Let's talk about... Foinavon's Grand National success in 1967

We want your feedback. Do you recall Foinavon's win? Can you recall a luckier winner - in the National or any race? Who were your lucky winners? Check out details of how to contact us towards the foot of the article...

Ben Linfoot – The luckiest of them all

It’s sad that there is to be no Grand National this year, especially so as Tiger Roll was aiming to become the first horse in the race’s history to win three successive renewals.

Let’s hope he can still go for that accolade in 2021.

But at least we can reminisce on some of the great stories the Grand National has produced over the years, as we will be doing all week on Sporting Life. There are plenty of them.

Foinavon, in 1967, was the luckiest of them all.

Seventh of seven in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on his previous start, Foinavon was sent off at 100/1 for the Grand National – 444/1 on the tote – and quickly fell back through the field after beginning prominently.

He only had a few horses behind him as the field approached the 23rd fence, where the loose Popham Down caused the most famous melee in racing’s history.

As a host of jockeys were made to put the brakes on havoc ensued, with many refusing and others being completely taken out.

Only Foinavon jumped the fence first time without halting his rhythm, thanks to some quick thinking from his jockey, John Buckingham, who had a good view of the carnage coming from the rear.

As you can see from the footage below on YouTube, he still had plenty to do, even if he did emerge from the ruckus with a huge lead.

Seven fences on his own at the end of the National – it wouldn’t have been a surprise had he idled and let the pursuers back in. But Foinavon had decided there had been enough drama for one day.

“It is to Foinavon’s eternal credit that he did not refuse, either at the melee, where he had every excuse to, or when he was out on his own and especially when he was tiring,” Buckingham said in Anne Holland’s fantastic book, The Grand National.

“When I saw Honey End and Greek Scholar coming, I didn’t think they could catch me, but I gave him one slap after the last, just in case. I must admit I was nearly unconscious at the end of it.”

Credited with saving the National after sparking public interest in the race at a time when it really needed it, Foinavon’s story will be retold for years to come.

They won’t jump the fence they named after him this year, the 23rd where he stole the race 53 years ago. But they will next year. We can’t wait.

Send us your views

Send your comments and contributions on Foinavon and any other lucky winners to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and if you’ve any ideas for more topics you want covering over the coming days and weeks please let us know.

Feedback from readers

Nigel Shaw:

I was 11 years old and right into my racing when the Foinavon National came along. I was hooked even before the first National I can recall which was Nicolaus Silver in 1961. In later life, it took me 35 years to save up for my one and as yet only racehorse but nothing surpasses the day I had the privilege to meet the central figure in the most spectacular piece of sporting history ever. The day before the Whitbread 1991 I met John Buckingham at a b&b in Wincanton having attended an evening meeting on the Thursday. It was a perfect midway point for my wife and I, together with our two-year-old son, to stop off on the way to a wedding weekend at a country hotel in Cornwall.

During our overnight stay, we were disturbed by innocent intruders who mistook our room for their own and accidentally broke the door. The following morning at breakfast, the landlord was desperately sorry for what had happened and explained that some workers from the racecourse, probably valets, had been toasting the season's finale at the course.

I said to my wife, "You know what, the guy who rode Foinavon in that remarkable 1967 National is going to walk into the dining room any minute". John could not apologise enough for what his staff had done. After introductions, he quickly realised I was passionate about racing and fascinated by my knowledge of the great race in general and the details which I could recall. At one point, John said without sarcasm that he felt like I had ridden his historic winner!

It must be remembered that the viewer could see everything or at least most of what was going on. John could only see grass and fences for the last mile.

Can you imagine, once he had steered Foinavon through the melee and got to the other side intact how he must have felt. Once he got him going the ride John gave the old dodgepot (it's in the formbook) was brilliant. He insisted it was all down to the horse and they may well have both been exhausted at the end but just watch the re-run. Jockeys drive me nuts these days when they look round but John was calm in pure isolation lengths clear in the greatest race in the world and on top of an old rogue who also in the past was known to have a lie down if he didn't fancy it. Even if Popham Down tried to take a few more out adjacent to crossing the Melling Road for the last time, some of the chasing big name jocks did not show the composure of J Buckingham.

After a three hour breakfast, my wife and son dragged me away and unfortunately we couldn't join John that evening at Taunton, despite his encouragement

On departing, he told us to enjoy our weekend, forget the big race and follow Rampoldi in the last at Sandown Park, but promise not to tell anyone. It won!

