Category: Trainers and Owners

How many female trainers have won the Grand National?

As far as the Grand National is concerned, it was Jenny Pitman who first broke through the ‘glass ceiling’ when saddling Corbiere, who was still a novice, to victory in 1983. In 1995, ‘Mrs. P.’ won the Grand National again with the 12-year-old Royal Athlete and, in the meantime, has been joined by three more female trainers on the Grand National roll of honour.

In 2009, Mon Mome, trained by Venetia Williams, caused a shock – although, to be fair, there appeared no fluke about his performance – when driven clear by the late Liam Treadwell to beat the 2008 winner Comply Or Die by 12 lengths at odds of 100/1. Four years later, in 2013, Auroras Encore, trained by Sue Smith, belied odds of 66/1 with a comprehensive 9-length win. Four years later still, in 2017, One For Arthur, trained by Lucinda Russell, was sent off at a rather more ‘punter friendly’ starting price of 14/1 and, having travelled and jumped well, stayed on strongly to win by 4½ lengths; in so doing, he not only made Russell the fourth female trainer to win the Grand National, but became the first Scottish-trained winner since Rubstic in 1979.

Which trainers and owners hold the record for the highest number of wins in the Grand National?

In the history of the Grand National, three trainers have saddled four winners apiece. In chronological order of their first win, they are George Dockeray, Fred Rimmell and Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain. Dockeray was responsible for three of the first four ‘official’ National winners, namely Lottery (1839), Jerry (1840) and Gaylad (1842), before completing his quartet with Miss Mowbray (1852). Rimmell saddled unquestionably the luckiest National winner ever, E.S.B. (1956), who was the beneficiary when Devon Loch inexplicably collapsed on the run-in, but later added Nicolaus Silver (1961), Gay Trip (1970) and Rag Trade (1976) to his winning tally; the latter was one of just two horses to beat Red Rum in the National. Speaking of the incomparable Red Rum, the equally incomparable ‘Ginger’ McCain saddled ‘Rummie’ to his three victories (1973, 1974 and 1977) and, much latter in his career, won the National again with Amberleigh House (2004).

Noel Le Mare, owner of Red Rum, jointly holds the record for most wins with three other owners, namely James Octavius Machell, Trevor Hemmings and Gigginstown House Stud, owned by Michael O’Leary. Machell owned Disturbance (1873), Reugny (1874) and Regal (1876) but, following Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015) and Rule The World (2016) and Tiger Roll (2018 and 2019), respectively, Hemmings and O’Leary still have the chance to add to their winning tallies.

What is Tattersalls?

Tattersalls, formerly Tattersall’s, is nowadays the leading bloodstock auctioneer in Europe, offering 10,000 throughbreds for sale each year through its sales rings at Park Paddocks, Newmarket and Old Fairyhouse, Co. Meath. The business was founded, at Hyde Park Corner, London in 1766 by Richard Tattersall and became a meeting place for racing men, including the future King George IV.

In 1865, the business moved to Knightsbridge and, in 1965, to Newmarket, and began holding auctions in Ireland in 1988. In 2016, Tattersalls celebrated its 250th anniversary and continues to thrive. Although the modern business attracts an international audience, from 50 different countries, Tattersalls retains the fundamental values of an essentially British, family-owned company, which is what it was for much of its existence.

Tattersall’s is also the name of an enclosure on many racecourses, situated between the Members’ Enclosure and the Silver Ring and home to the main betting ring. The Tattersall’s Enclosure, or ‘Tatts’ for short, takes its name from the aforementioned Richard Tattersall, who reserved two so-called ‘subscription rooms’ for members of the Jockey Club in his original premises; there, his patrons could conduct financial transactions or, in other words, bet and settle bets, in comfort and would continue to do so for decades afterwards.

Who was Khalid Abdullah?

The late Khalid Abdullah, or His Highness Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud, to give him his full title, was one of the most influential, and successful, owner-breeders in the history of horse racing. Abdullah, who died in January, 2021, at the age of 83, recorded his first winner as an owner in Britain, Charming Native, trained by Jeremy Tree and ridden by Lester Piggott, at Windsor in May, 1979.

The following year, Abdullah bought Cayton Park Stud and Pudders Farm in Wargrave-on-Thames, Berkshire, which would become the basis for the hugely successful Juddmonte Farms breeding operation. Nowadays, the operation has 250 horses in training worldwide and, down the years, its familiar racing colours – green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves – have been borne to victory by such luminaries of the sport as Dancing Brave, Frankel and Enable, to name but three.

Indeed, over the last four decades, Abdullah had 118 Group One or Grade One winners worldwide. In Britain alone, he amassed a total of 2,485 wins, including 13 British Classics, and was champion owner three times, in 2003, 2010 and 2011. He won the 2,000 Guineas four times, the Derby three times and the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and St. Leger twice apiece. Internationally, he also won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe six times and remains the joint leading owner in the history of the Longchamp showpiece.

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