Let's talk about... Foinavon's Grand National success in 1967

We want your feedback. Do you recall Foinavon's win? Can you recall a luckier winner - in the National or any race? Who were your lucky winners? Check out details of how to contact us towards the foot of the article...

Ben Linfoot – The luckiest of them all

It’s sad that there is to be no Grand National this year, especially so as Tiger Roll was aiming to become the first horse in the race’s history to win three successive renewals.

Let’s hope he can still go for that accolade in 2021.

But at least we can reminisce on some of the great stories the Grand National has produced over the years, as we will be doing all week on Sporting Life. There are plenty of them.

Foinavon, in 1967, was the luckiest of them all.

Seventh of seven in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on his previous start, Foinavon was sent off at 100/1 for the Grand National – 444/1 on the tote – and quickly fell back through the field after beginning prominently.

He only had a few horses behind him as the field approached the 23rd fence, where the loose Popham Down caused the most famous melee in racing’s history.

As a host of jockeys were made to put the brakes on havoc ensued, with many refusing and others being completely taken out.

Only Foinavon jumped the fence first time without halting his rhythm, thanks to some quick thinking from his jockey, John Buckingham, who had a good view of the carnage coming from the rear.

As you can see from the footage below on YouTube, he still had plenty to do, even if he did emerge from the ruckus with a huge lead.

Seven fences on his own at the end of the National – it wouldn’t have been a surprise had he idled and let the pursuers back in. But Foinavon had decided there had been enough drama for one day.

“It is to Foinavon’s eternal credit that he did not refuse, either at the melee, where he had every excuse to, or when he was out on his own and especially when he was tiring,” Buckingham said in Anne Holland’s fantastic book, The Grand National.

“When I saw Honey End and Greek Scholar coming, I didn’t think they could catch me, but I gave him one slap after the last, just in case. I must admit I was nearly unconscious at the end of it.”

Credited with saving the National after sparking public interest in the race at a time when it really needed it, Foinavon’s story will be retold for years to come.

They won’t jump the fence they named after him this year, the 23rd where he stole the race 53 years ago. But they will next year. We can’t wait.

Send us your views

Send your comments and contributions on Foinavon and any other lucky winners to

It contains a huge number of recollections of the race, including from at least two-thirds of the jockeys riding in it.

John Moran:

When trained in Ireland (by Tom Dreaper If I remember correctly) Foinavon was ridden by the late great Pat Taaffe of Arkle fame. Pat recounted that in one race they fell, Pat was thrown forward and when he glanced back Foinavon was still down but chomping grass! Laid back horse for sure!

The commentator M O’Hehir was “on” at that fence and immediately picked up Foinavon who had barely been mentioned in the race up to then. O’Hehir later related that he had been in the weighing room when John Buckingham passed by in his colours which O’Hehir realised that he did not recognise and had to look up! Serendipity.

Andrew Woodward:

I was 11 at the time and I remember the race really well because my father had a good bet on the favourite – Honey End, ridden by Josh Gifford. He had also picked the horse in the company sweepstake and that’s why he had a bet. When the disaster happened and the loose horse Popham Down veered across the 23rd fence and caused the melee my dad was beside himself…

Honey End went on to finish second but never stood a chance of catching Foinavon. Of course dad never won a penny on the race..

Celia Stevens:

On the day before the Grand National 1967 myself and a friend decided we'd go to the National. (In those days you could just turn up and get in!) I was 20, working in a point to point yard and had never been to Aintree, neither had my friend.

We drove there in a beaten up old van, all the way from East Anglia! When we arrived somehow we got lost and ended up the other side of the course on the railway embankment right by fence 23. We were really cross at not getting into the stands but still enjoying the racing.

We had an amazing view of the GN field first time round, but couldn't quite believe what was unfolding in front of ours eyes when Popham Down just ran along the fence in front of all the other runners.In the mayhem I remember jockeys running to the side of the fence, one was deposited right in the middle of it, loose horses milling around everywhere, shouting and swearing, with jockeys trying to catch their horses after the initial chaos, jumping back on them and attempting to catch Foinavon.

It was one of those spectacles that suddenly happens and you can't quite believe it is really happening. It really isn't until afterwards that the enormity of it sinks in!

Watching the race again it all came back. I am lucky enough to have been involved in racing one way or another ever since What a fabulous sport!

Dave Parker:

Great watching the 1967 Grand National I was only ten but I had backed Red Alligator each way thanks to my Father well I was under age and that was in the days of tax on your bets !!!

Fionavon was the luckiest winner of the National but what about quick thinking by John Buckingham to take the horse to the right of the pile up ?

It is hard to say you only hear Fionavon mentioned once in running prior to the pole up so how much time did he have to miss the pile up ?

The luckiest winner I have seen in recent times was this years Triumph hurdle Willie Mullins the winning trainer could hardly speak, so sad for a horse that prior to Cheltenham if there was any weakness had been his jumping but he was perfect on the day apart from the last hurdle poor Goshen

The luck of the Irish !!!!!!

George Goodenough:

I too was at Goodwood for the 1983 Richmond I was there for the 1984 Sussex Stakes when Creag an Sgor again lined up. I put him in a 7/1 forecast with Chief Singer. Chief Singer duly won a battle with Rousillon, Creag an Sgor 3rd. I was young and even more stupid then so threw my ticket in disgust. Roussillon was subsequently disqualified and search as I might I couldn't find that wretched ticket!

Since then course tickets now go home with me before binning. I've watched Devon Loch time and again and I'm convinced he saw the water in his peripheral vision and went to jump it. He then realised it wasn,'t there and tried to adjust but ended up in a heap.

On a similar note it's worth watching the Annie Power fall again. I'm convinced that both she and Glen's Melody saw the shadow as an open ditch. Glen's Melody jumped it like a showjumper at the Puissance and got away with it. Annie Power went for the Olympic Long Jump and paid the price. I had a fiver on the Mullins acca 😥.

Andrew Pelis:

Hi Ben, I hope you are keeping well. Certainly Foinavon was lucky in the sense that the race literally fell apart for him.

E.S.B. surely was an even luckier winner of the race as his chance manifested much closer to the line and in the more unlikely circumstances of being on the flat, when Devon Loch inexplicably collapsed?

On the flat, I remember the 1983 Richmond Stakes in which the third horse home, Godstone, was awarded the race, after Lester Piggott and Vacarme - and future Middle Park Stakes winner Creag Ans Gor, were both disqualified.

Have a great day.

Andrew

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