Red Rum wins his first Grand National - ridden by Brian Fletcher the pair charged to victory on 31st March 1973 breaking the course record for the Grand National by 19 seconds
I was 12 years old and we had a colour tv of just a year. Never a great fan of horse racing, for some reason this one caught me up and I followed the career of the amazing Red Rum for years.
@@freddieclark I was 8 years of age. it was the same day Pat Jennings saved two penalties at Anfield for my team against Liverpool but for me this moment at Aintree was the saddest sporting event i saw until 36 years and 4 months later Tom Watson failing to par the last at Turnberry to win the Open surpassed it. Easily the two saddest sporting moments of my lifetime. Crisp deserved to win that day
Great memories, this was when the National was a true challenge for man and horse and the whole country would get involved. No sky tv , no mobile phones, no internet - but we all had the best days of our lives growing up in this era.
god the sweat pouring off me just watching.. red rum approaching is just something else isn it.. want to say loads.. the classic commentary, and switching between commentators.. one minute red rum is ninth moments later he's second! imagine being on red rum and thinking i'm going to catch that Crisp! then you see crisp get tired... ..and i realised how much they are hitting the horses.. what a race, can't believe how far back red rum was.. didn't they think it was odd he was so far back? maybe this was the start of him making his name just had a thought lol maybe this is edited
We ll all remember Red Rum quite rightly , but what a performance by Crisp who was essentially a two miler , what a jumper and weight carrying performance especially in the light of Red Rum s future Grand National performances , glory and heartbreak in equal amounts , what a great race .
Remember watching this as a schoolboy, and my nanna shouting hysterically at the TV "come on Red Rum" Over and over! It must of had some influence, as I've watched every National since.
‘’…& Crisp just wandering off a true line, he’s beginning to lose concentration he’s been out there on his own for so long…” Ever the greatest National, but such was O’Sullevan’s unique gift for dramatic commentary, for extracting & injecting every last drop of emotion & excitement from a close finish, & all with the class & timing of a Rolex, that he almost became as synonymous with the race as the winners he called home. It’s never been quite the same since he retired, at least for me.
Red Rum had longevity over 5 years in one race Crisp was a good horse but the greatest of all is by far Red Rum and his record will never ever be beaten!!!!
Crisp was better known as a two-miler, having won the Champion Chase at Cheltenham. He was also giving Red Rum almost two stone in weight. Red Rum was a great, but Crisp had more class, I believe.
Not the greatest by far. By half a length and giving a stone and a half. They were used to piling weight on Crisp to give the other horses a chance. And if Tiger Roll wins next year, the record will be equaled.
Red Rum's record will never be equalled. Tiger Roll is a great little horse with wonderful potential, but the GN course of today bears no resemblance to gruelling race it was in Rummy's day.
Great memories! Saw this when I was 9 years old with my family. We alwys had a sweepstakes and I had Crisp so I was gutted when he lost. But it still remains the most dramatic race I've ever seen.
As a piece of form, Crisp's run is easily the best in a National. To try and give 23 pounds to Red Rum and only get beat on the line given subsequent events is unreal.
Easily the greatest horse race of all time, flat or national hunt. The Belmont Stakes in the same year may have been more spectacular but nothing compares to the drama of the National that year.
He would have beat every other horse on that day in every condition imaginable. Anywhere in the history of horse racinf. And on any other day too. There was one horse who wouldn't bow to him. Only one.
That was an amazing finish we always watched the grand national my dad was an avid racing fan he would have been 38 then and I was 15 great days where has the time gone .
The grwtest race of all time Crisp put up an unbelievable performance under 12 stone and in hindsight he faced a near impossible task giving all that weight to Red Rum always spoilt for me by the death of Grey Sombrero a great horse in his own right.
Agree, possibly the best ever national. However when Red Rum won his 3rd national in 77 he too carried 12 stone and was also 12 years old. He just loved Aintree.
The greatest jumps horse race ever and the greatest performance ever in a grand national when it was a horse race and a test not this cheap immatation it is now
I backed Crisp, so was a bit choked, but what a performance by Red Rum, who turned out to be a legend, whose record in five Nationals will never be beaten!
hard to believe but red rums first win was over 5 furlongs at Ayr that he could go all the way up to 36 furlongs to win the national is quite a amazing feat.
This was three years before I was born. However, this as the first of Red Rum's three Grand Nationals and worldwide celebrity. Yet this day I am sure virtually everyone was willing Crisp to hold on. Ran such a brave, bold race!
