The 1964 Grand National winner was Team Spirit, who was narrowly ahead of Purple Silk in second place.
A winner at 18/1, it was the horse’s fifth attempt to win the race, all coming in consecutive years and his best effort prior to that was a fourth placed effort in 1963, a year before.
As a 12-year-old at the time of winning the race, this was always going to be his last chance of Aintree glory. Aided by being towards the very bottom of the weights, he didn’t let age stop him and came home to finally get his hands on the prize.
In each of those five runs, he was ridden by regular jockey Willie Robinson, who gained his one and only Grand National victory of his career here.
The trainer was Fulke Walwyn, and it was his only grand National win during his career. He took over the training of Team Spirit in 1963, so he gave that horse a fourth and first place finish under his care, the best two, and, of course, most importantly, because of the win.
Air Crash Kills Five Before Race
The 1964 Grand National took place under a cloud as news emerged of a light aircraft crashing near the course.
Inside were five people, including a journalist and broadcaster Nancy Spain, all of which were heading to the course to watch the big race.
The crash occurred close to the racecourse, and all five people inside the aircraft were confirmed to be dead at the scene.
Results
| Result | Horse | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Prize Money | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Spirit | 18/1 | 12 | 10-3 | £20380 | Willie Robinson | Fulke T Walwyn |
| 2 | Purple Silk | 100/6 | 9 | 10-4 | £2765 | John Kenneally | G M Vergette |
| 3 | Peacetown | 40/1 | 10 | 10-1 | £1295 | Roy Edwards | George R Owen |
| 4 | Eternal | 66/1 | 13 | 10-2 | £647 | Steve Davenport | R F Palmer |
| 5 | Pontin-Go | 66/1 | 12 | 10-00 | - | Peter Jones | William Cyril “Bill” Marshall |
| 6 | Springbok (2) | 100/6 | 10 | 10-11 | - | Gerry Scott | Neville Franklin Crump |
| 7 | April Rose | 22/1 | 9 | 10-00 | - | Eddie Harty | A S Kilpatrick |
| 8 | Baxier | 40/1 | 8 | 10-00 | - | William McLernon | A S O’Brien |
| 9 | Crobeg | 50/1 | 11 | 10-4 | - | John Lawrence | P R Stringer |
| 10 | Pappageno's Cottage | 100/7 | 9 | 11-10 | - | Pat Taaffe | James Kenneth Murray Oliver |
| 11 | John O'Groats | 22/1 | 10 | 10-3 | - | Paul Kelleway | L Dale |
| 12 | Supersweet | 40/1 | 7 | 10-1 | - | Paddy Broderick | William Arthur Stephenson |
| 13 | Claymore | 50/1 | 11 | 10-00 | - | Colin Davies | C H Davies |
| 14 | Out And About | 33/1 | 9 | 10-1 | - | Bruce Gregory | K Cundell |
| 15 | Sea Knight | 66/1 | 9 | 11-10 | - | Paul Nicholson | William Arthur Stephenson |