grand National.

  Bruce Gregory’s car – Terry Biddlecombe face-to-face interview with author.

  Bruce Gregory in France – Toby Balding, telephone interview with author.

  ‘Nothing was going better’ – Sporting Life, 23 February 1967.

  Man looking for Foinavon’s bit – Clifford Booth face-to-face interview with author.

  ‘Cheltenham without Arkle …’ – The Times, 15 March 1967.

  Fort Leney – Dicky May was also running, meaning that all three horses looked after by the Dreapers’ stable lad Vincent Slevin in 1964/65 (Fort Leney, Dicky May and Foinavon) were in the eight-strong Gold Cup field.

  Paul Kelleway grabbing Bobby Beasley – Second Start, Bobby Beasley, W.H. Allen, 1976, pages 18–9.

  Terry Biddlecombe’s difficult start to the Cheltenham festival – Winner’s Disclosure, Terry Biddlecombe with Pat Lucas, Stanley Paul, 1982, pages 121–2.

  Alberto Giacometti (1901–66) – Swiss sculptor, known for his attenuated figures.

  ‘Oceanic’ power of Mill House – My Life and Arkle’s, Pat Taaffe, Stanley Paul, 1972, page 50.

  At 100/8, Woodland Venture was the longest-priced Cheltenham Gold Cup winner since 1955.

  Appearance of Terry Biddlecombe’s doctor – Winner’s Disclosure, Terry Biddle-combe with Pat Lucas, Stanley Paul, 1982, page 124.

  Harry Collins’s cow – ibid., page 124.

  Chapter 12

  Dave Patrick – telephone interview with author.

  Clifford Booth – face-to-face interview with author.

  Litany of items damaged by vandals – Daily Mirror, 29 March 1967.

  Four figure bill – minutes of Tophams Ltd board meetings, volume XIII.

  No arrests have been made – The Times, 1 April 1967.

  Cyril Watkins being treated in hospital – email correspondence with Eileen Spragg, who worked at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading in 1967.

  Colin Hemsley – face-to-face interview with author.

  Gregory ‘must be congratulated on completing the course’ – Sporting Life, 3 April 1967.

  801st ride – John Buckingham’s private riding log.

  Buckingham picks up the phone … – Tales from the Weighing Room, John Buckingham, Pelham Books, 1987, pages 18–9.

  Sailaway Sailor won next time out at Market Rasen on 15 April to give Kempton his fourth and final winner of the season. The horse’s rider on that occasion was a certain Macer Gifford, enjoying a better day than he had the previous Saturday.

  ‘Foinavon hasn’t yet turned out as well as we thought he would …’ – Daily Mirror, 7 April 1967.

  Pat Taaffe on Foinavon – My Life and Arkle’s, Pat Taaffe, Stanley Paul, 1972, pages 69–70.

  Honey End’s nickname – telephone interview with John ‘Jinks’ James, former apprentice with Capt. Ryan Price at Findon in Sussex.

  Chapter 13

  Tony Hutt and Geoff Stocker’s coin toss – Geoff Stocker face-to-face interview with author.

  Newbury Racehorse Transport was a sideline of Gordon Passey, the local scrap metal dealer who was one of the Kemptons’ most loyal customers.

  ‘You could hear it coming …’ – Colin Hemsley face-to-face interview with author.

  An excited John Buckingham – face-to-face interviews with author and Tales from the Weighing Room, John Buckingham, Pelham Books, 1987, page 19.

  Maurice Kingsley – A-Z of the Grand National, John Cottrell and Marcus Armytage, Highdown, 2008, page 412.

  Red Rum – the most famous Grand National horse of all. Won the 1973, 1974 and 1977 Nationals and was runner-up in the two races in between. ‘Rummy’, a local horse trained in nearby Southport, is now buried beside the Aintree winning-post. His trainer Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain died in 2011. It being a selling plate, Red Rum was bought in for 300 guineas following this Aintree debut on 7 April 1967. There was no bid for Curlicue.

  Liverpool’s manufacturing growth – Liverpool 800, John Belchem (ed.), Liverpool University Press, 2006, page 409.

  Alan Ball and Alex Young at Aintree – Liverpool Daily Post, 7 April 1967.

  ‘Thimbleful of spectators’ – The Times, 7 April 1967.

  Problems on Topham Trophy day – The Times, 7 April 1967.

  Paint job problems – minutes of Topham Ltd board meetings, volume XIII.

  Johnny Lehane’s sore ribs – Irish Independent, 8 April 1967.

  Eddie Harty’s versatility – Kings for a Day, Reg Green, Mainstream, 2002, pages 105–6.

  Spearhead’s fall – The Times, 7 April 1967.

  Harty’s injuries – telephone interview with author.

  Harty’s ‘heavily bandaged hand’ – Irish Independent, 8 April 1967.

  Ossie Dale sleeping in the loft – Ossie Dale’s Grand National Scrapbook, Reg Green, Marlborough, 1992, page 13.

  Escaped goat – telephone interview with Ossie Dale.

  Foinavon’s box – I am indebted to Aintree’s current stable manager, Derek Thompson, who spared the time to show me around the yard on a very busy day.

  Leedsy’s rough flight – Liverpool Daily Post, 6 April 1967.

  Reg Tweedie’s blood-splashed breeches/Freddie staying at Haydock – A Horse Called Freddie, Vian Smith, Stanley Paul, 1967, pages 23 and 131.

  Clifford Booth’s night at the Sefton Arms – face-to-face interview with author.

  John Buckingham’s lodgings – Tales from the Weighing Room, John Buckingham, Pelham Books, 1987, page 20; also Daily Express, 30 March 1968.

  Veronique Peck – telephone interview with author.

  Gregory Peck ‘a chance I have to take …’ – Liverpool Daily Post, 8 April 1967.

  Peck’s bet with John Gaines – ‘Disaster at a Thorny Barricade’ by Whitney Tower, Sports Illustrated, 17 April 1967.

  Chapter 14

  Early 19th-century races for hunting horses – Portrait of a Sport – The Story of Steeplechasing in Great Britain and the United States, Elizabeth Eliot, Countryman Press, 1957, page 24.

  ‘The first example …’ – ibid., page 25.

  ‘Up to this date …’ – ibid., pages 35–6.

  Aintree’s first jumps races – Gallant Sport – the Authentic History of Liverpool Races and the Grand National, John Pinfold, Portway Press, 1999, page 72.

  When his years of dominance in the saddle were over, Becher worked as a sack inspector for Great Northern Railway.

  South-west Lancashire’s reputation for hare-coursing – Gallant Sport – the Authentic History of Liverpool Races and the Grand National, John Pinfold, Portway Press, 1999, page 45.

  Financial pressure on Lynn – ibid., page 76.

  First use of the phrase ‘Grand National’ – ibid., page 105.

  ‘The race was run …’ – ibid., pages 76–7.

  A galloping racehorse breathes up to 40 litres of air per second – Inside Nature’s Giants, Channel 4.

  ‘Internal blood doping’ – ‘Efficiency of Equine Express Postal Systems’, Alberto Minetti, Nature vol. 426, 18–25 December 2003. Minetti, a physiology professor at the University of Milan, has also shed light on the limits of a racehorse’s endurance when operating at high speed, identifying a decline in performance, when running on the flat, at distances greater than 10km (6 miles). He says this is normally due to glycogen depletion.

  Becher and the filthy taste of water without brandy – The Grand National – Anybody’s Race, Peter King, Quartet Books, 1983, page 32.

  Dick Francis at Becher’s – ibid., page 29.


  The Chair ‘impenetrable as a prison wall’ – ibid., page 28.

  Third fence like the ‘Grand Canyon’ – John Lawrence (Lord Oaksey) in the foreword to Ossie Dale’s Grand National Scrapbook, Reg Green, Marlborough 1992. Lawrence came second in the 1963 Grand National riding Carrickbeg.

  Falls at the first fence – Nature, vol. 428, 25 March 2004. (Data from the previous 15 Grand Nationals analysed by Christopher Proudman, Gina Pinchbeck, Peter Clegg and Nigel French.) The start for the 2013 Grand National is expected, at time of writing, to be moved closer to the first fence.

  Grand National course alterations selected from timetable of significant changes compiled by Grand National specialist Mick Mutlow.

  ‘In the past …’ – Second Start, Bobby Beasley, W.H. Allen, 1976, page 133.

  Reduced number of fallers – The Times, 1 April 1963.

  Brough Scott – face-to-face interview with author.

  ‘Like crossing the equator – The Grand National – Anybody’s Race, Peter King, Quartet Books, 1983, pages 28–9.

  Highland Wedding withdraws – The Times, 1 April 1967. Highland Wedding would go on to win the 1969 Grand National.

  ‘The best Grand National field for years’ – Horse and Hound, 15 April 1967.

  Kilburn’s switch from showjumping – telephone interview with Isabelle Jekey, Madame Borel de Bitche’s daughter.

  Glass in Rutherfords’s foot – ‘Disaster at a Thorny Barricade’, Whitney Tower, Sports Illustrated, 17 April 1967.

  Chapter 15

  Pat Buckley, ‘A typical day …’ – telephone interview with author.

  Peter O’Sullevan there at 7am – face-to-face interview with author.

  Ray Lakeland, producer of the BBC’s 1967 Grand National outside broadcast, says the broadcaster was quick to acquire a 12-inch Sony Trinitron for O’Sullevan once the product, acclaimed for the brightness of its images, became available. This would not have been until a year or two later, however.

  Upon conclusion of the 1958 deal in October, Mrs Topham had proclaimed, ‘In the dim and distant future, we may consider televising the National.’