The 1959 Grand National was the 113th renewal of the Grand National

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

that took place at

Aintree Racecourse Aintree Racecourse is a horse racing, racecourse in Aintree, Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England, bordering the city of Liverpool. The racecourse is the venue for the Grand National steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase, whi ...

near

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

, 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 The League Against Cruel Sports, formerly known as the League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports, is a UK-based animal welfare charity which campaigns to stop blood sports such as fox hunting, hare and deer hunting; game bird shooting; and anim ...

Finishing order

Non-finishers

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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q01JEespHLo

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. Daily Mirror, Page 5, Column 2, Article 'Horses like the Grand National. Says Mrs T.'

References

1959 Grand National Grand National Grand National 20th century in Lancashire {{horseracing-race-stub