The 1965 Grand National saw a great finish, after over four miles, two runners could hardly be split, and gave us a great tussle up the straight and to the winning line.
Jay Trump was the winner. He was an American-bred horse who made a name for himself in the States before coming to the UK and showing just how good he was to fans in this country.
When he came over, he was sent to Fred Winter for training, which was a surprise, as the first race that Jay Trump won was also the first winner for Winter as a trainer. It would have been easy to go with an established name, but Winter thrived on the challenge.
Jockey Tommy Smith, who actually purchased Jay Trump for his owner earlier in his career, would come across to the UK with him and ride him while on these shores.
Freddie was the unlucky second in the race, finishing second here and then filling the same spot a year later in 1966. He was a heavily backed favourite on both occasions but couldn’t quite get the job done.
We didn’t know it at the time, but this was the start of a Grand National double for Fred Winter. The trainer won this in 65, then came back and won the race again in 66, that time with Anglo. Winter’s first winner as a trainer came in October 64, so in the 18 months after that first-ever win, he would take the Grand National title twice.
Americans Break Records on Grand National Trip
It was certainly a bold plan to bring a horse from the USA over to the UK in a bid to win the Grand National, but it had been thought out for some time. Initially, the plan was to try and win the 1964 Grand National, but Jay Trump was held back for one more year to gain further experience, and it paid off.
He would win the Maryland Hunt Cup in 1963 and 1964 before he came to the UK, then won it again in 1966 upon his return to the USA.
In the UK, Jay Trump won three prep races before finishing second in the King George VI Chase at Kempton, then winning the Grand National on his final start.
Records fell, he was the first horse to win the Maryland Hunt Cup and Grand National double, as well as being the first American bred and ridden horse to win the Grand National at Aintree.
The globetrotting continued after Aintree, Jay Trump went to France for the Grand Steeplechase but could only manage third after a long and hard season.
Results
| Result | Horse | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Prize Money | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jay Trump | 100/6 | 8 | 11-5 | £22491 | Tommy Smith | Frederick Thomas Winter |
| 2 | Freddie | 7/2 | 8 | 11-10 | £2508 | Pat McCarron | R Tweedie |
| 3 | Mr Jones | 50/1 | 10 | 11-5 | £1254 | Chris Collins | William Arthur Stephenson |
| 4 | Rainbow Battle | 50/1 | 9 | 10-13 | £627 | George Milburn | C Bewicke |
| 5 | Vultrix | 100/6 | 7 | 11-1 | - | David Nicholson | Francis Cundell |
| 6 | L'Empereur | 100/1 | 11 | 10-13 | - | John Ciechanowski | Jack O’Donaghue |
| 7 | The Rip | 9/1 | 10 | 11-5 | - | Bill Rees | Peter Victor Ferdinand Cazalet |
| 8 | Loving Record | 33/1 | 11 | 11-00 | - | Ben Hannon | T Taaffe |
| 9 | Tant Pis | 4/1 | 10 | 10-13 | - | John Alder | John Alder |
| 10 | Brown Diamond | 50/1 | 10 | 10-13 | - | William McLernon | P Murphy |
| 11 | April Rose | 100/1 | 10 | 10-13 | - | Piers Bengough | A S Kilpatrick |
| 12 | Culleenhouse | 25/1 | 11 | 10-13 | - | Terry Biddlecombe | Thomas Frederic Rimell |
| 13 | Peacetown | 25/1 | 11 | 11-00 | - | Peter Pickford | George R Owen |
| 14 | Moyrath | 100/1 | 12 | 10-13 | - | Basil Richmond | T Finch |
Non Finishers
