How many jockeys have recorded back-to-back victories in the Grand National?

In 2021, Rachael Blackmore made history by becoming the first female jockey to win the Grand National and, although currently sidelined with injury, may well attempt to become the first female jockey to record back-to-back victories in 2022. In the history of the Grand National, which dates back to 1839, nine of her male counterparts have already done so and one of them, George Stevens – the most successful jockey in the history of the Grand National – actually did so twice.

The first jockey to win the Grand National in consecutive years was Tom Olliver on Gaylad in 1842 and Vanguard in 1843. He was followed by Stevens, on Emblem in 1863 and 1864 and, again, on The Colonel in 1868 and 1869. ‘Gentleman’ riders John Richardson and Tommy Beasley won on Disturbance and Reigny in 1873 and 1874 and Empress and Woodcock in 1880 and 1881, respectively, as did Ted Wilson on Voluptuary in 1884 and Roquefort in 1885.

Bryan Marshall, who rode Early Mist in 1953 and Royal Tan in 1954, was the next back-to-back winner, followed by Brian Fletcher on Red Rum in 1973 and 1974 and Leighton Aspell on Pineau De Re in 2014 and Many Clouds in 2015. The most recent back-to-back winner was Davy Russell, who rode Tiger Roll in both 2018 and 2019.

Which was the first British-trained horse to win the Melbourne Cup?

Billed as ‘the race that stops a nation’, the Melbourne Cup is a handicap run over 3,200 metres, or approximately two miles, at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria on the first Tuesday in November each year. Worth A$8 million, or £4.3 million, in prize money, it is, unquestionably, the most famous horse race run in Australia.

The first horse trained in the Northern Hemisphere to win the Melbourne Cup was Vintage Crop, trained by Dermot Weld at The Curragh, Co. Kildare, in 1993. Vintage Crop tried, and failed, to win the race again in 1994 and 1995, but Weld did so in 2002, courtesy of Media Puzzle.

However, the first horse trained in mainland Britain to win the Melbourne Cup was Cross Counter, a 3-year-old owned by Godolphin and sent out from its Moulton Paddocks yard by trainer Charlie Appleby in 2018. Patiently ridden by Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who was winning his third Melbourne Cup, Cross Counter produced a strong run in the final furlong and a half to win, readily, by a length.

In so doing, he led home a 1-2-3 for British-trained horses, with Marmello, trained by Hughie Morrison, in second place and A Prince Of Arran, trained by Charlie Fellowes, in third, a further 2 lengths away. In an eventful race, Hugh Bowman, jockey of Marmelo, received a lengthy ban for various infringements, while five other jockeys, including McEvoy, were fined for excessive use of the whip.

 

Which jockey has ridden the most winners at a single Cheltenham Festival?

Unsurprisingly, the jockey who has ridden the most winners at a single Cheltenham Festival is Rupert ‘Ruby’ Walsh. Walsh is, far and way, the most successful jockey in the history of the Cheltenham Festival, with 59 winners – 16 more than his nearest rival, Barry Geraghty – to his name. He retired from race riding in May, 2019, but is immortalised by the ‘Ruby Walsh Trophy’, which is presented to the leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival each year.

Walsh, himself, was leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival on no fewer than eleven occasions between 2004 and 2017, including five years running between 2013 and 2017. In 2009 – the year in which he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Master Minded, the World Hurdle on Big Buck’s and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Kauto Star, all trained by Paul Nicholls – Walsh rode seven winners in total, setting a new record. Seven years later, in 2016, he equalled his own record by again riding seven winners, all trained by Willie Mullins, including Annie Power in the Champion Hurdle. In 2021, Rachael Blackmore, who rode six winners to become the first female jockey to win the Ruby Walsh Trophy, came as close as anyone else ever has to equalling the record.

What happens to racehorses when they retire?

What happens to racehorses when they retire depends on a variety of factors, including breeding potential, age, physical soundness and temperament. Horses that are capable of breeding and have potential to become successful stallions or broodmares, by virtue of their pedigree or racecourse performance, or both, are often retired to stud. Of course, horses who have been castrated, or gelded , particularly National Hunt horses, who also race for much longer than their Flat counterparts, have no such option.

The ‘romantic’ notion of a racehorse being turned out in a field to enjoy its retirement may be appropriate if the horse is no longer fit for work but, otherwise, thoroughbred racehorses are best suited to an active life, even in retirement. This could simply be as a trainer’s hack, but there are numerous possibilities for alternative careers. With expert care and attention, former racehorses can be retrained as show jumpers, dressage, eventing or polo horses, thereby helping them to avoid physical and temperamental problems in later life. Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), which is funded, in part, by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), is the official charity for the welfare of retired racehorses and supports five rehabilitation centres across the country.

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