SANDRACER.COM - Grand National Video & Archive (1950-1959)

◢ The 1950 Grand National was won by Freebooter at 10/1, trained by Robert Renton and ridden by Jimmy Power, cruising home by 15 lengths on good ground. Wot No Sun took second at 100/7, guided by trainer Neville Franklin Crump and jockey Arthur Thompson.

Acthon Major nabbed third at 33/1, trained by Michael Easterby with Bobby O’Ryan up top, while Rowland Roy finished fourth at 40/1, under trainer Richard ‘Dicky’ Black and rider Jack Dowdeswell.

Royal hope Monaveen faltered after a strong mid-race bid, leaving the King and Queen to watch Freebooter’s romp steal the postwar spotlight.

A massive crowd ~ nearly 500,000 ~ flocked to Aintree, boosted by King George VI and the royal family’s first postwar visit to cheer their co~owned Monaveen, which faded late. From 49 starters, seven finished, all returning safe ~ a rare clean slate for the brutal course. Freebooter’s win kicked off the decade with a bang, marking Renton’s first National triumph.

1950 Grand National Race Details🎗
• Full Racecard Details
• Partial 1950 National Racecard Newspaper Racecard Copy
• 1950 Full Finishing Order
• 1950 Non Finishers
• 1950 Grand National ▪ Full Race Result ▪ Race Report ▪ Runners ▪ Riders ▪ Trainers ▪ Weights ▪ Prize Money

1950 Grand National Recommended Video Vault🎗
• Pathe News 1950 National Hopefuls Preview Vid
• Movietone Fav Freebooter Wins The 1950 Grand National

◢ Nickel Coin stunned at 40/1 in the 1951 Grand National, trained by Jack O’Donaghue and ridden by Johnny Bullock, winning by eight lengths on firm ground. Royal Tan took second at 40/1, guided by master trainer M Vincent O’Brien and his nephew Phonsie O’Brien.

Derrinstown grabbed third at 66/1, trained by Alan Power with Tommy Cusack in the saddle, while Freebooter, the 10/1 joint-favorite, faded to fourth under Robert Renton and jockey Jimmy Power.

A brutal first circuit saw 14 fallers, including fancied runners, leaving Bullock to weave through carnage for a shock victory.

A chaotic first fence saw multiple falls, thinning the field fast. Of 36 starters, only three crossed the line, making it a bookies’ dream with longshots dominating. Nickel Coin’s mare-powered upset was O’Donaghue’s lone National win, a gritty tale of redemption after Bullock’s early fall in ’50.

1951 Grand National Race Details🎗
• Complete Racecard Details
• Partial 1951 National Racecard Newspaper Racecard Copy
• 51 Full Finishing Order
• 51 Non Finishers
• 1951 Grand National ▪ Full Race Result ▪ Race Report ▪ Runners ▪ Riders ▪ Trainers ▪ Weights ▪ Prize Money

1951 Grand National Recommended Video Vault🎗
• Pathe News 1951 National Fancied Runners
• Movietone Nickel Coin Wins The 1951 Grand National

◢ Teal won the 1952 Grand National at 100/7, trained by Neville Franklin Crump and ridden by Arthur Thompson, taking it by five lengths on good ground. Legal Joy came second at 100/6, under the care of Fulke T Walwyn and jockey Michael Scudamore.

Wot No Sun nabbed third at 33/1, also trained by Neville Franklin Crump with David Dick aboard, while Uncle Barney took fourth at 100/1, guided by H Clarkson and jockey Jack Boddy.

Early drama unfolded as Royal Tan crashed out at the first, gifting Teal a clear path to glory in a scrambled field.

A false start ~ horses breaking the tape ~ pushed the off back 10 minutes. From a hefty 47 starters, 10 finished, with Crump doubling up by training first and third. Teal’s lone Aintree run delivered a career peak for Thompson and Teal, in a race spiced by early chaos.

1952 Grand National Race Details🎗
• Full Racecard Details
• Partial 1952 National Racecard Newspaper Racecard Copy
• 1952 Full Finishing Order
• 1952 Non Finishers
• 1952 Grand National ▪ Full Race Result ▪ Race Report ▪ Runners ▪ Riders ▪ Trainers ▪ Weights ▪ Prize Money

1952 Grand National Recommended Video Vault🎗
• Horses Falling At The 52 National Gaument Newsreel
• Movietone 1952 Grand National Replay Video Recording

◢ Early Mist took the 1953 Grand National at 20/1, trained by M Vincent O’Brien and ridden by Bryan Marshall, storming home by 20 lengths on good ground. Mont Tremblant nabbed second at 18/1, guided by Fulke T Walwyn and rider David Dick.

Irish Lizard claimed third at 33/1, trained by Herbert "Frenchie" Nicholson with jockey Bob Turnell aboard, while Overshadow finished fourth at 33/1, under Clem Magnier and Pat Taaffe.

