Zoedone

Zoedone is one of the small number of Grand National-winning mares after claiming the race in 1883. This would be her second attempt to win the race, from a total of four runs, landing the spoils after going close and finishing third a year earlier.

The race in 1883 came at a time when there wasn’t much growth in the race, if you discount the unofficial runnings to start the Grand National, then this is the race that has the smallest ever recorded field.

But of course, the test still needs to be completed, so let’s not take anything away from Zoedone for her achievement.

Bred in France, she was trained in England, and would have a man, Count Charles Kinsky, who would both ride her in races and also own her. He was a wealthy man, but also a good jockey.

There’s no record of the winning distance, but we do know that conditions were incredibly tough, with heavy ground for the participants involved.

A year before her win in 1883, Zoedone would finish a close third in the race, which was again a very strong performance. Then she would be back for more after the win, finishing 6^th when trying to defend her crown in 1884, and then falling in the race in 1885, her final attempt.

She had plenty more weight on her back for those final two runs, and given that mares are often smaller than male horses, that was a lot for her to carry on her back.

Take nothing away from Zoedone, who was an excellent race mare and joined an elite group of runners who won the Grand National as a mare. With racing for mares still not enormously popular, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see a huge number of mares winning this race, keeping her place in a special group.

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