Battleship

If you look solely at his Grand National record, with one visit to the race and one win, there’s not much to say about Battleship. But this horse has plenty more to talk about, beginning with the fact that he was an American bred runner, a rarity in the Grand National.

At the time of his success, he was an entire horse, the first one of those to win since Grudon in 1901, and no others have managed to win the race since.

He broke another record by being the first horse to win both the Aintree Grand National and the American Grand National, an incredibly unique and niche double that few will ever attempt, never mind win both.

The horse would begin his racing career as a flat runner before being trained for jumps racing after he was purchased by new owners. He would start well in the USA at the time, winning three of his first four starts, which would prompt connections to send him to the American Grand National, a race he would win.

At the time, this was the most prestigious jumps race in the USA, a big pot to win, and that immediately put the horse in the spotlight, but only across in America.

In 1936, the horse was sent across to Reg Hobbs in the UK to continue his racing career, with the Aintree Grand National being his long-term target. After an injury, he got underway in good style, winning several races in 1936 and 1937.

However, the British press were not impressed with him. He was seen as a non-stayer, and for those who thought he could stay, he was seen as a horse that was too small to run in the Grand National and get around the jumping test it brings.

The initial target was the 1937 race, but trainer Hobbs believed he wasn’t ready to go for such a test, so he withdrew him at the final acceptance stage, keeping him for the following year.

It was a masterstroke, after winning five of 13 races in between, he was ready to run in 1938, and he didn’t make a mistake. He proved the doubters wrong, he was big enough to jump around Aintree, and he was a strong enough stayer to get home over the trip.

After winning the Grand National, Battleship was sent back to the US, with his trainer and jockey from Aintree accompanying him on the boat back home. A huge crowd met the horse when he docked, celebrating the win.

As an entire, he would move on to have a stud career, siring 58 foals, including some champions.

A horse that made his mark in the USA would then make his mark in the biggest race of them all in the UK, and would then have success in the breeding barn. He would be inducted into the Hall of fame for racing in the United States in 1969 to highlight further what a decorated career he had.

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