The 1882 Grand National was the 44th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 24 March 1882.[1]

1882 Grand National
Grand National
LocationAintree
Date24 March 1882
Winning horseSeaman
Starting price10/1
JockeyEngland Lord Manners
TrainerJames Jewitt
OwnerEngland Lord Manners
ConditionsHeavy
← 1881
1883 →

The race was held on 24 March in some of the worst conditions ever seen in the race's history.[2] The heavy snow and freezing conditions had put many off and there were only twelve starters including: Cyrus, The Scot, Eau de Vie, Zoedone, Fay and Seaman.[3] Seaman was not a fit horse and he and his owner, Lord Manners, had only come to be in the race as the result of an extraordinary wager.[2]

An extraordinary wager

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In late 1881, the 3rd Baron Manners bet a large sum of money that he could buy, train and ride the winner of the 1882 Grand National. With just four months in which to prepare, he managed to procure Seaman, a six-year-old gelding, for £1,900. The vendor, an Irishman called Henry Linde, expressed his concerns over the sickly Seaman and didn't believe the horse was capable of such a feat, even if there had been sufficient time in which to train him.[2] It was widely held that Manners lacked the riding ability and experience necessary to win such a tough race.[2] Lord Manners, recognising his own short comings, set about entering as many amateur races as he could in order to gain some experience. He had limited success until three weeks before the National, when he won the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown, riding a horse called Chancellor.[3]

The race

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On 24 March, in heavy snow, twelve horses lined up for the start of the 1882 Grand National. The dreadful conditions caused some of the more cautious riders to hold back and it was another outsider that took an early lead.[3] Eau de Vie was jumping well despite the heavy going and managed to maintain the lead until the second lap when his rider's stirrup broke on the approach to Becher's Brook. By this time, there were only six runners left as many had retired, and as Eau de Vie swerved off into the crowd, Zoedone took the lead, with Fay, Cyrus, Seaman and The Scot following.[3] With only two fences left before the home straight, Cyrus moved out in front and looked certain to win. Seaman in second place looked exhausted and was starting to go lame but with just 300 yards to go, Seaman managed to find something and with the determined Manners driving him on, won the race by a head; much to the amazement of the crowd.[2][3] A long way behind was Zoedone, who went on to win the 1883 National.[3] Montauban was effectively pulled up after jumping the final hurdle, but in walking in, technically completed the course in fourth and last place.[4] Seaman never raced again but lived with the family at the family home for the rest of its life.[2][5]

Finishing Order

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Position Name Jockey Handicap (st-lb) SP Distance
01 Seaman John Manners-Sutton 11-6 10-1 Head
02 Cyrus Tom Beasley 10-9 9-2 A distance
03 Zoedone Arthur Smith 10-0 20-1 A distance
04 Montauban George Waddington 10-7 100-6 Last to finish, walked in[6][7]

Non-finishers

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Fence Name Jockey Handicap (st-lb) SP Fate
17 The Liberator Jimmy Adams 12-7 20-1 Fell
? The Scot James Jewitt 11-8 5-1 Fell
18 Wild Monarch Henry Andrews 10-12 100-7 Fell
17 Eau De Vie Dan Thirlwell 10-8 100-8 Ran Out
17 Mohican Harry Beasley 10-7 100-30 Fell
19 Fay Ted Wilson 10-7 ? Fell
02 Ignition Billy Sensier 10-5 50-1 Refused
17 Black Prince F Wynne 10-0 ? Fell

[8] [9] [10] [11]

References

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  1. ^ "Grand National Winners – Sportsbook Guardian". Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "History". Avon Tyrrell. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Sickly Seaman Carries the Day". Race Call. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  4. ^ Liverpool Mercury, Saturday 25 March 1882, Page 7, Column 3
  5. ^ "Grand National History 1889-1880". Grand National.Co.UK. Archived from the original on 23 April 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  6. ^ "1882".
  7. ^ Liverpool Mercury, 25 March 1882, Page 7, Column 3
  8. ^ "Aintree Grand National 1882".
  9. ^ The Grand National 1839-1930 by David Hoadley Munroe
  10. ^ "Heroes and heroines of the Grand National". 1907.
  11. ^ "1882".