1960 Grand National

The 1960 Grand National was the 114th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 26 March 1960. The steeplechase was won by nine-year-old Merryman II, who, at odds of 13/2, became the first clear favourite to win for 33 years. His jockey, 22-year-old Gerry Scott, had been lucky to take part in the race, having broken his collarbone two weeks prior.

1960 Grand National
Grand National
LocationAintree Racecourse
Date26 March 1960
Winning horseMerryman II
JockeyGerry Scott
TrainerNeville Crump
OwnerMiss. Winifred H. Wallace
ConditionsGood
External video
BBC coverage in full
Highlights of the 1960 Grand National (British Pathé)

The top weight was officially reduced to a maximum of 12 stone from 12 stone 7 lbs, though it had been over a decade since any horse had been asked to shoulder such a burden.[1]

Finishing order
Position Name Jockey Age Handicap (st-lb) SP Distance
01 Merryman II Gerry Scott 9 10-12 13/2
02 Badanloch Stan Mellor 9 10-9 100/7
03 Clear Profit Jumbo Wilkinson 10 10-1 20/1
04 Tea Fiend Gerry Madden 11 10-0 33/1
05 Sabaria Mick Roberts 9 10-3 66/1
06 Green Drill George Milburn 10 10-3 33/1
07 Arles Tony Moule 8 10-4 45/1
08 Skatealong Ron Harrison 12 10-0 66/1

Non-finishers
Fence Name Jockey Age Handicap (st-lb) SP Fate
22 Mr What Arthur Freeman 10 11-11 18/1 Fell
06 Wyndburgh Michael Scudamore 10 11-7 8/1 Unseated Rider
08 Dandy Scot Fred Winter 10 11-7 10/1 Fell
15 Holly Bank Peter Brookshaw 13 10-12 50/1 Fell
28 Clanyon Taffy Jenkins 12 10-8 50/1 Fell
06 Knoxtown Eddie Harty 10 10-5 45/1 Fell
20 Skipper Jack Dan O'Donovan 8 10-4 66/1 Fell
22 Pendle Lady Maurice Towers 10 10-4 40/1 Fell
09 Jonjo Pat Taaffe 10 10-4 50/1 Fell
15 Uncle Whiskers Cathal Finnegan 8 10-1 50/1 Fell
15 Belsize II Paddy Shortt 11 10-0 66/1 Refused
01 Lotoray Michael Batchelor 10 10-6 66/1 Fell
22 Aliform Anthony Biddlecombe 8 10-0 45/1 Fell
18 Irish Coffee William St George Burke 10 10-11 66/1 Pulled Up
08 Clover Bud Toss Taaffe 10 10-1 20/1 Pulled Up
29 Eagle Lodge Bill Rees 11 10-1 45/1 Pulled Up
22 Team Spirit Willie Robinson 8 10-12 9/1 Unseated Rider
22 Cannobie Lee David Nicholson 9 10-7 100/9 Refused

[2] [3] [4]

Media coverage and aftermath

This was the first year that the National was broadcast live on television. The presenter, Cliff Michelmore, who stepped in at the last minute for David Coleman, who was suffering from appendicitis, told viewers they were witnessing television history. The BBC deployed 16 cameras to Aintree, with Peter O'Sullevan (who had covered the race on radio since 1947) commentating on his first of 38 televised Grand Nationals. O'Sullevan later described his nervousness at commentating on the famous race for the first time on television, his nerves amplified by a restricted view and an unreliable monitor.[5]

Co-commentator Peter Bromley recalled, "They had built an enormous tower in the middle of the course so that we could see the majority of the action. It was so huge that the thing was swaying and I felt most unsafe. Conversely the view was excellent and having told a few chums of my position for the Foxhunters Chase two days before the National, I found the late Ryan Price's wife, Dorothy and Fred Winter's wife Di, as guests for the big race. Fred was riding Dandy Scot for Ryan and the ladies thought they would take advantage of the unique viewing position. I applauded them for even managing to climb the endless and precarious ladders up the side of the scaffolding. A further surprise almost made me drop my binoculars when Fred, who had fallen at the Canal Turn, joined us in the crows nest and the first I knew of his presence was when he tapped me on the shoulder while I was commentating and said 'Watcha Cock!"[6]

References
  1. Sporting Life Souvenir Magazine, 4 April 1987, page 22
  2. The Grand National : the history of the Aintree spectacular, by Stewart Peters & Bernard Parkin, ISBN 0-7524-3547-7
  3. "1960/61 - The Grand National and Aintree 1960-1969". sixtiesnationals.webs.com. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  4. "Past Winners of The Grand National". grand-national.net. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  5. "BBC Sport - Grand National: Neptune Collonges seals dramatic victory". BBC. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  6. Sporting Life Souvenir Magazine, 4 April 1987, page 25


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