Crisp ran brilliantly, but it was Rummy who triumphed in spectacular fashion. He displayed the sheer skill, tenacity and courage that would eventually lead to his future breathtaking and record breaking successes. Brian Fletcher was a very talented jockey too and knew just how to get the best out of Rummy on the day.
He only caught Crisp because Crisp was carrying 23lb more then Red Rum that day. Taking nothing away from Red Rum as he would later develop into an even better horse in the next few years to become the greatest Steeple Chaser of all time, But had Red Rum carried the same weight as Crisp that day, Crisp would have beat him by 100 meters. The old adage is each extra 1lb carried slows a horse 1/2 length over a mile, so think what 23lbs extra slowed Crisp over the Grand National distance. It's a shame they made Crisp carry the Grandstand that day but he was the best Steeple Chaser in the world at that time, and Red Rum was still a Youngster on the way up.
No, the fact remains that Red Rum won because he had more stamina and staying power. Crisp had run an amazing race, but he was exhausted and had run out of steam. It's that simple.
+Helene Millar it depends how you define greatest. Manifesto has 5 top 3 finishes and won the grand national twice in 1897 and 1899. In 1897 he won by 20 lengths which is still the biggest margin of victory. In 1899 he won the race carrying 12st 7 which is way more then red rum ever carried. He also finished 3rd in 1900 carrying 12st 13, and third in 1902 aged 14 carrying 12st 8. He also managed a 4th place in 1895. He took part 8 times in the race which is a record.
Just before he fell Grey Sombrero reacted to Crisp dislodging some twig from a fence and went into that fateful fence unsettled and led to the fall that would sadly cost him his life . Before this he was jumping well and enjoying it
That was so sad. I always felt Grey Sombrero played a major role in the greatest National of all time if that might be any consolation to him bless him
Unlike some falls you see at Aintree - the video shows Grey Sombrero getting up and being led away from the circuit. With advancements in treatment would a horse such as Grey Sombrero be rehabilitated rather than euthanized these days?
@@JP1234815 you would like to think he would. And who knows what would have happened had he not succumbed to that fall. Maybe Red Rum would not have won and Aintree may well have been consigned to history as it is largely assumed that Red Rum saved the grand national
I've heard those stories too. Can't just have been Redrum though otherwise the race would have been scrapped 20-30 years ago (there was a lot of lobbying from Animal Welfare groups after the aborted 1993 race)..
@@JP1234815 unlikely, if I recall right he had a broken shoulder and that's a pretty serious injury, you can see how lame he was in the one or two strides he took after getting up.
I just replied to a comment here and something just occurred to me - peter O'Sullivan still seems so remarkable, reeling off all those names he presumably memorised along with their colours of course - but how do we know he didn't just name the leaders then just read out the others randomly??
I would like to address a few things from the comments below. Many claim Crisp to be the greater horse as he would have beaten Red Rum on level weights. Sadly for Crisp, the Grand National is a handicap race, and although there was a big weight advantage to Red Rum the fact that there was so little between them as they crossed the line shows the handicapper did a fantastic job at assessing the weights (between Rummy and Crisp anyway). Others claim the 12 stone Crisp carried was a huge weight that anchored him. I have to point out that Red Rum won easily the following year carrying 12 stone. Some accuse Dick Pitman of having a terrible race on Crisp. I really find this hard to believe. I agree he made an error with the whip approaching the elbow, but Crisp blew away a field including top class horses (L'Escarcot and Spanish Steps spring to mind), and was only beaten by the horse with the best Grand National record in history, who had to break the race record to do it. But for coming up against Rummy he would have won easily, and everyone would be saying how well Pitman had ridden Crisp. Crisp ran his heart out with sound tactics from the jockey, but was beaten by a horse with more stamina on the handicap.
I was working as a waiter in the Queens Hotel in Chester,when a lady customer said to me back Red Rum tomorrow,unknown to me it was the horse owners wife Mrs le Mare,they were staying at the hotel on the eve of the National,Red Rums first National win 1973.
Each time I watch this great race I think Crisp is going to win this time! What an effort in defeat. Worth remembering that he put the record straight the following season off level weights at Doncaster
It is the way Crisp trots over Beechers 2nd time as if it is not there. And even over the 2nd last he is so far ahead - the greatest horse race of all time. 45 years later
So great, he didn’t win a single national!!..but would have won 2 or 3 if there was no red rum.. u can see in the race’s there’s only two of them in the end the others are way back
Sad for Crisp a great horse over laden with weight, but there's no getting away from it the local boy done good! Red Rum loved the National it was and still is his race
Why doesn't anyone here droning endlessly on about Crisp and the weight issue, just click on to Crisp's jockey Richard Pitman's insightful interview where he discusses exactly what happened on that fateful day. Do us all a favour!
