.....the first BBC National transmitted in colour......and Highland Wedding ridden by Irishman Eddie Harty is victorious in the last National of the sixties...
The only race I have a flutter on. The only time I have ever placed a winning bet was this year on Highland Wedding as I had eloped to Scotland the previous year, stayed in the highlands for 3 weeks and married in Glasgow. Always remembered this horse.
I remember as a 20-year-old I backed Highland Wedding, but I can't for the life of me remember how much I had on him. At the end of the video you mentioned Toby Balding's other winner Little Polveir 20 years later, well I didn't back him, but I did meet him many years later at an injured jockeys' fund raiser somewhere in Newbury. A lot of the old stagers were present, Desert Orchid, Party Politics, Burrough Hill Lad etc., over 20 horses all told. Of course all the big names attracted the most attention. I noticed a small, unremarkable looking horse who seemed to be being ignored by most of the crowd. It was Little Polveir (who really was little), how he got over those National fences I'll never know, but when I saw how small he was my estimation of his achievement soared. All the other horses there were much larger, notably the 3 I mentioned earlier, especially another National winner I backed Party Politics.
It's a big shame this race is now on ITV, woeful coverage, no headcams, nothing come up who fell or what was happening, too many ad breaks as for Randox promoting health and this is weird! I can't wait till 2022 I hope they have a different sponsor by then
David Kent I worked for Toby Balding 1966-67 I took I took Toby’s horse Scottish Soldier who run 8th in 1967 Highland Wedding was their then a lovely Horse I went back to Australia and when I visited the stables again in Fyfield he would take me to the races with him, the stripper of Highland Wedding was Alex
@@kenleggett4028 hi Ken I was a stable lad at Toby's in the 80s, Bud was the head lad then ,martin could was a conditional jockey , other jockeys who rode for Toby were Willie Higgins on the flat , and Brian Reilly and Richard linley over jumps, I am retired in the Philippines now !
David Sheridan nice to hear from you David,Buddy Sayers was there in 1966-7 he looked after me traveling around to race meetings John Price was travelling Head Lad ,Clive Bailey,John Edwards an Amatuer Bill Palmer,David Ellsworth,Bob Champion,Owen McNally, I went back in 1979,1981,1988.Toby took me to a Meeting Every time he was really great each time,the 1967 Grand National was great our horse ran 8th the owner rode him Still a famous race with Foinhaven winning it.Highland Wedding was a nice horse.I had two rides for Toby for a Third and Sixth.brings back great memories,Megs pub was a bit to close next to the stables.
Must've been a very tough finish for Michael O'Hare hearing Highland Wedding called home after he said he'd fallen at Becher's, and said he'd recovered to be in 2nd at Foinavon.
Amusing that Michael O'Heir should try to cover up his mistake at the very part of the race where he is remembered by oldies like me for his iconic 1967 commentary! My earliest memories were of smaller fields, bigger fences, longer course and, curiously, superior TV coverage.
My first bet. I was 7 years old and Dad said he would put a shilling on for me if I picked a horse. I selected Highland Wedding and won 9s 6d (45p). Dad put the other sixpence in and bought me a 10s ticket to see Everton play a couple of weeks later.
I have lots of old VHS tapes from 80s & 90s of old NH races. Some of those races I know have already been uploaded by others but if anybody can make use of them, I will gladly post them to somebody so they can be uploaded on to youtube.
I seem to remember that there was a gap of over two years between colour firstly beginning on BBC2 and colour beginning on the more popular BBC1. At that time there where still areas of the UK beyond range of BBC2 transmitters. Therefore some landmark programmes and sporting events were transmitted on both channels to jointly promote the colour service and to give owners of colour sets a chance to see them in colour, whilst at the same time allowing those with 405 line only sets or beyond the range of 625 line transmitters a chance to watch them too.
One of the few times that Brian Fletcher did not get round. You don't really see what happens to Red Alligator. It says he fell on Wiki but was it a clear fall or was he baulked or hampered. He didn't get round in 1970 either
This was the last time Michael O Heir covered the race for BBC TV. He was relegated to BBC radio after his unfortunate blunder in this race. We all make mistakes.
