Such is the historical impact and influence of the Grand National that nearly 100 years on, we are still talking about the 1928 Grand National.
Not only does it hold two records (more about that later), but it was also run in some of the worst conditions imaginable, which begs the question of why it was even allowed to go ahead.
But, short of going back in time, we can only speculate that horse racing regulations were not what they are today.
So the powers that be decided that despite the heavy rain, mist, and even heavier going, the race would take place as scheduled.
Forty-two runners and riders lined up on March 30th, 1928, at Aintree Racecourse to take part in what would become one of the most unpredictable and talked about races in history.
How The Race Unfolded
First of all, the weather was atrocious. Heavy rain had fallen in the lead-up to the race, and mist had descended over the course. What should have been a race as exciting as Crazy Time online casino game instead became one that made history, but not for all the right reasons.
The ground, already heavy and soft in places, became even boggier, posing a massive challenge to all the runners, many of whom were not used to such adverse conditions.
The first major incident occurred at the Canal Turn during the first circuit. The Canal Turn is known for its sharp 90-degree turn, which makes it difficult to navigate at the best of times, not to mention when the course is already sodden.
On the first lap around the Aintree track, Easter Hero, one of the favourites, mistimed his jump at the Canal Turn. He rose too early, ended up stranded on the fence for a moment, and then got stuck in the ditch that came before it.
The next three horses, Grakle, Darracq, and Eagle’s Tail, were brought down by Easter Hero, and when twenty of the remaining runners refused to jump the fence, it led to one of the worst pile-ups ever seen in horse racing.
In all, 35 horses bowed out of the 1928 Grand National as a result of that one incident.
The number of runners and riders continued dwindling as the race continued due to further falls and mishaps.
By the time the horses approached the final fence, only three runners remained: Great Span, Billy Barton, and Tipperary Tim.
Great Span was leading but suffered a slipped saddle, which forced it out of the race.
Billy Barton took the lead but fell at the last fence, leaving Tipperary Tim as the only horse left standing.
However, Billy Barton’s jockey, Tommy Cullinan, was able to remount and complete the race, but not before Tipperary Tim had already crossed the finishing line.
100/1 Winner
Slow and steady wins the race, and this is particularly true in the case of the 1928 National.
A rank outsider, at odds of 100/1, Tipperary Tim was never expected to win the race and was probably only there to make up the numbers. That isn’t to say he wasn’t a solid horse but it was well known that while he was dependable, he was also slow.
Clearly, that worked to his advantage as he was so far back in the field that when the pile-up happened at the Canal Turn, he was nowhere near it.
By the time he reached the chaos, he was well positioned to go around the fallers, stay on his feet, and plod along for the rest of the race.
As we all know, luck plays a massive part in a race of this magnitude, and it was definitely on Tipperary Tim’s side that day when his rivals fell out of contention one by one.
Even at the last fence, he still needed Billy Barton’s fall to get him to the finishing post, making him, at one point, the only horse still running.
His win was a shock for everyone, not least his jockey Bill Dutton, trainer Joseph Dodd, and owner Harold Kenyon, who couldn’t believe that their 100/1 outsider had just won the Grand National.
Record-Breaking Number of Finishers
As mentioned above, the Grand National 1928 holds two records. The first was Tipperary Tim’s win, which made him one of only five 100/1 winners, the longest odds winner record that still stands today.
The second was for the number of horses that completed the race. With only two horses crossing the line, it is the record for the fewest horses to finish a Grand National.
The Fall Out
The controversy that followed was unsurprising. Owners and trainers were incensed at what had happened, but it led to some significant course changes implemented the following year.
The race organisers began more rigorous inspections of the course conditions, and measures were taken to improve drainage and reduce the impact of heavy rain.
Some fences were modified to make them less dangerous, and the ditch was removed from the Canal Turn.
There was increased focus on weather forecasts and contingency plans. It was decided that races could be delayed or the course could be adjusted in response to particularly adverse weather conditions.
Stricter entry requirements for horses and jockeys were introduced to ensure that only those with the necessary experience and capability could compete.
Along with the enhanced veterinary and medical support, the race was undoubtedly significantly safer in the following years.
Times have changed a lot, and even today, there are still fence and course adjustments because, ultimately, while it is a sport and one we all love, horse welfare must still come first.
