Foinavon

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For the mountain in Scotland, see Foinaven.

Foinavon

Sire	Vulgan
Grandsire	Sirlan
Dam	Ecilace
Damsire	Interlace (horse)
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	1958
Country	Ireland
Colour	Black
Breeder	Timothy Ryan
Owner	1) Anne, Duchess of Westminster 2) Cyril Watkins
Record
Earnings
Infobox last updated on: January 19, 2008.

To call Foinavon an average racehorse would be a compliment, but he made history by winning one of the most famous races of all, the Grand National, due to an extraordinary occurrence.

Foinavon, ridden by Johnny Buckingham, was a rank outsider at odds of 100/1 to win the 1967 running of the race over the Aintree Racecourse, and for the first circuit and a half he fulfilled that billing. But he went on to win the race after a melee at the 23rd fence, when two loose horses pulled up in front of the field, causing the rest to fall, stop, or refuse. Foinavon was running so far behind, that Buckingham had time to weave a way through the carnage and scraped round ahead of 17 remounted horses, 15 lengths clear of the fast-closing favourite, Honey End, and Red Alligator, which went on to win in 1968. The incident is almost always replayed by the BBC on Grand National day. It has also gained fame due to the distinctive commentary of Michael O'Hehir.[1]

Fence 7 or 23 (depending on the circuit), one of the smallest jumps on the course at 4ft 6in, is situated between the more daunting Becher's Brook and Canal Turn. It is now named Foinavon as a result of this incident.

Foinavon has sometimes been likened to a slow plodding carthorse, but records show that his 1967 winning time was one of the fastest in this gruelling race. Equally, this so called no-hoper had taken part in some top class races before attempting the Grand National - he had finished fourth in a King George VI Chase and taken part in a Gold Cup at Cheltenham, so perhaps his odds of 100/1 may have been a bit generous. His owner was so unenthusiastic about his chances that he was not even at Aintree for the race.

Foinavon also ran in the following year's Grand National but he fell or was brought down at the water jump.

Foinavon was at one time owned by Anne, Duchess of Westminster, whose colours were also carried by the much superior Arkle. Both were named after Scottish mountains.