@@helenemillar7626 You know it's pretty understandable to feel sorry for Crisp as he was so close to winning right? That's all most people are saying and you seem to be the one endlessly droning about how weights don't matter, when they clearly do, or else they wouldn't have been an integral part of horse racing for as long as they have been. That said, it obviously doesn't take anything away from Red Rum's remarkable, so far unmatched, achievements in the national.
As far as I can see, the only ones endlessly droning are you lot talking about how sad it was that Crisp didn't win! It was 46 years ago, for God's sake. let it go. I didn't say weights didn't matter, only they were not the main reason that Crisp failed to triumph ultimately. Watch the interview with Crisp's jockey on the day, Richard Pitman and all will become clear.
No need for an interview,Pitman has made several down the years. At Doncasrer after he easilly beat `Red Rum` in the rematch,Pitman declared `I think that proves who was the better horse...Anyway,ater the Hennessy in 1973`mwhen `Red Candle` beat `Red Rum` who was only given `
The days when the betting was more predictable :) I love red rum but i did feel bad for Crisp tho. He reminded me of might bite this year a bit tipsy :) at the end :)
L'Escargot had a very strange ride. Pretty much at the back of the field until the final stages. Almost like he had tack problems or was nursing him round.
@@helenemillar7626This nonsense should stop,of course it was the weight,it`s a handicap isn`t it.This refusal to accept the obvious is embarrassing to all of us who love the sport
I just ran this race over today's National distance and Crisp wins by 15 lengths. He returns for the 1974 where he is allocated 13st 4lb. Red Rum, Crisp 12st, L'Escargot 12st and Spanish Steps 11st 13lb - there ever been a better collective 1-2-3-4?
I agree, Crisp was the better horse, reflected by the weight difference in the handicap, Red Rum was the superior horse on the day. Crisp reversed the form to the tune of 6 lengths in a match race at level weights at Doncaster over 3 miles on Great Yorkshire chase day the following November.
If they ran that race this year, Crisp would have won by at least 10 lengths, after they have shortened the course by a furlong and a half. It's also now down to a pathetic 34 runners max. The powers that be won't be happy until it's a flat race over 5 furlongs.
Crisp was carrying 12 stone, Red Rum 10 stone 5 lbs. Also, Crisp was a two-mile specialist (winning the Champion Chase at Cheltenham two years previously). Yes, Red Rum is aNational hero, but Crisp had more quality.
many horses carried more than 10 stone in the national so to say Red Rum beat them all giving 2 stone isnt correct fine horse that he was. 74 he beat L;escargot giving him 1lb, a year later the tables were turned when Red Rum conceded 11lbs
If you look carefully at Red Rum as he approaches a fence, the action of his legs change to something almost hesitant, careful, bit deliberate. Perhaps it was an idiosyncrasy he had.
Red Rum, Crisp and many others, leaping over Bechers Brook like gazelles with room to spare. What they've done to this course now and Bechers in particular is safety gone too far. In any sport, irrespective of whether you got two legs or four......athletes have different levels of ability and unfortunately, those who aren't as good at what they do as others, sometimes get found out in ways that are unpleasant to watch. Agreed, human athletes who are inferior don't get severely injured or even lose their life, but I feel the Animal Rights campaigners needed to appreciate the various levels of ability in horse racing I alluded to, before beginning the chain of events that have led to The Grand National being a pale shadow of its former self.
One of these days I'm going to watch it and Crisp will hold on.
50 years ago. Remember it like it was yesterday. Surely the greatest horse race in history
Definitely, watched it with my grandad. We all loved Rummy. A proper legend in his own lifetime.
There are moments in sport you never forget, this 9 minutes is one of those...
I was 12 years old and we had a colour tv of just a year. Never a great fan of horse racing, for some reason this one caught me up and I followed the career of the amazing Red Rum for years.
@@freddieclark I was 8 years of age. it was the same day Pat Jennings saved two penalties at Anfield for my team against Liverpool but for me this moment at Aintree was the saddest sporting event i saw until 36 years and 4 months later Tom Watson failing to par the last at Turnberry to win the Open surpassed it. Easily the two saddest sporting moments of my lifetime. Crisp deserved to win that day
@@dlamiss the saddest sporting moment ever Watson losing
i'm nearly 50. This race was five months before I was born and this is the best horse race ever.
