The 1930 Grand National was the 89th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 29 March 1930.

1930 Grand National
Grand National
LocationAintree Racecourse
Date28 March 1930
Winning horseRepublic of Ireland Shaun Goilin
Starting price100/8
JockeyRepublic of Ireland Tommy Cullinan
TrainerRepublic of Ireland Frank Hartigan
OwnerWalter Midwood
ConditionsGood
← 1929
1931 →
External videos
video icon Silent highlights of the 1930 Grand National (British Pathé)

The race was won by 100/8 shot Shaun Goilin, who had been foaled in Ireland in unusual circumstances. According to reports, his dam - Golden Day - was stabled in a paddock next to another holding three colts. One of these seemingly jumped the fence and sired Shaun Goilin, who as a result remains unique among Grand National winners for having an unknown sire.[1][2]

Shaun Goilin was ridden by Irish jockey Tommy Cullinan and trained by Irish trainer Frank Hartigan, for owner Walter Midwood. The 10 year-old was well backed and started the race as second favourite behind Grakle, carrying a handicap of 11st 7lb. His price was seemingly shortened due to the thousands of Irish - including a number of Catholic priests - who romantically backed the combination of Irish horse, trainer and jockey.[3]

Despite good going only five of the 41 starters stayed the course and Derby Day was fatally injured in a fall.

The finish remains among the closest on record. By the last fence it was a straight shootout between the leading three; Melleray's Belle, Sir Lindsay and Shaun Goilin. On the final flat a burst of speed enabled Shaun Goilin to outpace his two rivals and win by a neck in the unusually fast time of 9 minutes, 40 3/4 seconds (compared with an average for the time of over 10 minutes).[4] So close was the finish that James Mason, riding Melleray's Belle, initially thought that he had won.[5]

Shaun Goilin's jockey, Cullinan, who had only been partnered with his horse three days before the off, remarked that his horse had provided him with an "armchair journey."[6] Cullinan said after the race;

"[Shaun Goilin] is the greatest leaper I have ever ridden… Really, all I had to do was a bit of work at the finish. The horse did the rest. Not one single mistake did he make, and right from the start I was going on the bit. The horse gave me such a confident feeling that the only surprising thing was that I didn't win by a wider margin. I just let him run along in my hands all the time, having in mind that I must save a bit for the finish. Everything went well in the first circuit, and I kept a good place, in nice touch with the leaders. We jumped the water second and when we got into the country again I let Glangesia continue to give me a lead. The field gradually thinned down, but no matter what came along to join us in the front rank, I felt my horse going strongly, and I had no fear. There were three of us left to fight it out coming on to the racecourse. Here I got my first shock. Two fences from home I lost an iron and had to jump the last fence with only one foot in a stirrup. I did not recover it until after passing the winning post, but though my horse rolled a bit after landing on the flat, he came again and ran his race out as game as a pebble, though we both had to put in all we knew to land that wonderful prize."[7]

Shaun Goilin's owner Midwood apparently gave Cullinan a cheque for £1,000 out of the £5,000 prize money he received for the win.[8]

Finishing order

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Position Name Jockey Age Handicap (st-lb) SP Distance
1 Shaun Goilin Tommy Cullinan 10 11-7 1012.5 100/8 Neck
2 Melleray's Belle James Mason 11 10-0 1020 20/1 3 Lengths[9]
3 Sir Lindsay Dudley Williams 9 10-6 1014.2857142857 100/7
4 Glangesia John Browne 10 10-4 1033 33/1
5 Ballyhanwood Eric Foster 9 10-4 1033 33/1
6 Royal Arch II Fred Thackeray 9 10-2 1050 50/1

