66-1 Long Shot Wins Grand National [Video]
A 66-1 long shot won the Grand National Steeplechase today in England.
Auroras Encore, ridden by Ryan Mania, won the world’s most famous jumping race by nine lengths today ahead of Cappa Bleu and TeaforThree.
Mania, who was racing in his first Grand National, told Sporting Life: ”There’s no words to describe it, I got a dream ride all the way – I couldn’t believe my luck … I never really had an anxious moment, he made a couple of mistakes, that’s all. I knew he was capable, even though he hadn’t been running well … I couldn’t fault the old horse. He was second in the Scottish National last year and I thought I should stay loyal to him and thank God I did.”
Sue Smith, Auroras Encore’s trainer, became the third woman to train a Grand National winner today.
Smith said: “It’s unbelievable … He gave him such a good ride. I knew the ground was right for him … He stayed down the middle and had a bit of luck in running. He didn’t have a lot of weight and that helped, too. He’s such a grand little horse, you can ride him anyway you like.
Here’s a video of the 2013 Grand National.
The Grand National was been marred this year by the death of two horses. According to the NY Times, the 166 year old race has seen 18 deaths in the past 20 years. Organizers were happy to announce at the end of today’s race that all 40 of the horses competing today escaped the race unscathed.