Yes . I was 19 years old and I saw this racing on TV at Slovakia. It was fantastic.
as a child i liked watching the riderless horses carry-on racing, i was always wanting one of them to win!
Undoubtedly the greatest horse race ever of both codes without question
My old horse Endless Folly ran a great race that day.Such a lovely kind horse,gentle and genuine.
You must be proud that he ran such a great race in possibly the greatest horse race of all time
Oh bloody hell how long did he live for
Great memories, this was when the National was a true challenge for man and horse and the whole country would get involved. No sky tv , no mobile phones, no internet - but we all had the best days of our lives growing up in this era.
More challenging for the horse I think.
Crisp jumping Beechers Brooke on the second circuit being pursued by Red Rum is one of the greatest sights in Horse Racing history.
Yes it is. A wonderful piece of Horse Racing History. Never tire of watching that part in particular!
god the sweat pouring off me just watching..
red rum approaching is just something else isn it..
want to say loads..
the classic commentary, and switching between commentators..
one minute red rum is ninth moments later he's second!
imagine being on red rum and thinking i'm going to catch that Crisp!
then you see crisp get tired...
..and i realised how much they are hitting the horses..
what a race, can't believe how far back red rum was..
didn't they think it was odd he was so far back?
maybe this was the start of him making his name
just had a thought lol
maybe this is edited
And the brilliant commentary from the legendary race caller Peter o’Sullivan
Still gives me shivers ....the sheer never say die attitude and stomach for a fight shown by Red Rum
The determination that Rummy had brings me to tears what a great little horse.
Crisp gave away getting on 2 stone greatest national horse ever
@@andrewwilliams8712 It was a valiant effort from him too.
@@andrewwilliams8712 It was a lot to concede, but greatest ever - you can't take away from, Rummy's record.
amazing red rum
but crisp got tired?
We ll all remember Red Rum quite rightly , but what a performance by Crisp who was essentially a two miler , what a jumper and weight carrying performance especially in the light of Red Rum s future Grand National performances , glory and heartbreak in equal amounts , what a great race .
If they ran the same race this year, Crisp wins it easily, as the distance of the race is a furlong and a half shorter.
"He's been out there on his own for so long."
What a lovely horse, Crisp.
Great commentary
@@gazowen7310 k
Every couple of years i come back and watch this race to see if Crisp finally holds on, unfortunately it never happens :( :(
Great comment!
It would have if the race had been shortened by 30 yards!
loved Rummy to death but my heart goes out to crisp who gave his all
Remember watching this as a schoolboy, and my nanna shouting hysterically at the TV "come on Red Rum" Over and over! It must of had some influence, as I've watched every National since.
The great RED RUM, what a horse he was and so was Crisp.
Peter Goddard well said.respect
Did crisp die??
Yes, in 1984, aged 21. :)
Best race and winner of all times will never be topped anyway!!
4 me a red rum gran.national fan.this the greatest national and finish.what a battle.god bless them both!!!!!🎋🎋🦄🦄
We'll never see a Horse like Red Rum, ever again! A total one off so he was! 👍🍺😎🙋
I used to call that "the staggers"
Tiger roll son
@@joeyy1768 TIGER ROLL :)
Absolute bullshit. Did you see the race??? Rigged! Crisp was giving Red Rum a stone and a half! You people make me sick.
@@peace-now How was it "rigged"..?? It's a handicap chase ffs. Look up what that means & stop being an idiot.
What a heart that horse had. Three wins/two seconds. Greatest ever!
‘’…& Crisp just wandering off a true line, he’s beginning to lose concentration he’s been out there on his own for so long…” Ever the greatest National, but such was O’Sullevan’s unique gift for dramatic commentary, for extracting & injecting every last drop of emotion & excitement from a close finish, & all with the class & timing of a Rolex, that he almost became as synonymous with the race as the winners he called home. It’s never been quite the same since he retired, at least for me.
fully concur with this. Would have loved to have met Peter O'
Crisp got very tired bless him - Red Rum a legend!
Tracey Hudson god bless red rum.and crisp!!! Wat a battle!!
Crisp with less cargo? weight?
@@STRANGETEXT l'escargot was another horse in the race
@@markellwood5868 yes Legends Mark. I really enjoyed watching that never seen it back in the day I was a nipper. Greatest race
They were both extremely tired. Just Red Rum less so than Crisp.
