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The Grand National. Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, Merseyside. Cavalcade at the first fence, where so many horses came to grief last year. Early Mist takes an early lead. The eventual winner was Teal, ridden by Republic of Ireland jockey Arthur P. Thompson. Picture taken 5th April 1952 
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I doubt that's Early Mist in the lead. He fell at the first, but won it the following year, the first of 3 consecutive for Vincent O'Brien. In all, 10 horses failed to get past the first fence, which was 2 fewer than the year before. One of them was Irish Lizard, who was brought down at the first in both years. In 1953, Irish Lizard won the Topham (ridden by Dick Francis), and 2 days later came 3rd in the National (ridden by Bob Turnell). In 1954 he was again 3rd in the National, ridden by Michael Scudamore. In 1957, he ran in the race for the last time, aged 14, and was ridden by 18yo David Nicholson, having his first ride in the race and only his 5th over fences. They fell at Bechers first circuit, where Nicholson blamed himself for not riding the horse into fence and so not having enough momentum to clear it.
Teal was bred in Ireland, and his breeder tried to sell him as a 2yo, together with another horse, for a fiver the pair, but the buyer refused. He later sold the pair for £35. The man who bought them sold Teal on for £38 for use as a hack. Teal went on to run in PTPs and won several, and made his racecourse debut as a 9yo in a hunter chase at Hexham, where he fell and was remounted to finish 3rd. He then won a hunter chase at Kelso impressively, after which he changed hands for £2,000. His breeder went to see him win at Aintree. 1952 was the year when the Tophams did the commentary on the Grand National. There had been a big stand-off between them and the BBC beforehand (the BBC offered them £150 to cover it), because the Tophams thought the Grand National wouldn't survive if people stayed at home to watch it on TV rather than come to Aintree and pay to get in to see it. |
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Surely it was never going to be on TV in'52. You must mean radio. First TV national was '60.
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A printed statement (by Tophams) on the dispute was included with racecards sold for the 1952 Grand National meeting, saying that 'television was being demanded, yet it was an obvious threat to the survival of the Grand National. They wanted to allow it, but not if it killed the race by keeping all but the enthusiasts at the fireside should the weather be bad. How could they hope to recoup their outgoings when the B.B.C. offered a fee for televising the race of only £150?'
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ri6Ot256IA
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thanks ged
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The Epsom Derby was screened on TV in 1938 and 1939 but after the war Epsom took the same view as the Tophams and television coverage, I think, didn't resume until ITV won the coverage contract in 1960.
I saw a book, in a charity shop for 20p, called Epsom Racecourse and couldn't resist. Didn't find it an easy read but got me to remember when the Grand Metroplitan (up to 1985 I think) was a long distance race and ran through the centre of the course. Sad it had to end. |
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Also, this is from the wiki page for the 1951 race, the year before....
'The BBC had requested to screen the race live on Television but Aintree refused, leaving the BBC light radio programme to issue a thirty-minute broadcast at 3pm.' I think the 'battle' between the Tophams and the BBC went on for some time. Mirabel Topham's leg of the 1952 live commentary, before she hands over to 'Johnny', was quite funny - not sure if its findable on the web - I haven't tried very hard. |