My mother backed him because she loves grey horses. She was 5 months pregnant and told my father if he wins and we have a son we'll call him Nicholas... and here I am!
@@waqarkhan25 I was always going to be too tall I'm afraid. It was what I would have loved to do but my parents had to temper my excitement and wishes..I ended up being 6ft 5. No horse big enough for me!
My first Grand National at age not quite 6. My grandfather took me - he’d got us right by the finish on the far side - he was 6”1 and I spent the whole race on his shoulders.
The first Grand National that I can remember seeing. I was 6 years old and at a friends house playing. I was transfixed watching those horses jumping those massive fences. Haven’t missed one since and gutted that it won’t be running this year 😭
jongleur apparently I was “race riding” my Nana’s sofa from the age of four but this is the first race that I can truly remember. I won all the big races on that sofa, the National, Derby, Arc de Triomphe, Gold Cup, you name it, that sofa and I won them all ( dual purpose sofa naturally 😂). Thankfully I finally got my own horse at 33, so I’ve stopped riding sofa’s now 😬.
....I was similar...except I got my Mum to record the racing onto an old reel-to-reel tape whilst I was at school so I could listen to it when I got home...no VCR's in those days...!
The fences were much tougher pre-Health and Safety. I assume they examined the casualty rate. That was my second tv Grand National aged 7 after the second horse=Merryman The Second won the previous year. There were 6 Winners in that field: Oxo/Mr.What/Kilmore/Team Spirit/Merryman and Nicklaus Silver :)
More than half a century later Neptune Collonges became the third horse to win the National as a grey and was also the highest rated National winner in recent years.
It was the wonderful Nicolaus Silver, which incidentally is the correct spelling of the first part of his name, who started my interest in horse racing. I loved that grey horse and followed his career closely until he retired. He will forever stay in my memory.
Another thing notable was there were also two Soviet Russian horses taking part: Reljef & Grifel, both of which were 100-1 outsiders ridden by jockeys from their own nation instead of British locals. Of course, none of them managed to finish and, I'm afraid, have now already been forgotten even by their own people.
Grifel fell at Bechers on the first circuit was remounted and refused at the 19th fence, and Reljef unseated his rider at Valentine's Brook on the first circuit, Only 14 of the 35 horses who ran in this race actually completed the course.
The Russian officials insisted that they use their own saddles and bridles, despite being offered brand new equipment that their own jockeys wanted to use. The reins were far too short and the jockeys were pulled out of their saddles when their mounts pecked on landing.
Only the second grey to ever win the National ( Neptune Collonges became the third in recent years) , he was trained by Fred Rimell and became Freds second winner of the national having trained ESB to win the race. Ridden by Bobby Beasley, the horse was a stinger for the bookies as the public latch onto and back greys, especially in this era where broadcast coverage was in black and white. He was bred and trained in Ireland up to 1960 when his trainer Dan Kirwan suddenly died. This resulted in Nick going to the sakes ring and he attracted a great interest as he was national qualified. I think he went for around 3200, which in that era was a healthy sum. Great to see the old guy in action once again
I can remember just prior to the race when I was 12 I went to the Wimpy Bar opposite Ridley Road Market in Hackney, and on leaving I said to the waitress I've left you a tip underneath my coffee cup, I'd written on a piece of paper "Nicholas Silver for the National". I wonder if she backed It?
@@michaeligoe3935 Hello Michael, Think you are right sir but mid 60s ? The BBC copied this idea and took it a stage further. Momentous Grand Nationals then but sadly the race as been diluted down to O and is now a long distance N.H race. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝
The fences were much tougher pre-Health and Safety. I assume they examined the casualty rate. That was my second tv Grand National aged 7 after the second horse=Merryman The Second won the previous year. There were 6 Winners in that field: Oxo/Mr.What/Kilmore/Team Spirit/Merryman and Nicklaus Silver :)
Taxidermist won the Hennessy in 1958 when run at Cheltenham ridden by John Lawrence later Lord Oaksey. I think Jonjo was ridden by the Duke of Albuquerque in this National.
@@chatham43 as I mentioned Lord Oaksey as well he was so narrowly denied National glory on Carrickbeg when behind the Keith Piggott trained, Pat Buckley ridden Ayala in '63. I've seen all the televised Nationals and Saturday is going to be strange, knowing it would've taken place at 5.15 but its not going to happen. So all week I'll try to watch all of the Nationals & maybe the odd Topham as well. Love the videos as well btw. Keep them coming
I count 5 National winners, NS, Merryman , Mr What, Kilmore and Team Spirit (the last 2 future winners) and Wyndburgh , 6th here but finished 2nd three times in six attempts. Is that a record ie 5 National winners in the field ?
@@davidkent8606 hello David this was some performance by master of his craft Bobby Beasley and how he made it to the top twice n to get Captain Christy over the line with all his antics is just pure Class.. Glynn n Greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands
Lovely to see a grey Nicolaus Silver win he stayed so well the second of Fred Rimell s four Grand National winners the others were E S B x Gay Trip x Rag Trade x I loved Bobby Beasley looking round for dangers two out x a long wait before the next grey winner Neptune Collinges. x.
What a run by Nicholas Silver, I remember watching it on t.v., I was nine years old.
So did I and so was I. Dad won quite a bit of money, but he never said exactly how much.
My mother backed him because she loves grey horses. She was 5 months pregnant and told my father if he wins and we have a son we'll call him Nicholas... and here I am!
..nice story....
nice but shame your not a jockey I am sure she give you that name thought you might be come a jockey to ride in the Grand National
@@waqarkhan25 I was always going to be too tall I'm afraid. It was what I would have loved to do but my parents had to temper my excitement and wishes..I ended up being 6ft 5. No horse big enough for me!
Great story, and a nice name! Just imagine if she'd backed Tea Fiend, and that had won instead.....😃😃
Same here! Nik
My Dad died when I was just 5 but I remember my Mum told me he backed it great to see the race he died on 11 4 1963
Bobby Beasleys life story is quite something a real battler and an inspiration.
Yes it is after this he had sadly a spell of alcoholism and nearly took his own life until captain Cristy came along
Great to see old film from the Grand National especially ones before I was born.
I really loved Wyndburgh. A consistent Aintree specialist who always ran his heart out.
@leonard bolton no Wyndburgh finished 2nd three times
Wonderful sight from 4 fences out , as the 3 leaders were the 1960, 61 and 62 winners together , Merryman, Nicholas silver and Kilmore 😊😊
Absolutely colossal effort by Merryman under 11-12.
My first Grand National at age not quite 6. My grandfather took me - he’d got us right by the finish on the far side - he was 6”1 and I spent the whole race on his shoulders.
The first Grand National that I can remember seeing. I was 6 years old and at a friends house playing. I was transfixed watching those horses jumping those massive fences. Haven’t missed one since and gutted that it won’t be running this year 😭
...yep....sad news.....although its not the same race I remember....
jongleur apparently I was “race riding” my Nana’s sofa from the age of four but this is the first race that I can truly remember. I won all the big races on that sofa, the National, Derby, Arc de Triomphe, Gold Cup, you name it, that sofa and I won them all ( dual purpose sofa naturally 😂). Thankfully I finally got my own horse at 33, so I’ve stopped riding sofa’s now 😬.
....I was similar...except I got my Mum to record the racing onto an old reel-to-reel tape whilst I was at school so I could listen to it when I got home...no VCR's in those days...!
The fences were much tougher pre-Health and Safety.
I assume they examined the casualty rate.
That was my second tv Grand National aged 7 after the second horse=Merryman The Second won the previous year.
There were 6 Winners in that field: Oxo/Mr.What/Kilmore/Team Spirit/Merryman and Nicklaus Silver :)
The masters of there craft
Superb, thanks chatham43.
More than half a century later Neptune Collonges became the third horse to win the National as a grey and was also the highest rated National winner in recent years.
It was the wonderful Nicolaus Silver, which incidentally is the correct spelling of the first part of his name, who started my interest in horse racing. I loved that grey horse and followed his career closely until he retired. He will forever stay in my memory.
OK. Thanks for that. Sorry for the spelling.😊
Another thing notable was there were also two Soviet Russian horses taking part: Reljef & Grifel, both of which were 100-1 outsiders ridden by jockeys from their own nation instead of British locals. Of course, none of them managed to finish and, I'm afraid, have now already been forgotten even by their own people.
Grifel fell at Bechers on the first circuit was remounted and refused at the 19th fence, and Reljef unseated his rider at Valentine's Brook on the first circuit, Only 14 of the 35 horses who ran in this race actually completed the course.
The Russian officials insisted that they use their own saddles and bridles, despite being offered brand new equipment that their own jockeys wanted to use.
The reins were far too short and the jockeys were pulled out of their saddles when their mounts pecked on landing.
I was a few days old. 😊
Only the second grey to ever win the National ( Neptune Collonges became the third in recent years) , he was trained by Fred Rimell and became Freds second winner of the national having trained ESB to win the race. Ridden by Bobby Beasley, the horse was a stinger for the bookies as the public latch onto and back greys, especially in this era where broadcast coverage was in black and white. He was bred and trained in Ireland up to 1960 when his trainer Dan Kirwan suddenly died. This resulted in Nick going to the sakes ring and he attracted a great interest as he was national qualified. I think he went for around 3200, which in that era was a healthy sum. Great to see the old guy in action once again
I can remember just prior to the race when I was 12 I went to the Wimpy Bar opposite Ridley Road Market in Hackney, and on leaving I said to the waitress I've left you a tip underneath my coffee cup, I'd written on a piece of paper "Nicholas Silver for the National". I wonder if she backed It?
Thanks. Subbed.
Love the cameraman on top of the car
Probably Pathe ?
@@michaeligoe3935 Hello Michael, Think you are right sir but mid 60s ? The BBC copied this idea and took it a stage further. Momentous Grand Nationals then but sadly the race as been diluted down to O and is now a long distance N.H race. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝
Health and safety!
My granddad backed Nicholas silver as he did every rimell national win
I was 3, my whole family bet one my namesake, legend
first horse I ever bet on - had a sixpence to win on it that my dad out on for me - I was 7 years old
There were 6 past and future Grand National winners in that field including Nicholas Silver. I wonder if that I'd s record
Wow 60 years ago bigger fences and fields then
The fences were much tougher pre-Health and Safety.
I assume they examined the casualty rate.
That was my second tv Grand National aged 7 after the second horse=Merryman The Second won the previous year.
There were 6 Winners in that field: Oxo/Mr.What/Kilmore/Team Spirit/Merryman and Nicklaus Silver :)
Taxidermist won the Hennessy in 1958 when run at Cheltenham ridden by John Lawrence later Lord Oaksey.
I think Jonjo was ridden by the Duke of Albuquerque in this National.
...think it was Pat Taafe ...he rode Jonjo in '63 I think...his first National ride was in 1952....
@@chatham43 as I mentioned Lord Oaksey as well he was so narrowly denied National glory on Carrickbeg when behind the Keith Piggott trained, Pat Buckley ridden Ayala in '63.
I've seen all the televised Nationals and Saturday is going to be strange, knowing it would've taken place at 5.15 but its not going to happen. So all week I'll try to watch all of the Nationals & maybe the odd Topham as well. Love the videos as well btw. Keep them coming
@@chatham43 Yes, Pat Taaffe rode Jonjo in 1961.
I count 5 National winners, NS, Merryman , Mr What, Kilmore and Team Spirit (the last 2 future winners) and Wyndburgh , 6th here but finished 2nd three times in six attempts. Is that a record ie 5 National winners in the field ?
Possibly the only time 3 Grand National winners led the field in a National
Actually, i don't know about led the race, but weren't there 5 winners in the race: Merryman, Nicholas Silver, Kilmore, Team Spirit and Mr What.
1972 saw a 123 of winners including the '72 winner of course! Merriman was giving so much weight.
@Richard -Who was the sixth one?
@Richard - Ah Oxo, that's the one I missed is it?
@@davidkent8606 hello David this was some performance by master of his craft Bobby Beasley and how he made it to the top twice n to get Captain Christy over the line with all his antics is just pure Class.. Glynn n Greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands
Lovely to see a grey Nicolaus Silver win he stayed so well the second of Fred Rimell s four Grand National winners the others were E S B x Gay Trip x Rag Trade x I loved Bobby Beasley looking round for dangers two out x a long wait before the next grey winner Neptune Collinges. x.
Delete
Neptune Collonges. x.
Back when it was a jumping test
Great blk and white national!!before i was born!!
Was the next grey. x.
A great national hero i believe sadly Nicholas silver lost his life breaking his leg walking over a cattle grid in is later life
Apparently 15 of the runners were doped... the good old days [..not]...
Source Lorena?
Don't know where you got that absolutely false information from. It's absolute rubbish.
Was not born until 1969!
Neptune Collonges. x.
Was the next grey. x.
My first bet my dad put 6p ew on it I think it was 100 to 7