Red Rum had longevity over 5 years in one race Crisp was a good horse but the greatest of all is by far Red Rum and his record will never ever be beaten!!!!
Talk about that Dickie!!
tiger roll may disagree with you
Crisp was better known as a two-miler, having won the Champion Chase at Cheltenham. He was also giving Red Rum almost two stone in weight. Red Rum was a great, but Crisp had more class, I believe.
Not the greatest by far. By half a length and giving a stone and a half. They were used to piling weight on Crisp to give the other horses a chance. And if Tiger Roll wins next year, the record will be equaled.
Red Rum's record will never be equalled. Tiger Roll is a great little horse with wonderful potential, but the GN course of today bears no resemblance to gruelling race it was in Rummy's day.
My god, only seems like yesterday. Certainly sends a few shivers down the spine. Brave Crisp, but what a fight from Rummy.
RIP Grey Sombrero. 😢
Beautiful horse, very sad :'( xx
Yes that was very sad...I always feel that he played a big part in making that race so special.
@@SJHUE He had to die to make this race special?
A horse who’s name is to be remembered forever
So Freddie beat jay trump then
Great memories! Saw this when I was 9 years old with my family. We alwys had a sweepstakes and I had Crisp so I was gutted when he lost. But it still remains the most dramatic race I've ever seen.
Saw red rum at market rasen race course about a year before he passed away. Lovely horse
Lucky you! Wish I'd got to give him a pat and a few polos; he's my all-time equine hero! :)
Gosh i wish i met red rum!!!
Helene Millar nice!!
He is my hero of all species, my home is a shrine to Rummy
watched this a bunch of times and still can't believe the ground Red Rum made up at the end :o
I still cant believe Crisp never won.
That has got to be one of the best performances in National history, just so unlucky.
As a piece of form, Crisp's run is easily the best in a National. To try and give 23 pounds to Red Rum and only get beat on the line given subsequent events is unreal.
Wow first time ive ever seen this race what an amazing come back by red rum unbelievable
His jockey Fletcher never gets the recognition he deserves especially for this race.
Even now I still think he wasn’t going to make it, the start of a legend, proper stuff.
The fences back then were mountainous.
True lad x
@@josephmccomick4679 no where near as harsh as the 20s to 50s nationals
Not to mention the ditches, like the one at the back of Becher's
Easily the greatest horse race of all time, flat or national hunt. The Belmont Stakes in the same year may have been more spectacular but nothing compares to the drama of the National that year.
Agreed. It`s my favourite horse race of all time also!
...best National ever....thanks....
no problems x
chatham43 agreed.
Best horse race ever
as an aussie im still proud of crisp he had a go
he looked a bit knackered bless him, ....
He had a go mate, you're right there.
Red Rum's unbeaten record makes me feel good. That's all I need to make me smile!
Helene Millar Check again, he was beaten in the Grand National, a couple of times, 1975 and 76! 👍😎🙋🍺
He would have beat every other horse on that day in every condition imaginable. Anywhere in the history of horse racinf. And on any other day too. There was one horse who wouldn't bow to him. Only one.
Two amazing champions of their sport, thanks.
Red Rum or Secretariat, either way they are both the 2 most exceptional and perfect Horses ever to grace the world of racing.
you forget Frankel?
That was an amazing finish we always watched the grand national my dad was an avid racing fan he would have been 38 then and I was 15 great days where has the time gone .
The grwtest race of all time Crisp put up an unbelievable performance under 12 stone and in hindsight he faced a near impossible task giving all that weight to Red Rum always spoilt for me by the death of Grey Sombrero a great horse in his own right.
Agree, possibly the best ever national. However when Red Rum won his 3rd national in 77 he too carried 12 stone and was also 12 years old. He just loved Aintree.
I love that little horse.........
Love the grand nationals of the 70s 80s and 90s
Easily the classiest ever Grand National field. The first 4 home all broke the course record.
Agreed
@@gazowenowen250 think hurricane rock 100 to 1 no hoper finished 5th smashed the course record by 5 seconds
1934's was classier.
The greatest jumps horse race ever and the greatest performance ever in a grand national when it was a horse race and a test not this cheap immatation it is now
9:00 is such an iconic image, one of the truly great sporting moments.
To say lescargot finished a bad 3rd is an understatement
I backed Crisp, so was a bit choked, but what a performance by Red Rum, who turned out to be a legend, whose record in five Nationals will never be beaten!
I agree. Crisp ran brilliantly and fought gallantly, but in the end the best horse won. Red Rum. Legend.
What a race!!!!!!!!!!
hard to believe but red rums first win was over 5 furlongs at Ayr that he could go all the way up to 36 furlongs to win the national is quite a amazing feat.
Not so, Red Rum first ran April 7 at Aintree, in a 5f selling plate, finished 1st in a dead heat
Poor crisp, he was practically running backwards after the last jump.
This was three years before I was born. However, this as the first of Red Rum's three Grand Nationals and worldwide celebrity. Yet this day I am sure virtually everyone was willing Crisp to hold on. Ran such a brave, bold race!
Crisp ran brilliantly, but it was Rummy who triumphed in spectacular fashion. He displayed the sheer skill, tenacity and courage that would eventually lead to his future breathtaking and record breaking successes. Brian Fletcher was a very talented jockey too and knew just how to get the best out of Rummy on the day.
The 23lbs weight advantage helped a bit......Fletcher rode a great race,switch the jockeys
and `Crisp` wins by 50 yards.............@@helenemillar7626
One of craziest but greatest races of all time.Red Rum what a horse.The greatest .
Martin Hill did crisp die??
Not just the greatest ever National (back in the days when it was a proper test) but quite possibly the greatest ever horse race.
1934 was the best ever Grand National.
Wonderful duel of course, but the terrible death of the beautiful Grey Sombrero still, for me, casts a pall over the whole race.
He got up as well from the fall. Did he break his leg?
@@mattylamb9194 Yes - broken leg. (How's that for a quick reply...?)
Sad indeed, beautiful horses killed in this manner
Actually Grey Sombrero fractured a shoulder and was destroyed by trigger happy vets
@@annabelladebonnay8320 Thank you for the information - I saw a documentary which said 'leg' - do you mean that he could and should have been saved?
Heartbreaking but red rum was as hard as nails when the fight came.
WEIGHT MIKE POOR CRISP
Jesus, how did Red Rum catch Crisp?
Incredible.
because crisp went off way to fast. Slow and steady always wins the race.
He only caught Crisp because Crisp was carrying 23lb more then Red Rum that day. Taking nothing away from Red Rum as he would later develop into an even better horse in the next few years to become the greatest Steeple Chaser of all time, But had Red Rum carried the same weight as Crisp that day, Crisp would have beat him by 100 meters. The old adage is each extra 1lb carried slows a horse 1/2 length over a mile, so think what 23lbs extra slowed Crisp over the Grand National distance. It's a shame they made Crisp carry the Grandstand that day but he was the best Steeple Chaser in the world at that time, and Red Rum was still a Youngster on the way up.
red rum run faster
DarthCipient magic horse.he was the national.
No, the fact remains that Red Rum won because he had more stamina and staying power. Crisp had run an amazing race, but he was exhausted and had run out of steam. It's that simple.
Unbelievable scenes!
RIP Brian Fletcher.
ive only just heard myself
A greatly underrated jockey, in my opinion, but one of the very best! RIP Brian Fletcher xx
little rummy was having none of it !
Both Red Rum and Crisp kind of laugh at these fences - the way they both skip Becher's second time. Effortless.
Red Rum-The greatest Grand National horse of all-time surely?
That's actually a fact, so yes!!
+Helene Millar it depends how you define greatest. Manifesto has 5 top 3 finishes and won the grand national twice in 1897 and 1899. In 1897 he won by 20 lengths which is still the biggest margin of victory. In 1899 he won the race carrying 12st 7 which is way more then red rum ever carried. He also finished 3rd in 1900 carrying 12st 13, and third in 1902 aged 14 carrying 12st 8. He also managed a 4th place in 1895. He took part 8 times in the race which is a record.
So, how come you never hear about Manifesto's achievements then, in the same way as you do Red Rum?
+Simon Pearn because it was before the days of TV coverage probably
I see what you mean Michael.
You still watch it even today and wonder if Red Rum is going to get up. What a horse Crisp was as well.
What isn't talked about is how far back lescargot came from. To get a place
Just before he fell Grey Sombrero reacted to Crisp dislodging some twig from a fence and went into that fateful fence unsettled and led to the fall that would sadly cost him his life . Before this he was jumping well and enjoying it
That was so sad. I always felt Grey Sombrero played a major role in the greatest National of all time if that might be any consolation to him bless him
Unlike some falls you see at Aintree - the video shows Grey Sombrero getting up and being led away from the circuit. With advancements in treatment would a horse such as Grey Sombrero be rehabilitated rather than euthanized these days?
