THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.
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Josh Gifford, National Hunt trainer, (centre back row), with his staff at the Downs Stables in Findon in 1980. This was a year before he won the Grand National with the gelding named Aldaniti, a horse who had once finished third in a race despite having a serious leg injury with a broken hind joint at the second jump. |
ALDANITI
Text copyright Valerie Martin 1999
Do you know how Aldaniti's name was concocted? It was a jumble from the names of four grandchildren of his breeder, Tommy Barron. Thus ALastair and DAvid Cook and NIcola and TImothy Barron.
Aldaniti was foaled in 1970 and was a big rather bony equine as he grew . His dam, Renardeau was short of milk and physically rejected poor Aldaniti. He, therefore went hungry for most of the time until he learned to accept other nourishment. He was later described as "stag-kneed" and at the lowest point of his misfortune as an "injury-prone chaser" and his limbs were said to resemble "piano legs".
This is the story of a racehorse that the vets wanted to put down but thankfully his owners kept him in training and he went on to great things. After riding the horse at Leicester, Bob Champion had said,
"This horse will win the National one day".
Josh wasn't so convinced and didn't particularly want to purchase Aldaniti as he thought he was too slow and £4,000 was a lot of money to fork out in those days. His father-in-law was at the Sales with him and it was he who kept telling Josh to make another bid for Aldaniti.
This is an occasion when I consider that pictures speak louder than words —
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Aldaniti and Bob Champion (who wanted to ride in the Grand National from the age of eight years) try out the National course early on Grand National morning, 4th April 1981. |
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Josh Gifford is waiting and they report back "He's spot on". |
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Bob Champion walks the National course and stands by the immense ditch in front of the Chair fence in readiness for the world's greatest steeplechase — the 1981 Grand National at Aintree, Liverpool. |
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Aldaniti clears the Canal on the first circuit — but he is in twentieth place. |
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Aldaniti and Bob Champion clearing Beecher's Brook. |
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This is a painting I have come across of Findon's Grand National winner, Aldaniti, by Peter Curling. It is a beautiful limited edition print and features the fairy tale partnership of the jockey, Bob Champion and the Josh Gifford trained, Aldaniti.
Published to raise money for the Bob Champion Cancer trust, the Limited edition of 500 copies was been signed by the artist, by Bob Champion and by Aldaniti’s trainer, Josh Gifford, and owner, Nick Embiricos. A truly unique piece of Findon racing history.
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Aldaniti and Bob Champion on the right, jumping the Grand National course successfully. |
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Aldaniti, trained by Josh Gifford of Findon, battles to win he Grand National in 1981. |
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Aldaniti wins the 1981 Grand National pursued by the rest of the runners to the winning post.
1. Aldaniti 10-1 Dist: 4l. 2l Time: 9 min. 47.2 sec. |
Continue if you would like to read about Aldaniti After the Race.
Back to Racing Stables in Findon Index
THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE —
www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created exclusively for documenting life in Findon.|
E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com |
