Every year, at least one fairytale story emerges from the Grand National. And, to be fair, the bigger stories tend to live long in the memories of fans around the world.
After all, who hasn’t heard of Red Rum or the fact that he was the last horse to win the race carrying top weight in 1977?
Or how about Aldaniti and his jockey Bob Champion, two underdogs who rallied to prove that while you may be down, you are never really out.
We have our major upsets like the Queen’s horse, Devon Loch, who in 1956, for reasons unknown, jumped in the air and landed on his stomach, ending his chances of a win.
But amongst all those famous wins and incidents is the story of Bogskar in the 1940 Grand National.
He was an underdog with a last-minute replacement jockey, and he made history.
The 1940 Grand National holds a special place in racing history. It was run at a time when Europe was in turmoil, with the Second World War having started in late 1939.
Many aspects of British life were affected by the conflict, and racing was no exception.
There was a real chance that the event would be called off, since daily life in Britain was turning ever more uncertain.
Despite these concerns, the famous race did go ahead on April 5, 1940, at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool.
In that charged atmosphere, a horse named Bogskar claimed victory, writing its name into the record books forever.
Bogskar
Bogskar was not the most famous name in racing. He was an 7-year-old Thoroughbred, and in the lead-up to the race, he was generally viewed as a decent contender but not an obvious top pick.
Because of the climate of 1940, many racing stables had been disrupted, and some of the usual big-name horses and jockeys were either absent or had scaled back their racing programs. This gave a chance for horses like Bogskar to shine.
He was a stayer, built to handle long distances, and his connections had faith that he would perform well over the demanding fences at Aintree.
In truth, many believed that he would probably be outpaced by a more established horse in the late stages of the race. His starting odds were 25/1, suggesting that he was more than capable to go the distance and be in with a chance.
But this isn’t simply about the horse or the 1940 Grand National. Bogskar holds a distinctive place in the history of the race for the broader context of the time, with World War II looming over the event.
Trained by Lord Stalbridge and ridden by Sergeant Mervyn Jones, they teamed up for the 99th renewal of the race.
It was also the second-last Grand National to take place on a Friday, which had been the traditional day for the race at Aintree since 1876.
The win was huge at the time, but it also marked the end of the race for five years due to World War II.
Incidentally, while younger horses had enjoyed a decent spell in the race, Bogskar was the last 7-year-old to win the Grand National until Noble Yeats in 2022.
Television Commentry
While the race was recorded, it wasn’t aired live as it is today, hence the shortened version below.
It is however, the introductory while fully encapsulates just how important this race was at the time…
“War has changed many things, but not the Grand National.
“It’s the same old Aintree, the same paddock, the same rising murmur of the crowd.
“True, there are hundreds of men and women in uniform, but the spirit behind it all is the same.
“The British love of sport and fair play, the admiration of fine horses, the thrill of a gamble.
“The Grand National of 1940 is a symbol of our national life, a freedom to enjoy ourselves in the way we love best. A freedom that we are fighting to preserve.
“So come roaming with our cameras to catch the mounting excitement before the start of the greatest steeple chase in the world.
“In the stands, there are the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and all the best people, while 30 of the best jumpers in the World parade to the start.
“They’re all lined up, hearts are slowing down, and it’s a perfect start.”
Winning The 1940 Grand National
When the starter let the field go, there was a rush of excitement. Bogskar and Mervyn Jones aimed to keep a steady pace, making sure the horse was well-balanced at each fence.
The National can be decided by jumping errors as much as by raw speed, and that year was no different.
For the better part of the race, all 32 runners remained in contention with the riders making the jumps look easy.
A few went by the wayside in the first circuit but at this stage, Bogskar had settled into a comfortable rhythm.
The big question was whether he would sustain his form in the second circuit, especially as the fences begin to take their toll on tired horses.
Mervyn Jones kept his mount calm and avoided major trouble, which helped Bogskar avoid losing ground through any collisions or unsteady leaps.
As they approached the final fences, it became clear that Bogskar had more left in the tank than many had assumed.
In the closing stages, Bogskar appeared to be moving better than most of the others, many of whom had worn themselves out.
When he crossed the line in first place, it was a thrilling moment. Few had confidently predicted it, and the victory gave people something to talk about other than war developments.
Royal Air Force Flight Sergeant Mervyn Jones
From the highs of winning the 1940 Grand National to the lows of heading to war, life post-Aintree couldn’t have been more different for Mervyn Jones.
Born on the 12th of May, 1919 Llanelli, Wales, he was the son of Herbert and Ann Jones.
Both Mervyn and his brother, William, went to school in Carmarthen and were serving in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve when they were given special leave to ride in the Grand National.
Mervyn was chosen to fill in for the injured Eric Foley and duly went on to win the race.
Following his epic win, Mervyn Jones continued in the RAF before being posted to 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), the first dedicated photo and aerial recon unit of the Royal Air Force of the Second World War, in September 1941.
Tragically, Jones’ career lasted just 11 missions, with his final one taking place on April 3rd, 1942.
While details of the flight are scarce, he was flying his Spitfire over Norway and is believed to have been shot down by a Luftwaffe fighter plane over the fjord between Frosta and Tømmerdalen in Leksvik.
He was spotted bailing out by parachute, falling into the fjord below. A launch was sent to pick him up, but sadly his remains were never recovered.
He was just 23 years old.
The National archives citation AIR81/13121 states: Flight Sergeant M A Jones: missing believed killed; Spitfire AA797, 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit; aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over Norway, 3 April 1942.
His brother, Flying Officer William Hywell Anthony Jones, who served in the 517 Squadron, also died in battle on November 14th, 1944. He was 29 years old.
Both brothers are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
The Lasting Legacy
Bogskar’s 1940 Grand National victory, with Mervyn A. Jones in the saddle, took place against a background of anxiety and disruption.
In a world on the brink of greater conflict, holding the Grand National was a symbol of defiance and hope.
The decision to run the race might have been debated, but for those who witnessed it, Bogskar’s performance provided a temporary lift from the stress of the times.
Yet where there are highs, there are also lows and the very jockey who guided Bogskar so skillfully was soon taken by the war, a stark illustration of how quickly fortunes could change.
The 1940 Grand National was so long ago that it is doubtful any living person remembers watching it.
For most us the story doesn’t go much further than the winning horse was 7 years old, a fact that was relayed for decades as a reason to avoid backing younger horses.
While it may have taken Noble Yeats 82 years to break the hoodoo, it is important that we dig a little deeper to learn about the people who made history.
Sometimes, their sacrifices are as much a part of the history of the race, long after the fans have gone home and Aintree has closed up shop for another day.
With that, we remember Flight Sergeant Mervyn Anthony Jones and his brother, Flying Officer William Hywell Anthony Jones, who gave their lives for their country.