@@JP1234815 you would like to think he would. And who knows what would have happened had he not succumbed to that fall. Maybe Red Rum would not have won and Aintree may well have been consigned to history as it is largely assumed that Red Rum saved the grand national
I've heard those stories too. Can't just have been Redrum though otherwise the race would have been scrapped 20-30 years ago (there was a lot of lobbying from Animal Welfare groups after the aborted 1993 race)..
@@JP1234815 unlikely, if I recall right he had a broken shoulder and that's a pretty serious injury, you can see how lame he was in the one or two strides he took after getting up.
I just replied to a comment here and something just occurred to me - peter O'Sullivan still seems so remarkable, reeling off all those names he presumably memorised along with their colours of course - but how do we know he didn't just name the leaders then just read out the others randomly??
I would like to address a few things from the comments below.
Many claim Crisp to be the greater horse as he would have beaten Red Rum on level weights. Sadly for Crisp, the Grand National is a handicap race, and although there was a big weight advantage to Red Rum the fact that there was so little between them as they crossed the line shows the handicapper did a fantastic job at assessing the weights (between Rummy and Crisp anyway).
Others claim the 12 stone Crisp carried was a huge weight that anchored him. I have to point out that Red Rum won easily the following year carrying 12 stone.
Some accuse Dick Pitman of having a terrible race on Crisp. I really find this hard to believe. I agree he made an error with the whip approaching the elbow, but Crisp blew away a field including top class horses (L'Escarcot and Spanish Steps spring to mind), and was only beaten by the horse with the best Grand National record in history, who had to break the race record to do it. But for coming up against Rummy he would have won easily, and everyone would be saying how well Pitman had ridden Crisp.
Crisp ran his heart out with sound tactics from the jockey, but was beaten by a horse with more stamina on the handicap.
summed up to perfection !
Nicely put David!
giving 1.5 stones over four miles cost Crisp the race.
Only 2 sporting moments made me cry this one and watson at turnberry with Gregory not beating Taylor either
The most exciting Grand N poor crisp got tired
I was working as a waiter in the Queens Hotel in Chester,when a lady customer said to me back Red Rum tomorrow,unknown to me it was the horse owners wife Mrs le Mare,they were staying at the hotel on the eve of the National,Red Rums first National win 1973.
Did you back it then
@@shaunrichardson9638 no mate.😢😢
Each time I watch this great race I think Crisp is going to win this time! What an effort in defeat. Worth remembering that he put the record straight the following season off level weights at Doncaster
50 years today
It is the way Crisp trots over Beechers 2nd time as if it is not there. And even over the 2nd last he is so far ahead - the greatest horse race of all time. 45 years later
Agreed!!
So great, he didn’t win a single national!!..but would have won 2 or 3 if there was no red rum.. u can see in the race’s there’s only two of them in the end the others are way back
Richard Pitman is the absolute gentleman.
Red rum the horse with aintree running through his veins
Sad for Crisp a great horse over laden with weight, but there's no getting away from it the local boy done good! Red Rum loved the National it was and still is his race
Why doesn't anyone here droning endlessly on about Crisp and the weight issue, just click on to Crisp's jockey Richard Pitman's insightful interview where he discusses exactly what happened on that fateful day. Do us all a favour!
@@helenemillar7626 You know it's pretty understandable to feel sorry for Crisp as he was so close to winning right? That's all most people are saying and you seem to be the one endlessly droning about how weights don't matter, when they clearly do, or else they wouldn't have been an integral part of horse racing for as long as they have been. That said, it obviously doesn't take anything away from Red Rum's remarkable, so far unmatched, achievements in the national.
As far as I can see, the only ones endlessly droning are you lot talking about how sad it was that Crisp didn't win! It was 46 years ago, for God's sake. let it go. I didn't say weights didn't matter, only they were not the main reason that Crisp failed to triumph ultimately. Watch the interview with Crisp's jockey on the day, Richard Pitman and all will become clear.
No need for an interview,Pitman has made several down the years. At Doncasrer after he easilly beat `Red Rum` in the rematch,Pitman declared `I think that proves who was the better horse...Anyway,ater the Hennessy in 1973`mwhen `Red Candle` beat `Red Rum` who was only given `
The days when the betting was more predictable :)
I love red rum but i did feel bad for Crisp tho. He reminded me of might bite this year a bit tipsy :) at the end :)
L'Escargot had a very strange ride. Pretty much at the back of the field until the final stages. Almost like he had tack problems or was nursing him round.
