The 1962 Grand National was the 116th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 31 March 1962.
The race was won by Kilmore, a 28/1 shot ridden by jockey Fred Winter. The 12-year-old horse was trained by Ryan Price. Wyndburgh was second, and Mr. What finished third. Thirty-two horses ran and all returned safely to the stables.
Kilmore was owned by movie executives Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy.
Build Up Seventy seven entries were received and published on January 5th 1962 with Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Pas Seul topping the handicap ratings. Two former winners of the race, Merrymen II and Mr What were also entered, along with the defending champion, Nicolaus Silver and two entries, The Rip and Out of Town for Her Majesty the Queen. Only one entry, Cantina, from Ireland wasn't qualified to receive a handicap rating and would be allocated automatic top weight of 12 stones. Daily Mirror, January 5th 1962, Page 18
Finishing order PositionNameJockeyAgeHandicap (st-lb)SPDistance01KilmoreFred Winter1210-428/110 Lengths02WyndburghTommy Barnes1210-945/103Mr. WhatJohnny Lehane1210-922/104Gay NavareeTony Cameron1010-0100/105Fredith's SonFrancis Shortt1110-1166/106Dark VenetianPatrick Cowley710-0100/107Nicolaus SilverBobby Beasley1010-10100/908Cannobie LeeEddie Harty1110-140/109ErnestAlan Dufton1010-066/110Clover BudDavid Nicholson1210-4100/111Blonde WarriorTerry Biddlecombe1010-666/112SolfenToss Taaffe1011-29/113Merryman IIDavid Dick1111-820/114Colledge MasterLaurie Morgan1210-1333/115FortronRobin Langley910-0100/116PoliticsDave Bassett1010-0100/117Clear ProfitTim Ryan1210-066/1Last to Complete
Non-finishers
FenceNameJockeyAgeHandicap (st-lb)SPFate26SuperfineSir William Pigott-Brown910-6100/6Fell19Team SpiritWillie Robinson1010-622/1Fell01SpringbokPat Buckley810-6100/8Fell20KerforoPat Taaffe810-3100/9Fell19DuplicatorGeorge Milburn910-228/1Unseated Rider11SiracusaJosh Gifford910-033/1Fell21CarraroeWilliam McLernon1010-066/1Fell26TaxidermistJohn Lawrence1010-1020/1Pulled Up26ChavraMichael Scudamore910-750/1Pulled Up22ClipadorPaddy Farrell1110-466/1Pulled Up29VivantRex Hamey910-0100/6Pulled Up21MelillaGordon Cramp810-0100/1Pulled Up19Seas EndJohn Kempton1010-5100/1Unseated Rider [Remounted but immediately pulled up]19Frenchman's CoveStan Mellor711-57/1Brought Down16Dandy TimRoy Carter910-050/1Unseated Rider
The Grand National : the history of the Aintree spectacular, by Stewart Peters & Bernard Parkin,
Media coverage
The BBC covered its third Grand National with David Coleman again at the helm on Grand National Grandstand. Peter O'Sullevan, Bob Haynes and Peter Montague-Evans provided the commentary.
Quotes
"I can't understand why none of you [the newspaper tipsters] didn't tip him? After last year I knew he would win. I'm getting too old to enjoy these things." Winning jockey Fred Winter.
"I would nearly have won but he landed bang on top of the fourth fence out and it knocked all the steam out of him" Johnny Lehane, jockey of Mr What.
"He was cantering and wasn't so much brought down, as knocked over by a horse jumping across him. I think Team Spirit." Stan Mellor on the fate of Favourite, Frenchman's Cove.
References