Despite being run in March, wintery conditions greeted the runners and riders in the 1866 Grand National, with soft ground and snow on the day, making this a very tough test for those involved.
Of the 30 runners that took part in the race, just seven were able to complete in a really testing race for all concerned. An outsider would take the contest, with Salamander crossing the line in first place in what would be his first Grand National attempt.
He would come away from the field to win the race by ten lengths, with Cortolvin in second place, who would come back a year later and go one better, winning the 1867 edition.
With odds of 40/1 on him, Salamander was not fancied by too many people on what would be his first and only Grand National run during his career. He would not return after this to try and defend his title.
J.Walters was the winning trainer, and he would be having his one and only ever Grand National runner here, so both the horse and trainer held no prior Aintree experience. This probably goes a long way to explaining the big odds on him winning here, as there wasn’t much for punters to go off.
However, the winning rider did have some experience. Alec Goodman did the steering to win this, and it would be his ninth Grand National ride, while it would be his second winner.
Goodman won the Grand National for the first time in 1852, steering Miss Mowbray to success with his first-ever Grand National ride. He would end his career with 11 Grand National rides, two wins and two placed efforts.
Alcibiade, winner in the 1865 race, would come back here to defend his crown but would fall and fail to complete the course.
Results
| Result | Horse | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Prize Money | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salamander | 40/1 | 7 | 10-7 | £1600 | Alec Goodman | J Walters |
| 2 | Cortolvin (1) | 8/1 | 7 | 11-6 | - | Johnny Page | Chris Green |
| 3 | Creole | 15/1 | 7 | 10-10 | - | George Waddington | J Stephenson |
| 4 | Lightheart | 50/1 | Unknown | 11-5 | - | E Jones | J Peace |
| 5 | Merrimac | 25/1 | 9 | 10-7 | - | Capt Arthur Tempest | W Burbidge |
| 6 | The Doctor | 20/1 | 5 | 10-00 | - | George Stevens | Unknown |
| 7 | Frank | 50/1 | 11 | 11-8 | - | Capt P Lawrence | Unknown |
Non Finishers
| Horse | Fence | Reason | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garotter | FNC AFT Valentines Brook 1ST CIR | Brought Down | 50/1 | 5 | 10-7 | G Ryan | Unknown |
| Milltown | FNC AFT Bechers Brook 1ST CIR | Fell | 50/1 | 5 | 10-4 | Tommy Pickernell | Unknown |
| Ace Of Hearts (2) | LATE 1ST CIR | Pulled Up | 50/1 | 6 | 10-2 | George Ede | Chris Green |
| Columbia | LATE 1ST CIR | Pulled Up | 1000/15 | 6 | 10-10 | William Reeves | W Burbidge |
| Ibex | 1 | Fell | 25/1 | 6 | 10-12 | Charles Boyce | J Stinton |
| Mistake | Anchor Bridge Crossing 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 25/1 | 6 | 10-9 | J Knott | Briggs |
| The Tavern | Anchor Bridge Crossing 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 50/1 | 6 | 10-10 | John Holman | T Parr |
| Cutler | Canal Turn 1ST CIR | Fell | 50/1 | 7 | 10-00 | A Thorpe | G Palmer |
| Glencairn | EARLY 2ND CIR | Unknown | 50/1 | 7 | 11-4 | Unknown | W Burbidge |
| King Of Hearts | EARLY 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 30/1 | 7 | 10-2 | A Sadler | Unknown |
| Philosopher | 3 | Fell | 50/1 | 7 | 10-7 | John Wheeler | Tom Olliver |
| Real Jam | Anchor Bridge Crossing 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 12/1 | 7 | 10-00 | David Hughes | David Hughes |
| Reporter | LATE 1ST CIR | Pulled Up | 50/1 | 7 | 11-4 | Alfred French | Chris Green |
| Effenberg | Anchor Bridge Crossing 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 50/1 | 8 | 12-8 | R Twiddy | R Twiddy |
| Sir William (2) | 2 | Refused | 50/1 | 8 | 10-7 | H Ellison | Unknown |
| Hall Court | FNC AFT Valentines Brook 1ST CIR | Fell | 30/1 | 7 | 11-12 | J Reeves | W Saunders |
| West End | LATE 1ST CIR | Pulled Up | 50/1 | 8 | 10-5 | Walter White | Unknown |
| Thomastown | Canal Turn 2ND CIR | Fell | 50/1 | 13 | 11-4 | J Murphy Jnr | James Murphy |
| Alcibiade | Bechers Brook 2ND CIR | Fell | 9/1 | 6 | 12-2 | Ben Land Jnr | C Cornell |
| L'Africain | EARLY 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 100/7 | 7 | 13-2 | George Holman | J Purnell |
| Stella | END 1ST CIR | Pulled Up | 50/1 | 7 | 10-7 | W Jarvis | J Hopwood |
| Stanton | FNC AFT Bechers Brook 1ST CIR | Fell | 50/1 | 8 | 10-12 | H Welsh | W Scott |
| Laura | LATE 1ST CIR | Pulled Up | 7/1 | 5 | 11-00 | Harry Lamplugh | S Booth |