Well, they did go a very quick pace up front. Normally works holding your horse up in that scenario. Perhaps L'Escargot was a hold-up horse too?
R.IP Brian Fletcher3 wins on Rummy & Red Alligator
Crisps finish reminded me of the last 200 metres of my first mile I ran as an 11 year old🤣 Went off at 400 metre pace and died
Don;t you mean you went off at 100metre pace?
Brilliant memories, the weight crisp had told in the end.
Not the weight, staying power and stamina! Crisp ran out of petrol. Simple!
@@helenemillar7626This nonsense should stop,of course it was the weight,it`s a handicap isn`t it.This refusal to
accept the obvious is embarrassing to all of us who love the sport
Well done all them horses
....1969 was the first BBC transmission of the race in colour...
Yes highland wedding year
The irony is crisp would of won the national in this era
Princess Camilla - how prophetic. Just the 32 year wait.
he was havin a go at her then , she wasnt bad when she was young
Yeah, from a Princess Camilla with 4 legs to one with 2......and both similar in appearance!!!!!!!!
What's wrong with looking like 🐎
I just ran this race over today's National distance and Crisp wins by 15 lengths. He returns for the 1974 where he is allocated 13st 4lb. Red Rum, Crisp 12st, L'Escargot 12st and Spanish Steps 11st 13lb - there ever been a better collective 1-2-3-4?
L`escargot must have made up about 40/50 lengths on Spanish Steps from 2nd Bechers to beat him for third.
Not true. L'Escargot's last race was in the 1975 Whitbread Gold Cup, after which he was retired. It was Rag Trade who died in the 1978 National.
Watched L'escargot for the whole race...came from miles behind.
@@ElizabethCoral = so he retired the same season he won the National
the best grand national I have seen crisp was the best but red rum was the best on the day!
I agree, Crisp was the better horse, reflected by the weight difference in the handicap, Red Rum was the superior horse on the day. Crisp reversed the form to the tune of 6 lengths in a match race at level weights at Doncaster over 3 miles on Great Yorkshire chase day the following November.
In my view the best horse race of all time, even if the better horse didn‘t win because the weight handicap was just too much..🤷🏼♂️
remember crisp made the legend that was red rum
I LOVE THAT LITTLE HORSE BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT RUMMY'S VICTORY WAS CRISP'S TRAGEDY.
Has a kid.i remember crisp collapsing??
No handicapping in football.
1969 was the first one in colour. ..
The year I was born....
Brilliant 👏
2:40 Horse does a roly poly and gets straight back up.
If they ran that race this year, Crisp would have won by at least 10 lengths, after they have shortened the course by a furlong and a half. It's also now down to a pathetic 34 runners max. The powers that be won't be happy until it's a flat race over 5 furlongs.
Red Rum beat all the others giving 2 stone Crisp never did so if any one thinks Crisp was a better horse is delusional!!!
Crisp was carrying 12 stone, Red Rum 10 stone 5 lbs. Also, Crisp was a two-mile specialist (winning the Champion Chase at Cheltenham two years previously). Yes, Red Rum is aNational hero, but Crisp had more quality.
Crisp and Red Rum met again on level weights at Doncaster after this Grand National and Crisp won by 8 lengths proving he was superior.
....and in 1974 and again in 1977, Red Rum won carrying top weights, which for a small horse was phenomenol!! Fact.
many horses carried more than 10 stone in the national so to say Red Rum beat them all giving 2 stone isnt correct fine horse that he was. 74 he beat L;escargot giving him 1lb, a year later the tables were turned when Red Rum conceded 11lbs
That's not correct, Red Rum was not giving 2 stone. Crisp 12 stone, Red Rum 10 stone 5.
If you look carefully at Red Rum as he approaches a fence, the action of his legs change to something almost hesitant, careful, bit deliberate. Perhaps it was an idiosyncrasy he had.
Red Rum, Crisp and many others, leaping over Bechers Brook like gazelles with room to spare. What they've done to this course now and Bechers in particular is safety gone too far. In any sport, irrespective of whether you got two legs or four......athletes have different levels of ability and unfortunately, those who aren't as good at what they do as others, sometimes get found out in ways that are unpleasant to watch. Agreed, human athletes who are inferior don't get severely injured or even lose their life, but I feel the Animal Rights campaigners needed to appreciate the various levels of ability in horse racing I alluded to, before beginning the chain of events that have led to The Grand National being a pale shadow of its former self.
How can you call it the national now it’s over hurdles