A Token ride

Former National Hunt Jockey, Barry Brogan, looks back at the 1968 Aintree Grand National.

If there was one jockey who gave me the inspiration to want to further my career in horse racing when I left school, it was, without a doubt, Barry Brogan. One of the most talented riders of his era.

Barry had a checkered career and was associated with some of the best horses of his time including The Dikler, Billy Bow, Even Keel and last but not least Tom Dreapers’ Flying Bolt, reputed to have been the one horse capable of toppling his then stable mate, the great Arkle, from his crown. Barry partnered the ill-fated horse in his final race at Haydock. Barry was at the time Dreapers’ assistant trainer and stable amateur. Barry explained to me that in his opinion Flying Bolt was the best horse he had ever sat on and he had ridden work on both Arkle and Flying Bolt. Telling me also that he could have even beaten Arkle in the 1966 Gold Cup if their trainer had run both horses.

The 1970-71 season concluded with him finishing as runner-up to Graham Thorner in the National Hunt Jockeys Championship.

Barry has been most generous to describe his inaugural ride in what is without any doubt the greatest steeplechase race in the world, The Aintree Grand National. One could not have asked for a more sublime baptism.

He knew that he had much to live up to. In 1948, Barry’s father Jimmy had finished a most creditable second in the race to the Neville Crump trained Sheila’s Cottage, ridden by Arthur Thompson, on First of the Dandies.

On February 24th, 1965, Barry was granted his trainers licence. Sadly though, the new trainer’s celebrations were so tragically marred. The previous day Jim, not only his father but also his best friend and mate, collapsed on the gallops with Barry in attendance and died instantly from a massive heart attack. Sadly two months away from being able to witness his son’s Grand National debut as a trainer.

Two months on and Barry Brogan was experiencing his first airplane ride from Ireland to the UK with three runners at the Grand National meeting, including Ballygowan, who was entered to run in the Grand National.

Ballygowan was to be ridden by Irish Jockey, Tony Redmond. Barry recalls walking the Aintree course and when he got to the thirteenth obstacle, The Chair, he stood back in sheer amazement, thinking “Oh my God, how in his name do they ever get over that fence”, he had clearly never come across such a daunting fence before. Little did he know at that moment that three years down the line he would himself be having to negotiate the same fence. Ballygowan refused at the twenty-first race.

Three years on and it is the morning of the 1968 Grand National excitement was getting the better of him as he woke in Liverpool’s Adelphi Hotel. As a jockey now he was walking the course alongside the trainer of his mount, Moidores Token, in the race, Ken Oliver, who was to win the National on three occasions, twice with that impressive jumper Wynburgh. Oliver was one of the most likable and admired trainers of his time. Moidores Token was one of the fancied runners and Barry had ridden him in five previous races. The combination were unbeaten and that was an undeniable confidence boost which allowed Barry to have a much more positive approach than his initial experience of walking the course, pre-race.

The days racing started perfectly, winning the opening race, the Liverpool Hurdle on Drumikill. Also trained by Ken Oliver, beating David Mould on the Dennis Rayson trained Rackham.

The following season Drumikill went on to finish second to the great Persian War, in the 1969 Champion Hurdle.

As the minutes ticked by Barry took the initiative, seeking advice from such seasoned National jockeys as Pat Taaffe, Tim Brookshaw, Tim Moloney and Gerry Scott.

Moidores Token was renowned for his jumping and could “stay all day”, a perfect National contender. An average plodder is how Barry describes him, something that sums up many National horses. The type of horse that would have always be in with a good chance if completing the course if getting a clear round. The biggest problem for any jockey even on the best of jumpers in the National is avoiding trouble, because of the volume of runners. The 1968 Grand National was no exception to the rule, with a total of forty-three runners going to post.

It was to become one of the greatest highlights during the jockeys illustrious career, to his absolute delight, not only completing the grueling course but also finishing second to Red Alligator, trained by another superb trainer, Denys Smith, and ridden by that most famous of recent Grand National Jockeys, Brian Fletcher, who was later to partner three times winner of the Red Rum and beating race favourite Different Class, ridden by David Mould, by a neck. Different Class was trained by Peter Cazalet and owned by Hollywood movie legend Gregory Peck. Moidores ran a superb race, always being handy and jumped beautifully up until the final fence, where he made one horrific blunder and could quite easily have ended up crumpled on the ground. However, he managed to find that extra leg and run on gamely to hold off the favourite.

Finishing second in the Grand National is a day that is forever etched in Barry’s mind, the greatest of thrills and a gratefulness and joyous occasion to be enjoyed for a lifetime.

Of course in true Barry Brogan fashion, the connections partied through the night and into the early hours of the morning, at the Adelphi Hotel. One thing jockeys knew how to do in those amazing days, was how to party. Old school, such courageous and fun-loving jockeys. For many of us much missed.