The 1937 Grand National was the 96th running of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 19 March 1937. The estimated crowd of 300,000 is believed by the Aintree executive to be a record for the race, though only those who watched from the racecourse proper were charged admission.[1]

1937 Grand National
Grand National
LocationAintree Racecourse
Date19 March 1937
Winning horseRoyal Mail
Starting price100/6
JockeyWales Evan Williams
TrainerWales Ivor Anthony
OwnerHugh Lloyd Thomas
ConditionsSoft
← 1936
1938 →
External videos
video icon Highlights of the 1937 Grand National (British Pathé)

In attendance at Aintree were King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The steeplechase was won by the aptly-named Royal Mail, at odds of 100/6. The eight-year-old was ridden by jockey Evan Williams and trained by Ivor Anthony, for owner Hugh Lloyd Thomas.

Golden Miller, winner in 1934, went off as 8/1 favourite but refused at the tenth fence, the same obstacle he refused to jump in the 1935 National. Cooleen finished the race in second place, and finished fourth the following year and again in 1939. Pucka Belle was third and Ego fourth. Thirty-three horses ran and all returned safely to the stables.

Media coverage and aftermath

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Sixteen-year-old Bruce Hobbs was the youngest rider in the race and later commented that he would have been placed on his mount, Flying Minutes had he not become too excited four fences from home and fallen off in a manner similar to stepping of a bicycle. "Luckily there were no photographers at the fence to record it and I wasn't hurt."[2] Unfortunately for Hobbs he had forgotten that the newsreel cameras had covered the entire race and had indeed captured his fall on film.[3]

Finishing order

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Position Name Jockey Age Handicap (st-lb) SP Distance
1 Royal Mail Evan Williams 8 11-13 100/6[4] 3 Lengths
2 Coolean Jack Fawcus 9 11-4 10 Lengths
3 Pucka Belle Mr E Bailey 11 10-7
4 Ego Harry Llewellyn 10 10-9
5 Crown Prince Ronald Strutt 12 10-5
6 Pencraik George Archibald 10 10-3
7 Don Bradman Alec Marsh 11 10-8

Non-finishers

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Position/Fate Name Jockey Age Handicap (st-lb) SP
Refused (10th) Golden Miller Danny Morgan 10 12-7
Fell (2nd) What Have You Mr C.Streett 9 11-5
Fell (12th) Ready Cash Thomas F Carey 10 11-3
Unseated rider (8th) Delaneige Tim Hamey 12 11-2
Dawmar James 'Jim' Richardson 7 10-3
Didorio Frenchie Nicholson 8 10-10
Tapinois F Maxwell 9 10-10
Buckthorn Keith Piggott 9 10-9
Unseated rider (24th) Delachance Fred Rimell 8 10-9
Keen Blade Mr E.Paget 10 10-7
Sunspot II Bob Everett 7 10-5
Emancipator Peter Cazalet 9 10-5
Refused (Start) Misdemeanour II Sean Magee 8 10-4
Fell (27th) Flying Minutes Bruce Hobbs 7 10-2
Unseated rider (7th) Kiltoi Perry Harding 8 10-1
Milk Punch C.Wilson 13 10-0
Dryburgh B.Carter 8 10-0
Unseated rider (before 17th) Drim Mr M.Tighe 10 10-0
Irvine Mr A.Parker 8 10-0
Blaze Billy Parvin 8 10-0
Uncle Batt D.McCarthy 11 10-0
Field Master Mr Densham 9 10-0
Sugar Loaf Ernest Carr 10 10-0
True Blue Mr Cohen 9 10-0
Spionaud Eric Brown 9 10-0
Passing Fancy D.Holland 9 10-0

[5] [6]

References

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https://web.archive.org/web/20131227085539/https://www.sportsbookguardian.com/horse-racing/grand-national/winners

  1. ^ Sporting Life Souvenir Magazine, 4 April 1987, page 19
  2. ^ Sporting Life Preview Magazine, 9 April 1988, page 13
  3. ^ "1937 Grand National Great Footage,Royal Mail Wins" – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "1937".
  5. ^ "Aintree Grand National 1937".
  6. ^ "1937".