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Horse Racing Question!
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Does any racing fan recall the Duke of Albuquerque who featured several times in 70's Grand Nationals on his horse 'Nereo' whilst in his 50's?
I've seen these races on Youtube and I think his best finish was 8th in 1974 when I think he was riding with a broken collar bone and looked stiff as a board! I don't know how he wasn't passed unfit to ride let alone complete the course!
In the 1976 race he suffered a crashing fall at the 13th and was in a coma for a few days.
He seemed completely fearless!!
I've seen these races on Youtube and I think his best finish was 8th in 1974 when I think he was riding with a broken collar bone and looked stiff as a board! I don't know how he wasn't passed unfit to ride let alone complete the course!
In the 1976 race he suffered a crashing fall at the 13th and was in a coma for a few days.
He seemed completely fearless!!
Answers
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Just found this little snippet about him. So droll that he could have been British himself. Now those days are gone. Never one to do things by halves, in 1974, the Duke had 16 screws removed from his leg that were there to repair another injury before promptly snapping his collarbone whilst training for another Grand National attempt. However, despite being...
19:31 Mon 15th Jul 2019
I remember him AG. His name was Beltran de Osorio y Diez de Rivera. He had a chin like a spade and was called the "Iron Duke" by the press. He started riding in the race in 1952 and was obsessed with it. Proper mad Spaniard, who was fearless. He was actually a very good horseman, and after serious injuries in the 1976 race the racing authorities revoked his licence to ride "for his own safety" but he carried on riding competitively in Spain, up until 1985 when he was aged 67. Brave man. Elf n safety would not allow it now.
he was a real duke, the 18th duke of Alburquerque (in Badajoz), so a Spanish Grandee. he competed at least 5 times, but only finished the once. one year the bookies placed a bet of 66-1 against him finishing still on the horse....
after his glorious failure in 1976 he had his licence revoked, apparently "for his own safety". he died in 1994 and his son is now the 19th Duke, although he didn't take up his father's hobby.
after his glorious failure in 1976 he had his licence revoked, apparently "for his own safety". he died in 1994 and his son is now the 19th Duke, although he didn't take up his father's hobby.
Just found this little snippet about him. So droll that he could have been British himself. Now those days are gone.
Never one to do things by halves, in 1974, the Duke had 16 screws removed from his leg that were there to repair another injury before promptly snapping his collarbone whilst training for another Grand National attempt. However, despite being in a neck brace, the Duke managed to finish the race for the only time in his career and, at the same time, coined perhaps one of the famous witty retort in Grand National History.
When jockey Ron Barry was accidentally barged by the Duke, he yelled ‘What the hell are you doing?’. The eccentric aristocrat replied ‘My dear chap, I haven’t a clue….I’ve never got this far before!’
Never one to do things by halves, in 1974, the Duke had 16 screws removed from his leg that were there to repair another injury before promptly snapping his collarbone whilst training for another Grand National attempt. However, despite being in a neck brace, the Duke managed to finish the race for the only time in his career and, at the same time, coined perhaps one of the famous witty retort in Grand National History.
When jockey Ron Barry was accidentally barged by the Duke, he yelled ‘What the hell are you doing?’. The eccentric aristocrat replied ‘My dear chap, I haven’t a clue….I’ve never got this far before!’
I don't remember him. During the time he was riding in the National, i was in Hohne, West Germany and had to rely on letters from home and the radio for any racing news. My dad would send me the line-up for the big race, i would pick a few e.w. bets, send him a cheque and their names and he would place them for me. I've just read Chico's link and he was, indeed, a fascinating character. Of course, he wouldn't be allowed anywhere near the National these days of 'elf and safety'. Just Googled the race card for '76 and see that he rode under the name of Beltran Alfonso Osorio.
Fascinating Ken!
Yes, in '76, he was in a small group leading approaching the 13th when he took a serious fall.
In '73, (poor Crisp!), he pulled Nereo up very early.
The '77 GN was very eventful.
I think 7 fell at the 1st fence and a horse called Boom Docker had the biggest lead in history when starting out for the second circuit, when suddenly he refused to jump the 17th.
The poor jockey had a couple of goes to get him over but he just planted his feet!
Yes, in '76, he was in a small group leading approaching the 13th when he took a serious fall.
In '73, (poor Crisp!), he pulled Nereo up very early.
The '77 GN was very eventful.
I think 7 fell at the 1st fence and a horse called Boom Docker had the biggest lead in history when starting out for the second circuit, when suddenly he refused to jump the 17th.
The poor jockey had a couple of goes to get him over but he just planted his feet!
1 to 15 of 15
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