Wonder if that was the reason he got the boot. have to say it was a pretty poor mistake considering it was pretty easy to spot which horse was which by that time in the race
@@jameshope398 He was preparing us for when his useless son, Tony O'Hehir would start commentating from 1998 for about ten Nationals. He is by far the worst commentator I have ever heard, his mistakes and mumbled voice were absolutely abysmal.
Rondetta most frustratingly record in the national ran in big fields cantering and leading when fell late in 65 missed 66 prominant when stopped 67 prominant when f23 68 as an old horse finished 3rd in 69 shouldnt have run in 70 fell early sadly the horse is forgotten despite never running a bad race
@@chatham43 Thanks for your reply. It must have been shown on both BBC2 and BBC1 then as BBC1 didn't start colour broadcasts till November 1969. It was no good just showing it on BBC2 as not everyone could receive that channel then. I may be wrong, but around that time I seem to remember both BBC1 and BBC2 showing some other programmes simultaneously for the same reason.
@@trevordance5181 BBC Genome confirms that the 1969 National was on B&W on BBC 1 and in colour on BBC 2, as were The Liverpool Handicap Hurdle and Hylton Stakes Handicap on the Flat. (Aintree also staged Flat racing until 1976)
Cannot understand why BBC 2 could not have simulcast a couple of hours of Grandstand and covered Red Alligator's win in 1968. BBC 2 didn't even open until 7 pm showing TTCFs all day
plenty of North American owners own British trainer to run in The Grand National number of them have won the grand national and also number the American sent there horses to run the Grand National sadly non of complete the course but the four American jockeys rode in the Grand national they come every year just to get the ride in the Grand National one of them was the 50-year old man they other three where the famous Slown Brothers all three rode in the Grand National they loved even won the fall in the race they wanted to come back year after year now you don't see that happen any more now
gregory peck's horse called 'legal joy' was placed in 1968 and previously his horse called 'owens sedge' completed in 1963. trained by jim dreaper (of arkle fame) in ireland.
@@johnshort5003 Hi John they certainly were sir. May I mention from that era also Gay Trip and Black Secret two very genuine stayers.I think if John Francome had ridden Steel Bridge he would of won 'possibly. In my view our Grand National as become a joke especially from the last 10 years in fact I prefer the Scottish National now.Also I luved the Topham Trophy and Liverpool foxhunters chase too these races were Pure Class n Formidable fences then ' I think from 1990 the Grand National course as gradually become pointless sir and each subsequent year endless unnecessary modifications. Kind regards Glynn n Greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝
@@glynnevans1851 Originally I was in favour of the modifications if they saved horses lives but as it goes, they've had no effect. A horse can fall at a hurdle as we know. The only result is that the race has been devalued.
@@johnshort5003 Cheers for your reply John and I respect your views sir. I wish to add if we continue to modify ' the Grand national course might as well become a Flat race course and continue to please the people who are not happy and I respect their views too. I believe more horses are killed over hurdle s as I think u indicate because the races are to fast most of the time. I can not accept when race goers compare Tiger Roll to Red Rum 🤔 because they are 2 Different races although my late dad ust to say it is impossible to compare different decades because of the way racing changes and he said pointless too.Some like to compare Arkle n Golden Miller I'm actually 50/50 on it sir ,May I ask if u have a view.Kind regards Glynn 🤝
Michael O'Hehir was his name and he only ever did three or four at most but did get to call the pile up at 23rd fence in 1967. His son Tony called a few nationals around 25 years later.
He's not that bad! His animated tones provide a bit of excitement and a welcome contrast to the laid back RP English commentary of O'Sullevan and Wilson.
@@julzyboy1973 Sadly, the BBC lost power at his section of the race I think in 2000 when Red Marauder won. There was another pile up at the Canal Turn which he didn't get to call. It was the BBC's loss. What a commentary double that would have been - father and son. Now the race is a sad caricature of what it once was.
Shame for Michael O'Hehir calling Highland Wedding a faller at second Becher's Brook. It would be his final television commentary, but did return to BBC radio where he covered the National until the 1980s.
