1963 Grand National Explained

Pagename:1963 Grand National
Horse Race:Grand National
Location:Aintree
Date:30 March 1963
Winning Horse:Ayala
Starting Price:66/1
Winning Jockey:Pat Buckley
Winning Trainer: Keith Piggott
Winning Owner: Raymond Bessone and Keith Piggott
Conditions:Soft
Previous:1962
Next:1964

The 1963 Grand National was the 117th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 30 March 1963.

The race was won narrowly by 66/1 shot Ayala, ridden by 19-year-old jockey Pat Buckley. Forty-seven horses ran and all returned safely to the stables. Ayala was jointly owned by his trainer, Keith Piggott, father of Lester Piggott, and by Raymond Bessone, the hairdresser also known as Teasy-Weasy. Piggott's father (and Lester's grandfather), Ernie, rodethe winners of the National in 1912 and 1919. Owen's Sedge who came 7th in the race was owned by American actor Gregory Peck. Peck attended the Grand National then immediately left for Los Angeles where he won the Best Actor Academy Award for his performance as Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird (film).

Finishing order

PositionNameJockeyAgeHandicap (st-lb)SPDistance
01AyalaPat Buckley910-066/13/4 Length
02CarrickbegJohn Lawrence710-320/15 Lengths
03Hawa's SongPaddy Broderick1010-028/1
04Team SpiritWillie Robinson1110-313/1
05SpringbokGerry Scott910-1210/1
06KilmoreFred Winter1311-0100/8
07Owen's SedgePat Taaffe1011-620/1
08French LawyerTim Ryan910-050/1
09Dark VenetianDave Bassett810-233/1
10Nicolaus SilverBobby Beasley1111-028/1
11EternalTim Brookshaw1210-1025/1
12ChavaraRoy Edwards1010-240/1
13CarraroeWilliam Mclernon1110-133/1
14SiracusaDavid Mould1010-033/1
15Sham FlightJimmy Fitzgerald1110-150/1
16Blonde WarriorBrian Lawrence1110-966/1
17Loyal TanTerry Biddlecombe810-566/1
18WoodbrownJohn Kenneally910-066/1
19O'Malley PointMichael Scudamore1211-133/1
20Frenchman's CoveDavid Dick812-0100/6
21Forty SecretsClive Chapman910-750/1
22Dandy TimLarry Major1010-050/1Last to complete

Non-finishers

FenceNameJockeyAgeHandicap (st-lb)Starting priceFate
16Mr JonesPaddy Farrell810-028/1Unseated Rider
27Out And AboutJosh Gifford810-725/1Unseated Rider
06Good GraciousPaddy Connors910-766/1Fell
20JonjoDuke of Alburquerque1310-666/1Unseated Rider
27PeacetownRobin Langley910-450/1Fell
29Gay NavareePatrick Cowley1110-150/1Fell
06WinglessTerry Biddlecombe810-366/1Unseated Rider
10Avenue NeuillyDavid Nicholson810-466/1Fell
10Connie IIJoe Guest1110-050/1Fell
04WartownJohnny Gamble1210-166/1Refused
20Look HappyJohn Haine1010-040/1Refused
06MerganserJohn Mansfield1010-466/1Fell
01Magic TricksOwen McNally910-066/1Fell
06SolonaceKen White1210-066/1Fell
25Loving RecordToss Taaffe910-12100/7Pulled Up
29Dagmar GittellJohnny East810-5100/7Pulled Up
12MoyrathFrancis Carroll1010-233/1Refused
23Seas EndJohn Kempton1110-366/1Pulled Up
22College DonJumbo Wilkinson1110-066/1Pulled Up
28ReprievedPeter Pickford1010-150/1Pulled Up
11Holm StarGene Kelly910-066/1Pulled Up
28CapricornAdrian Major1010-066/1Pulled Up
11MelillaGordon Cramp910-066/1Pulled Up
11Mr. WhatTommy Carberry1310-866/1Refused
09VivantRex Hamey1010-040/1Fell

[1] [2] [3]

Media coverage

David Coleman presented Grand National Grandstand on the BBC. The commentary team remained the same as the previous year, Peter O'Sullevan, Bob Haynes and Peter Montague-Evans.

Notes and References

  1. The Grand National : the history of the Aintree spectacular, by Stewart Peters & Bernard Parkin,
  2. Web site: 1962/63 - The Grand National and Aintree 1960-1969. sixtiesnationals.webs.com. 2014-08-08.
  3. Web site: Past Winners of The Grand National. grand-national.net. 2014-08-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20111104085359/http://www.grand-national.net/past_winners.htm. 4 November 2011. dead.