I could never bring myself to write to John to tell him what a special occasion the weekend had been, made even better by him, for fear of telling him that I hadn't kept my end of the bargain. I was more popular than the bride and groom who enjoy this tale almost every annual barbeque held at their home.

Throughout my life, racing has provided so much pleasure and the sport has produced some wonderful memories. Racing will always be made the richer for having had someone like John Buckingham ride Foinavon into history. The last word goes to my long-suffering, non-racing wife, whose contribution to recollections is always apt and succinct, "He was a very nice man".

Paul Scarffe:

I remember the race so well. I was eleven at the time and lived with my family in a village pub in central Norfolk. Home was only six miles from Fakenham Racecourse and my lifelong love of racing, especially NH, was a direct result of many childhood visits to the then irregular meetings, only about four a year. I have countless happy memories of these trips, particularly the traditional fixtures on Easter Monday and Whit Monday. After attending regularly for more than thirty years, it seemed like I could hardly walk a step without seeing a familiar face and stopping for a chat. Such courses as Fakenham are still the heating heart of NH Racing, but the overall quality of runners wasn't always much to shout about.

This brings me to the link with Foinavon. Even from my earliest involvement with racing, I was a great fan of Ryan Price and his jockey, Josh Gifford. This being the case, I was delighted to see Honey End declared to run in the first race at a Fakenham meeting. What's more, they all turned up at the meeting. I was delighted to see my heroes at my local track, even if Honey End won a match at odds of 8/100. Honey End was a very good horse and I was so keen to see him win the National. I even saved up several weeks pocket money to have a bet on him. I will always consider the melee at the 23rd to have robbed the horse of victory. As it was, many of the pub regulars and virtually everyone in the village had a bet on the National. For most of them, it was their only bet of the year. I phoned through countless bets to the local bookie and it is the only occasion that I can remember when no one picked the winner, not even the lucky regular who nearly always made the right choice. In spite of this, luck was still on his side. In the pub, my father always ran the traditional sweepstake, the draw being made on the evening before the race. I remember 'Mr. Lucky' drawing Foinavon from the hat and me telling him that his luck had finally deserted him. His selection caused great laughter and teasing from the other regulars. I don't have to say who had the last laugh! On Saturday evening, Mr. Lucky never stopped boasting about his win, much to everyone else's annoyance. Foinavon's safe passage became part of local folklore, with Mr. Lucky's stories about the race becoming more outlandish as each year passed. He also managed to select many other winners of the race.

The story brings back memories of times long past, a way of life that has long since gone, especially with the disappearance of most of the hordes of farm workers that still existed when Foinavon's blinkered head past the winning post, with an ever decreasing lead. That's what I still remember in my dreams, the gallant Honey End battling on into second, robbed of National glory by the pile up and a horse whose victory says everything about this unique race. I had to wait for redemption from my nightmares until Aldaniti won the National, trained by my hero, Josh Gifford, and carrying more of my cash than a few weeks pocket money in 1967; but that's another National story.

James Dickson:

I was 18 at the time, my friend George & I were leaving his house to put our bets on when his older sister asked if we would put a bet on for her, she had got Foinavon in her work's sweepstakes, we put on her bet but said it had no chance , the rest is history. I bet the second & third 😩😩😩

Anthony Brook:

Remember the day vividly as a 12 year old I was at Stamford bridge watching Sheffield Wednesday lose to a last minute Tommy Baldwin goal for Chelsea and listened to the race via transistor radio

Maurice O'Sullivan:

I think it was an amazing commentary from Michael O' Hehir. He named most of the fallers and then was able to pick up this complete outsider in a flash. We were lucky to witness and hear that. I would love if we had some Grand Nationals like that now, but very little chance.

Rosie:

Every year my Dad recounts the story about his manager asking him to read the names of the field from the paper. When he got to Foinavon she asked him what the paper said about his form and chances, 'no chance' was the reply.

For some reason she decided to have a few bob on him and sent my 18 year old dad to the bookies.

She was nice enough to give my Dad some of the winnings, which he gave straight to his Mum.

Don (stuck in Mexico):

I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was 15 years old at the time and doing a paper round in Redcar. I remember reading an article in my Dad's Daily Mirror on Foinavon including an interview with John Kempton, his trainer.

At the time the horse was 500/1.He said the horse wasn't the fastest but he'd jump and stay forever. So on the Saturday l gave my Dad 2 shillings and he put a bob each way for me at 100/1.

I got £6 18 shillings back. More than 3 weeks money for delivering papers! My Dad asked how the heck l picked that one and l told him he should read his paper more closely.

