Jay Trump

It is fair to say that Jay Trump was not your traditional Grand National winner. Taking the race in 1965, this American-bred runner would complete the rare feat of taking in his racing career across both the UK and USA.

Given the strange nature of his racing career, Jay Trump caught the eye as a UK runner when he came across to these shores, and not only that, but he was able to set a few records along the way.

In terms of the Grand National, Jay Trump would become the first American-bred runner to win the Grand National, as well as the first American-ridden runner to win it.

On top of that, he is just one of two runners and was the first to do so, to complete the very unique Maryland Gold Cup and Grand National double, though, of course, not too many have actually tried to do this.

As for the win itself, Jay Trump landed a very narrow success ahead of the strong favourite, Freddie. Jay Trump would take the race by a close margin.

He would race in the USA before coming to run in the UK for one season, and after winning the Grand National, he returned to the USA, where he would continue racing. He had big race success in the states both before and after he won the Grand National.

This horse would also play a big part in the career of his trainer, Fred Winter. He was making a name for himself as a trainer but was not quite in the big time and hadn’t won the Grand National before this.

In fact, if you go back to the start of Jay Trump’s carer in the UK, his first win on English soil was actually also the first winning of Winter’s training career.

Trusted with the training of Jay Trump, that was a big nod to his abilities, and of course, winning the Grand National certainly made everyone take note. Winter would continue to thrive and would actually go on to win the Grand National again 12 months later with another horse named Anglo.

Jay Trump’s Big Race Wins

Looking at the UK first, Jay Trump would run for one season, coming across and under the training of Fred Winter.

He would win three minor races in the UK to get his career off to a great start, all prep runs for what was to come. Next up was the King George VI Chase at Kempton, where he was fancied to go well.

Unfortunately, he could only finish second that day, but it was a sign of just how good this horse was. Then, onto the Grand National, the only big race win in the UK of Jay Trump’s career, winning narrowly at Aintree.

Before the Grand National, while in the USA, Jay Trump would win the Maryland Gold Cup in 1963 and 1964, setting the course record at the time when winning the race in 1963.

After the Grand National, Jay Trump would go to France, to run in the Grand Steeplechase, a bold plan, but despite being sent off as the favourite, he could only finish third in that top-quality race.

After that, it was back to his native USA, where training would resume once again, with the Maryland Gold Cup named as the big target for him. Despite his trip to Europe and being two years older than when he last won the race, he was able to return home and win the Maryland Gold Cup in 1966 for one last time.

Immediately after winning that race, he was retired from racing, which he thoroughly deserved.

Completing the rare feat of big race wins in the UK and USA, Jay Trump has been inducted into the United States Racing Hall of Fame, and after his death, was buried at the finishing line on the Kentucky Horse Park’s steeplechase course.

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