Heavy betting on Early Mist surged late, with punters cashing in as O’Brien’s Irish raider crushed a fancied English pack.

It was O’Brien’s first of three straight National wins. Of 31 starters, just five finished, highlighting Aintree’s tough toll. Early Mist’s romp launched O’Brien’s Aintree dynasty, with Marshall’s ride setting the tone for a historic run.

1953 Grand National Race Details🎗
• Full Racecard Details
• Partial 1953 National Racecard Newspaper Racecard Copy
• 53 Full Finishing Order
• 1953 Non Finishers
• 1953 Grand National ▪ Full Race Result ▪ Race Report ▪ Runners ▪ Riders ▪ Trainers ▪ Weights ▪ Prize Money

1953 Grand National Recommended Video Vault🎗
• British Pathe National Fancies 1953 National Preview
• Movietone 1953 Grand National Replay Video Recording

◢ Royal Tan won the 1954 Grand National at 8/1, trained by M Vincent O’Brien and ridden by Bryan Marshall (homecoming image), edging home by six lengths on good ground. Tudor Line took second at 10/1, guided by Robert Renton and George Slack.

Irish Lizard nabbed third at 15/2, trained by Herbert "Frenchie" Nicholson with Michael Scudamore aboard, while Churchtown finished fourth at 10/1, under M Vincent O’Brien and top Irish jockey Toss Taaffe.

A mid-race pile-up at Becher’s took out six, including favorite Early Mist, tightening the screws on a shrinking field.

Four fatalities marred the day, prompting a safety outcry from animal safety activists and an increasingly animal safety aware public alike. From 29 starters ~ the smallest field since 1935 ~ nine finished. Royal Tan’s win was O’Brien’s second straight, but the race’s death/injury toll re the horses sparked an inquiry and fence changes for 1955.

1954 Grand National Race Details🎗
• Full Racecard Details
• Partial 1954 National Racecard Newspaper Racecard Copy
• 54 Full Finishing Order
• 1954 Non Finishers
• 1954 Grand National ▪ Full Race Result ▪ Race Report ▪ Runners ▪ Riders ▪ Trainers ▪ Weights ▪ Prize Money

1954 Grand National Recommended Video Vault🎗
• British Pathe National Fancies 1954 National Preview
• Public Domain 1954 National Newsreel Archival Stock Footage

◢ Quare Times claimed the 1955 Grand National at 100/9, trained by M Vincent O’Brien and ridden by Pat Taaffe, winning by 12 lengths on soft ground. Tudor Line took second at 10/1, guided home by Robert Renton with George Slack in the saddle.

Carey’s Cottage nabbed third at 20/1, trained by Tom J Taaffe Snr with Toss Taaffe up, while Gigolo finished fourth at 100/6, under J S Wight and Richard "Dick" Curran.

A soggy Aintree tested stamina, with Quare Times splashing clear as fancied Royal Tan sank in the mud late on.

Heavy rain axed the water jump, which is only jumped once on the first circuit anyway ~ a National first with no water jump to negotiate. Of 29 starters, nine finished, with softened fences post ~ 1954 tragedy easing the toll. Quare Times capped O’Brien’s unprecedented three-peat, cementing his Aintree/National legendary status.

1955 Grand National Race Details🎗
• Full Racecard Details
• Partial 1955 National Racecard Newspaper Racecard Copy
• 55 Full Finishing Order
• 1955 Non Finishers
• 1955 Grand National ▪ Full Race Result ▪ Race Report ▪ Runners ▪ Riders ▪ Trainers ▪ Weights ▪ Prize Money

1955 Grand National Recommended Video Vault🎗
• British Pathe 1955 National Replay Extended Version
• Movietone 1955 Grand National Replay Video

◢ E.S.B. won the 1956 Grand National at 100/7, trained by Thomas Frederic Rimell and ridden by David Dick, taking it by 10 lengths on good ground. Gentle Moya nabbed second at 22/1, guided by C Bewicke and horseman George Milburn.

Royal Tan took third at 28/1, trained by M Vincent O’Brien (gallery) with Toss Taaffe aboard, while Eagle Lodge finished fourth at 66/1, under Matt Feakes and rider Alan Oughton.

Crowds gasped as Devon Loch (odds ~ 100/7), led by five lengths before his strange collapse gifted E.S.B. a dramatic steal.

Devon Loch’s heartbreaking late stumble handed E.S.B. the win. It is believed that the horse attempted to jump an imaginary fence. If you look closely at the #replay, he surely saw the dolled off water jump out of the corner of his left eye near the other side of the running rail, half jumped in a strange manner and spread eagled himself in the confusion. An unimaginable slice of bad luck for the much loved Queen Mother. From 29 starters, nine finished. E.S.B.’s victory marked David Dick’s lone National triumph in a race etched in racing lore forever more.