David Owen:

Since you're 'talking about' Foinavon today, Can I add a link to my book on the relevant thread. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/foinavon-9781408853153/

It contains a huge number of recollections of the race, including from at least two-thirds of the jockeys riding in it.

John Moran:

When trained in Ireland (by Tom Dreaper If I remember correctly) Foinavon was ridden by the late great Pat Taaffe of Arkle fame. Pat recounted that in one race they fell, Pat was thrown forward and when he glanced back Foinavon was still down but chomping grass! Laid back horse for sure!

The commentator M O’Hehir was “on” at that fence and immediately picked up Foinavon who had barely been mentioned in the race up to then. O’Hehir later related that he had been in the weighing room when John Buckingham passed by in his colours which O’Hehir realised that he did not recognise and had to look up! Serendipity.

Andrew Woodward:

I was 11 at the time and I remember the race really well because my father had a good bet on the favourite – Honey End, ridden by Josh Gifford. He had also picked the horse in the company sweepstake and that’s why he had a bet. When the disaster happened and the loose horse Popham Down veered across the 23rd fence and caused the melee my dad was beside himself…

Honey End went on to finish second but never stood a chance of catching Foinavon. Of course dad never won a penny on the race..

Celia Stevens:

On the day before the Grand National 1967 myself and a friend decided we'd go to the National. (In those days you could just turn up and get in!) I was 20, working in a point to point yard and had never been to Aintree, neither had my friend.

We drove there in a beaten up old van, all the way from East Anglia! When we arrived somehow we got lost and ended up the other side of the course on the railway embankment right by fence 23. We were really cross at not getting into the stands but still enjoying the racing.

We had an amazing view of the GN field first time round, but couldn't quite believe what was unfolding in front of ours eyes when Popham Down just ran along the fence in front of all the other runners.In the mayhem I remember jockeys running to the side of the fence, one was deposited right in the middle of it, loose horses milling around everywhere, shouting and swearing, with jockeys trying to catch their horses after the initial chaos, jumping back on them and attempting to catch Foinavon.

It was one of those spectacles that suddenly happens and you can't quite believe it is really happening. It really isn't until afterwards that the enormity of it sinks in!

Watching the race again it all came back. I am lucky enough to have been involved in racing one way or another ever since What a fabulous sport!

Dave Parker:

Great watching the 1967 Grand National I was only ten but I had backed Red Alligator each way thanks to my Father well I was under age and that was in the days of tax on your bets !!!

Fionavon was the luckiest winner of the National but what about quick thinking by John Buckingham to take the horse to the right of the pile up ?

It is hard to say you only hear Fionavon mentioned once in running prior to the pole up so how much time did he have to miss the pile up ?

The luckiest winner I have seen in recent times was this years Triumph hurdle Willie Mullins the winning trainer could hardly speak, so sad for a horse that prior to Cheltenham if there was any weakness had been his jumping but he was perfect on the day apart from the last hurdle poor Goshen

The luck of the Irish !!!!!!

George Goodenough:

I too was at Goodwood for the 1983 Richmond I was there for the 1984 Sussex Stakes when Creag an Sgor again lined up. I put him in a 7/1 forecast with Chief Singer. Chief Singer duly won a battle with Rousillon, Creag an Sgor 3rd. I was young and even more stupid then so threw my ticket in disgust. Roussillon was subsequently disqualified and search as I might I couldn't find that wretched ticket!

Since then course tickets now go home with me before binning. I've watched Devon Loch time and again and I'm convinced he saw the water in his peripheral vision and went to jump it. He then realised it wasn,'t there and tried to adjust but ended up in a heap.

On a similar note it's worth watching the Annie Power fall again. I'm convinced that both she and Glen's Melody saw the shadow as an open ditch. Glen's Melody jumped it like a showjumper at the Puissance and got away with it. Annie Power went for the Olympic Long Jump and paid the price. I had a fiver on the Mullins acca 😥.

Andrew Pelis:

Hi Ben, I hope you are keeping well. Certainly Foinavon was lucky in the sense that the race literally fell apart for him.

E.S.B. surely was an even luckier winner of the race as his chance manifested much closer to the line and in the more unlikely circumstances of being on the flat, when Devon Loch inexplicably collapsed?

On the flat, I remember the 1983 Richmond Stakes in which the third horse home, Godstone, was awarded the race, after Lester Piggott and Vacarme - and future Middle Park Stakes winner Creag Ans Gor, were both disqualified.

Have a great day.

Andrew

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