Talk:Grand National

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What is the shortest Price a Horse has ever gone off in the national? Lazmac 10:52, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

Answer;-- in 1935 Golden Miller was sent off at the insane price of 2/1. He had won the race in 1934 and the press hailed his as the greatest horse of all time. Despite winning in '34 Golden Miller hated Aintree and unseated his rider Gerry Wilson at the eleventh fence. Back in the days of the disputed Nationals of 1836-7-8 The Duke was sent off as the odds on 1/2 favourite in 1838. It should be noted that only three horses competed in 1838 {these being the days before the railways made it easier for horses to get to Aintree} For the record the Duke finished third Norniron

[edit] david thomas

why did someone remove the info about the australian jockey David K. Thomas? Why was it allowed to be removed? Keltik31 16:14, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

This fact has been removed because it is both wrong and misleading. The first recorded rider of Australian birth to compete in the Grand National was William 'Willie Watkinson' who was born in Tasmania in 1886. In 1926 Watkinson not only rode in but won the event on Jack Horner. There may well have been other Australian riders pre war but this would require confirmation. While you are correct that a Mr Thomas did compete in 1950 on Stockman the fact that he was not the first of his nationality to compete makes it's appearance on this page not worthy enough to note.

William 'Willie Watkinson' never rode in australia. i have newpaper clippings of thomas being reported as the first australian rider in the national. david "bobber" thomas was my father. and who are you to say it is not note worthy? Keltik31 17:44, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

where did you get this information from? Keltik31 17:44, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

stop editing this part. he was the first australian rider, who actually raced in aussie, to ride in the national. if you cant prove me wrong, then dont edit it. Keltik31 21:51, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

There are a group of around twelve official historians of the race. I emailed one of them and he has replied to say that your stats on David Thomas being the first Aussie rider is wrong. Email him yourself if you like. His name is Steve Porter and his email is esplisburn@aol.com

Hopefully I can settle this matter with some detail on Australian riders and Australian born riders. William Watkinson was born in Tasmania as has been stated but did not ride competitively in Australia, arriving in Scotland as a teenager. On the issue of Australian experienced riders, Tommy Pickernell aka Mr Thomas, an Englishman by birth, made his name riding in Australia before the local professional riders raised a petition against him. He returned to England where he later became a very successful National rider. I'm afraid that I would have to agree with the original objector to this item being listed as being incorrect. While the poster should be justly proud of his father's participation he does remain just one of many hundreds of riders to have participated for whom each could have a unique claim to being mentioned.

so was there an australian-born jockey, who had actually races in aussie, who rode the national before my father did? Keltik31 00:47, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

There were quite a few Australian born and experienced riders who took the chance to stay in the UK after the first war. The only one who seems to have ridden in the National is A Saxby who took part in 1919.