Abu Dhabi: In 1962 Pat Buckley made his debut in the Grand National but riding the second favourite his dream crashed as he fell on the very first hurdle of what is without doubt the world's premier jump race.
The next year, still only 19, Pat was on the 66-1 outsider Ayala, a horse trained by Keith Piggot, the father of the legendary jockey Lester Piggot.
The Grand National is considered as the ultimate test of horse and jockey and comprises two full circuits of a unique 2¼ mile (3,600 metres) course, where challengers will face 30 of the most testing fences in the world of jump racing.
In what is still regarded as one of the most riveting finishes of the Grand National which was first run in 1839 at the Aintree, Pat and Ayala won after an epic battle in the final furlong.
Pat, who started riding in 1959, went on to win a total of 510 races, mostly in jumps until 1975, and said his life changed after that historic triumph in 1963.
"Today 48 years since that win we are still talking about it. It did change my life. I had put my name forward and people knew who I was. It was instant recognition," recalled Pat though he quickly remembered the previous year's debut race.
"From a small child I had dreamed of the Grand National and then that debut race after which I was disappointed. I was on Springbok which was almost the second favourite, very strongly fancied and I fell at the very first hurdle. So to win as a 19-year-old in the very next year, I was on cloud nine. In fact I never used to drink then so there was no huge party but the 66-1 Ayala winning had created a huge impact," said Pat. "A total of 47 horses started in the race in 1963 and 22 finished, a high number which was bettered in 1984 when 23 finished as Hallo Dandy, ridden by Neale Doughty emerged winner," Pat said.
"In 1959, I started riding and though my first lessons were at 12 on a pony from my father who was a private trainer. I came to England to serve my apprenticeship and I was only 14 then," said Pat.
"I was 16 when I started racing under proper rules. But I was always too heavy for flat racing so I gained some experience and then in 1961 rode my first winner in jumps and that was also my first ride ever in jumps. That debut win in jumps was at Manchester, now about 5,000 houses are there standing at what was the race course then!" Pat said.
Returning to that 1863 triumph, Pat recalls, "There were some 60 to 70,000 fans inside the venue and quite a lot more. The betting was huge and it was one glorious race that was sheer magic, those final 50 yards and those moments after the win."
