Red Alligator was a champion
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...
racehorse
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic ...
who won the
Grand National
The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handica ...
in
1968
The year was highlighted by Protests of 1968, protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide.
Events January–February
* January 5 – "Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechos ...
. He also came third the previous year and was favorite in 1969 but fell at the 19th fence. Red Alligator was the third horse in succession to carry exactly 10 stone. He was the fifth since the end of the Second World War to win while carrying exactly 10 stone in weight and began at 100-7.
Grand National record
Red Alligator was a nine-year-old when he won in 1968. Owned by Mr J Manners, he was trained by
Denys Smith in County Durham and ridden by
Brian Fletcher
Brian Fletcher (18 May 1947 – 11 January 2017) was an English jockey known for riding the horse Red Rum to win the Grand National in 1973 and 1974 and for second place in 1975. He first won the Grand National at the age of 20, in 1968 ridin ...
. His S/P for the race was 100/7. Jockey Fletcher was 19 at the time and went on to ride
Red Rum
Red Rum (3 May 1965 – 18 October 1995) was a champion Thoroughbred steeplechaser. He achieved an unmatched historic treble when he won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and also came second in the two intervening years, 1975 and ...
to his first two victories in the Grand National.
In the
previous year's race, Fletcher had also ridden Red Alligator but had been one of the many whose chances were thwarted by the infamous “Foinavon pile up” at the 23rd fence. The jockey had remounted, but without a clear run up due to the melée took three attempts to clear the fence and finished third to
Foinavon. Red Alligator was then favourite in the 1969 race but fell at the 19th fence. He was rumoured to be drugged in the stables before the start as he did not run anywhere near to his full potential
Commemorations
Red Alligator's Grand National win was commemorated by a local brewery who renamed a pub near Denys Smith's farm outside Bishop Auckland in his honour. Smith was a regular in the popular pub/restaurant and told stories from his training days. The stables which housed Red Alligator were within a few hundred yards of the pub but have since been demolished. However, his photos are still featured in the pub named after him.
See also
*
Repeat winners of horse races
*
1968 Grand National
External links
Red Alligators grand national siteRed Alligators pedigreeVideo of Red Alligator winning the 1968 grand national
* http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/horseracing/11405313.In_memory_of_Denys_Smith___Talking_Horses_2014__Raising_a_glass_to_one_of_the_greats_of_North_East_racing/
Racing Post{Not a typo, def, initly-has-great-chance-of-being-the-next-red-national-hero/280138
1959 racehorse births
Thoroughbred family 14-f
Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom
Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom