There's certainly no shortage of famous faces
showing up at prestigious race days, but perhaps what's not quite as
well known is the number of famous owners in racing too. Sandymount
Duke, bred and owned by Ronnie Wood, and Give Me A Copper,
jointly-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and former chat shoe host Jeremy
Kyle, both held entries in the Grand National in 2019. In fact, over
the years, various celebrities, including royalty, have all owned
horses that have contested, and occasionally won, the Grand National.
I wonder if any of them have free
betting tips for Grand National 2020?
In addition to Sir Alex Ferguson, ex footballer
Michael Owen is also an owner at his 160 acre Manor House Stables
training yard. It currently accommodates 90 horses. Owen isn't shy of
stating his love for racing and more precisely horse ownership.
“The joy of owning a racehorse is
indescribable, from buying them as youngsters, watching them develop
and seeing their first visit to a racecourse. I have owned horses for
many years and whenever I have time off, you‘ll find me down at the
stables!" said Owen.
At the turn of the twentieth century, Edward,
Prince of Wales – who succeeded to the throne, as King Edward VII,
two years later – owned Ambush II, who divided public loyalty by
beating previous dual winner Manifesto, who was conceding 24lb, in
the 1900 renewal. Over five decades later, Queen Elizabeth The Queen
Mother witnessed the inexplicable collapse of her horse, Devon
Loch, when in an unassailable five-length lead,
just yards from the winning post in 1956. Through successes and
failures alike, all of these royals had a top table seat in racing
and royal connections (most from our own monarchy and others) are
present in the aptly named sport of kings to this day.
Hollywood actor Gregory Peck fared little better
when his horse, Different Class, was brought down, when in a
prominent position, in the infamous melee at the twenty-third fence
in 1967. His jockey, David Mould, later explained, “I was literally
buried in the fence. I climbed out and couldn’t find the horse
anywhere.” Desperately unlucky on that occasion, Different Class
was sent off 17/2 favourite for the 1968 Grand National but, despite
completely the course, could only finish third, beaten 20 lengths and
a neck, behind the winner, Red Alligator.
Other celebrity owners to have won the National,
though, include hairdressing icon Raymond Bessone, a.k.a. ‘Mr.
Teasy-Weasy’, and the late Liverpool comedian Freddie Starr. In
fact, Bessone was lucky enough to have owned a share in two National
winners, Ayala, a narrow, three-quarters of a length winner at 66/1
in 1963, and Rag Trade, a two-length winner, from none other than Red
Rum, at 14/1 in 1976. Starr, born and bred in Huyton, on Mersey, was
the sole owner of Miinnehoma,
who won the 1994 Grand National, under reigning
champion jockey Richard Dunwoody, at 14/1. It's not hard to see the
appeal of being involved in horse ownership. Most of us get excited
enough if we have a winning wager on a horse, let alone an actual
direct hand in its success.