Non-finishers

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Fence Name Jockey Age Handicap (st-lb) SP Fate
10 Gregalach Bob Everett 8 12-0 1016.6666666667 100/6 Fell
? Gate Book Tommy Morgan 9 11-8 1050 50/1 Fell
? Donzelon Bob Lyall 9 11-7 1066 66/1 Fell
? Grakle J Piggott 8 11-6 1008.3333333333 100/12 Fell
? Newsboy Captain Reginald Sassoon 9 11-4 1050 50/1 Fell
? Donegal Billy Speck 13 11-2 1025 25/1 Fell
? Lordi Billy Stott 9 11-2 1028 28/1 Knocked Over
? Alike Mr M Barry 7 11-0 1028 28/1 Fell
? Ibstock Kenyon Goode 10 10-12 1100 100/1 Pulled Up
? K.C.B. John Moloney 8 10-12 1022 22/1 Knocked Over
? Sandy Hook Ted Leader 9 10-12 1025 25/1 Knocked Over
? Peggie's Pride Tim McCarthy 7 10-11 1033 33/1 Fell
? Guiding Light Mr C W Langlands 9 10-11 1100 100/1 Fell
? Big Wonder Capt H N Webber 10 10-11 1050 50/1 Fell
? Savernake R McCarthy 10 10-10 1100 100/1 Fell
22 May King George Goswell jnr 11 10-9 1040 40/1 Fell
? Tootenhill C.Wenham ? ? 1033 33/1 Fell
? Paris Flight Tim Vinall 10 10-7 1100 100/1 Pulled Up
? Delarue Gerry Wilson 8 10-6 1100 100/1 Knocked Over
? Agden Mr D.P.G.Moseley 13 10-5 1050 50/1 Pulled Up
23+ Toy Bell Danny Morgan 8 10-5 1066 66/1 Fell
? Ruddyman Eric Brown 11 10-2 1100 100/1 Fell
? Blennerhasset Bill Dutton 11 10-2 1066 66/1 Fell
? May Crescent Gerald Hardy 8 10-2 1025 25/1 Fell
? Cryptical J.Bisgood 15 10-0 1100 100/1 Pulled Up
? Annandale Fred Gurney 8 10-0 1100 100/1 Fell
? The Monk Billy Parvin 8 10-0 1100 100/1 Pulled Up
? Soldier's Joy J Farrell 12 10-0 1100 100/1 Pulled Up
? Curtain Raiser Pat Powell 7 10-0 1100 100/1 Pulled Up
4 Derby Day Mr Stephenson 8 10-0 1100 100/1 Fell
? Gay Dog II Bill Gurney 10 10-0 1066 66/1 Pulled Up
? Merrivale II Fred Brookes 12 10-0 1040 40/1 Fell
? The Gosling A.Tannock 10 10-0 1100 100/1 Pulled Up
? Harewood Tim Hamey 8 10-0 1100 100/1 Fell
? Theorem George Owen jnr 13 10-0 1100 100/1 Fell

[10] [11]

[12] [13]

References

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  1. ^ ""Rapier" on Racing". Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News. 5 April 1930. Retrieved 17 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ "Shaun Goilin Triumphs". The Mail (Adelaide, SA: 1912 - 1954). 29 March 1930. Retrieved 22 April 2024 – via Trove.
  3. ^ "Irish Victory in the Grand National - Five Horses Finish". The Scotsman. 29 March 1930. Retrieved 17 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "Won by a Neck - Liverpool National". Sunday Mail (Brisbane: Qld: 1926 - 1954). 30 March 1930. Retrieved 22 April 2024 – via Trove.
  5. ^ "Grand National". Narembeen Observer (WA: 1928 - 1933). 4 April 1930. Retrieved 22 April 2024 – via Trove.
  6. ^ "Won by a Neck - Liverpool National". Sunday Mail (Brisbane: Qld: 1926 - 1954). 30 March 1930. Retrieved 22 April 2024 – via Trove.
  7. ^ "Racing Notes - The Rider's Story". Evening Star. 17 May 1930. Retrieved 23 April 2024 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  8. ^ "'Rapier' on Racing". The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News. 12 April 1930. Retrieved 19 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "1930".
  10. ^ "Aintree Grand National 1930".
  11. ^ The Grand National 1839-1930 by David Hoadley Munroe, ISBN 1135346437
  12. ^ "Grand National Winners – Sportsbook Guardian". Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  13. ^ "1930".