# 1959 Grand National

The 1959 Grand National was the 113th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, on 21 March 1959.
The race was won by the 8/1 second-favourite Oxo, ridden by Michael Scudamore and trained by Willie Stephenson. Thirty-four horses ran, including the previous year's winner Mr. What, who finished third. Wyndburgh was second and Tiberetta was the only other finisher, each finishing in the places for the third consecutive year.
There was one equine fatality during the race: Henry Purcell, who was one of fourteen horses to fall or be brought down at Becher's Brook. Additionally, Slippery Serpent broke a bone in his leg in falling at the thirteenth fence and was euthanised during the week after the race. A debate was held in parliament and the Home Secretary, Rab Butler, met the National Hunt Committee in response to safety concerns raised by the League Against Cruel Sports.

## Finishing order

| Position | Name | Jockey | Age | Handicap (st-lb) | SP | Distance |
| 01 | Oxo | Michael Scudamore | 8 | 10-13 | 8/1 | |
| 02 | Wyndburgh | Tim Brookshaw | 9 | 10-12 | 10/1 | |
| 03 | Mr. What | Tosse Taaffe | 9 | 11-9 | 6/1 | |
| 04 | Tiberetta | Alan Oughton | 11 | 10-9 | 20/1 | Last to Complete |

## Non-finishers

| Fence | Name | Jockey | Age | Handicap (st-lb) | SP | Fate |
| 01 | Nic Atkins | Francis Shortt | 8 | 10-1 | 20/1 | Fell |
| 01 | Stop List | Tommy Shone | 10 | 10-1 | 66/1 | Fell |
| 02 | Southerntown | Patrick Cowley | 13 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Fell |
| 04 | Oscar Wilde | Taffy Jenkins | 9 | 10-4 | 28/1 | Fell |
| 06 | Done Up | Fred Winter | 9 | 10-3 | 100/7 | Brought Down |
| 06 | Eternal | Peter Major | 8 | 10-4 | 50/1 | Fell |
| 06 | Glorious Twelfth | George Slack | 10 | 10-7 | 33/1 | Brought Down |
| 06 | Henry Purcell | Anthony Keen | 12 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Fell |
| 06 | Mr Gay | Derek Ancil | 12 | 10-9 | 28/1 | Brought Down |
| 06 | Sundawn III | Jimmy Power | 10 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Brought Down |
| 06 | The Crofter | Stan Mellor | 11 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Fell |
| 06 | Valiant Spark | Johnny Lehane | 10 | 10-3 | 40/1 | Fell |
| 11 | Belsize II | Mr G Rooney | 10 | 10-0 | 28/1 | Fell |
| 12 | Dondrosa | Mr CB Taylor | 7 | 10-11 | 66/1 | Refused |
| 13 | Slippery Serpent | Pat Taaffe | 8 | 10-11 | 9/1 | Fell |
| 14 | Richardstown | Francis Carroll | 11 | 10-1 | 66/1 | Pulled Up |
| 17 | Royal Tournament | Bert Morrow | 8 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Refused |
| 22 | Irish Coffee | Cathal Finnegan | 9 | 10-5 | 33/1 | Fell |
| 22 | Kerstin | Stan Hayhurst | 9 | 12-0 | 25/1 | Fell |
| 22 | Kilballyown | E McKenzie | 12 | 10-2 | 33/1 | Brought Down |
| 22 | Mainstown | Michael Batchelor | 9 | 10-10 | 40/1 | Fell |
| 22 | Soltown | William Brennan | 7 | 10-3 | 25/1 | Fell |
| 22 | Surprise Packet | Gerry Scott | 10 | 10-5 | 100/1 | Fell |
| 24 | Cannobie Lee | David Nicholson | 8 | 10-10 | 45/1 | Fell |
| 24 | Green Drill | George Milburn | 9 | 10-6 | 22/1 | Fell |
| 24 | Vigor | Bill Rees | 11 | 10-5 | 66/1 | Fell |
| 24 | Turmoil | John Hudson | 9 | 10-1 | 20/1 | Pulled Up |
| 24 | Pintail | Jumbo Wilkinson | 10 | 10-4 | 100/1 | Pulled Up |
| 26 | John Jacques | Johnny East | 10 | 11-0 | 33/1 | Fell |
| 28 | Eagle Lodge | Johnny Bullock | 10 | 10-0 | 45/1 | Refused |

## First to be filmed in colour?

The Cinema series 'Look at Life' followed Oxo to Aintree and filmed the National in colour, claiming to be the first time the race was screened in such a way.

## Post race controversy

The debate regarding the safety of the race rolled into June when Mirabel Topham issued a rebuke of a claim that twenty-four horses had been injured during the race. Mrs Topham reported that every horse was checked by three stable lads after the race who reported that Mr What had an abrasion, Tiberetta a scratch and Eternal a cut lip.