1956 Grand National Race Details🎗
• Full Racecard Details
• Partial 1956 National Racecard Newspaper Racecard Copy
• 56 Full Finishing Order
• 1956 Non Finishers
• 1956 Grand National ▪ Full Race Result ▪ Race Report ▪ Runners ▪ Riders ▪ Trainers ▪ Weights ▪ Prize Money

1956 Grand National Recommended Video Vault🎗
• Excellent Devon Loch Slip Up Speculation & Analysis
• National Memories Dick Francis Talks About Devon Loch Slip

◢ Sundew took the 1957 Grand National at 20/1, trained by Frank Hudson and ridden by Fred Winter, winning by eight lengths wire-to-wire on good ground. Wyndburgh nabbed second at 25/1, guided by P Wilkinson and Michael Batchelor.

Tiberetta claimed third at 66/1, trained by E R Courage with Alan Oughton up, while Glorious Twelfth finished fourth at 100/8, under Robert Renton and Jumbo Wilkinson. Last year’s winner ESB ran eighth.

A mid-race scare at the Canal Turn saw Sundew nearly unseat Winter, but the pair clung on to dominate the final few furlongs.

Of 35 starters, 11 finished, with Sundew’s third attempt proving lucky after falls in 1955 and 56. Hudson’s small yard struck gold, and Winter launched his 4 win National legacy.

1957 Grand National Race Details🎗
• Full Racecard Details
• Partial 1957 National Racecard Newspaper Racecard Copy
• 1957 Full Finishing Order
• 1957 Non Finishers
• 1957 Grand National ▪ Full Race Result ▪ Race Report ▪ Runners ▪ Riders ▪ Trainers ▪ Weights ▪ Prize Money

1957 Grand National Recommended Video Vault🎗
• Pathe News 1957 Grand National Replay Original Entry
• Pathe Extra Footage Version 1957 National Tape 1
• Pathe Extra Footage Version 1957 National Tape 2

◢ Mr What won the 1958 Grand National at 18/1, trained by Tom J Taaffe Snr and ridden by Arthur Freeman, storming home by 30 lengths on soft ground. Tiberetta took second at 28/1, guided by E R Courage and Cumbrian born jockey George Slack.

Green Drill nabbed third at 28/1, trained by C Bewicke with George Milburn up, while Wyndburgh, the 6/1 favorite, settled for fourth under James Kenneth Murray Oliver and jockey Michael Batchelor. A late jockey switch saw Freeman step in.

Heavy going bogged down early leaders, letting Mr What surge past a tiring pack in a rain-lashed slog to the line.

From 31 starters, seven finished, with Mr What’s romp marking Ireland’s fifth postwar win. Taaffe Sr’s nous shone in a muddy test that crushed the field.

1958 Grand National Race Details🎗
• Full Racecard Details
• Partial 1958 National Racecard Newspaper Racecard Copy
• 58 Full Finishing Order
• 1958 Non Finishers
• 1958 Grand National ▪ Full Race Result ▪ Race Report ▪ Runners ▪ Riders ▪ Trainers ▪ Weights ▪ Prize Money

1958 Grand National Recommended Video Vault🎗
• Movietone Replay Of The 1958 Grand National
• British Pathe 1958 Grand National Original Entry
• Pathe News Extra Footage Version 1958 Grand National

◢ Oxo won the 1959 Grand National at 8/1, trained by William Arthur Stephenson and ridden by Michael Scudamore, powering home by 15 lengths on good ground. Wyndburgh took second at 10/1, guided by James Kenneth Murray Oliver and Champion jockey Tim Brookshaw.

Mr What, the 6/1 favorite, nabbed third, trained by Tom J Taaffe Snr with Toss Taaffe aboard, while Tiberetta finished fourth at 20/1, under E R Courage and jockey Alan Oughton. Past stars reunited in a tough field.

A savage Chair fence claimed eight early casualties, setting up Oxo’s relentless charge through a battered survivors’ race.

Of 34 starters, just four finished, with 30 non~finishers fueling a cruelty debate that hit Parliament. Oxo’s win was Stephenson’s lone National triumph, closing the decade under scrutiny.

1959 Grand National Race Details🎗
• Full Racecard Details
• Partial 1959 National Racecard Newspaper Racecard Copy
• 59 Full Finishing Order
• 1959 Non Finishers
• 1959 Grand National ▪ Full Race Result ▪ Race Report ▪ Runners ▪ Riders ▪ Trainers ▪ Weights ▪ Prize Money

1959 Grand National Recommended Video Vault🎗
• Movietone Replay Of The 1959 Grand National
• British Pathe 1959 Grand National Original Entry
• Pathe News Extra Footage Version 1959 Grand National