Devon Loch
Encyclopedia
Devon Loch was a famous racehorse
that is probably best remembered for its involvement in the 1956 Grand National
steeplechase, when owned by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother
.
Having won two races already that year and running up a good third-place at Cheltenham that season, Devon Loch was well-fancied for the Grand National, and his progress was helped when the favourite and a past winner fell early on.
At the race climax, with only ten horses still running, Devon Loch was on the final stretch, in front of the Royal Box just 40 yards from the winning post and with a five-length lead, when it suddenly, and inexplicably, jumped into the air and landed on its stomach, allowing E.S.B.
to overtake and win. Although jockey Dick Francis
tried to cajole the horse, it was unable to continue. Afterwards, The Queen Mother famously said, "Oh, that's racing".
It is still uncertain and debated to this day as to why Devon Loch jumped; some reports claimed he suffered a cramp in its hindquarters causing the collapse. Another report asserted that a shadow thrown by the Water Jump fence (which horses only traverse on the first circuit of the Aintree course
) may have baffled Devon Loch into thinking another jump was required and - confused as to whether he should jump or not - he half-jumped and collapsed. It seems possible that such confusion caused him to fail to continue. Jockey Dick Francis later stated that a loud cheer from the crowd, for an expected Royal winner, distracting the horse is a more likely explanation.
Reports that the horse had suffered a heart attack were dismissed, as Devon Loch recovered far too quickly for this to have been the case.
Devon Loch was put down
during or shortly after a cold winter in 1963.
now sometimes used in sports and otherwise to explain a sudden, last-minute failure of teams or a sportsperson to complete an expected victory, for example: "Manchester United
won't do a Devon Loch and lose the title after beating Chelsea
" or "Lewis Hamilton
surrendering the championship
having led Kimi Räikkönen
by 17 points with just two races remaining was a Devon Loch calamity". Another example occurred ahead of the Irish presidential election, 2011; when Seán Gallagher
's campaign came undone in the final television debate his fall from grace was compared to Devon Loch's fall at the winning post in the 1956 Grand National.
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
that is probably best remembered for its involvement in the 1956 Grand National
1956 Grand National
The 1956 Grand National was the 110th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, in 1956....
steeplechase, when owned by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
.
Having won two races already that year and running up a good third-place at Cheltenham that season, Devon Loch was well-fancied for the Grand National, and his progress was helped when the favourite and a past winner fell early on.
At the race climax, with only ten horses still running, Devon Loch was on the final stretch, in front of the Royal Box just 40 yards from the winning post and with a five-length lead, when it suddenly, and inexplicably, jumped into the air and landed on its stomach, allowing E.S.B.
E.S.B. (horse)
E.S.B. was a racehorse that is best known for his victory in the 1956 Grand National, when aged ten.Trained by Fred Rimell, E.S.B. was ridden by jockey Dave Dick in the 1956 running of the famous steeplechase at Aintree Racecourse when the race seemed certain to be won by Devon Loch, who held a...
to overtake and win. Although jockey Dick Francis
Dick Francis
Richard Stanley "Dick" Francis CBE was an English jockey and crime writer, many of whose novels centre around horse racing.- Personal life :...
tried to cajole the horse, it was unable to continue. Afterwards, The Queen Mother famously said, "Oh, that's racing".
It is still uncertain and debated to this day as to why Devon Loch jumped; some reports claimed he suffered a cramp in its hindquarters causing the collapse. Another report asserted that a shadow thrown by the Water Jump fence (which horses only traverse on the first circuit of the Aintree course
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
) may have baffled Devon Loch into thinking another jump was required and - confused as to whether he should jump or not - he half-jumped and collapsed. It seems possible that such confusion caused him to fail to continue. Jockey Dick Francis later stated that a loud cheer from the crowd, for an expected Royal winner, distracting the horse is a more likely explanation.
Reports that the horse had suffered a heart attack were dismissed, as Devon Loch recovered far too quickly for this to have been the case.
Devon Loch was put down
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
during or shortly after a cold winter in 1963.
Modern use
"To do a Devon Loch" is a modern metaphorMetaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
now sometimes used in sports and otherwise to explain a sudden, last-minute failure of teams or a sportsperson to complete an expected victory, for example: "Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
won't do a Devon Loch and lose the title after beating Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
" or "Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, MBE is a British Formula One racing driver from England, currently racing for the McLaren team. He was the Formula One World Champion.Hamilton was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire...
surrendering the championship
2007 Formula One season
The 2007 Formula One season was the 58th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship, which began on 18 March and ended on 21 October after seventeen events. The Drivers' Championship was won by Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen by one point at the...
having led Kimi Räikkönen
Kimi Räikkönen
Kimi Matias Räikkönen , nicknamed Iceman, is a Finnish racing driver, who will drive in Formula One for Lotus in . After nine seasons racing in Formula One, in which he took the Formula One World Drivers' Championship, he competed in the World Rally Championship from 2009-2011.Räikkönen entered...
by 17 points with just two races remaining was a Devon Loch calamity". Another example occurred ahead of the Irish presidential election, 2011; when Seán Gallagher
Seán Gallagher
Seán Gallagher , is an Irish entrepreneur, businessman and politician from County Cavan, Ireland. He is the founder of the company Smarthomes and has featured as a panellist on RTÉ's Dragons' Den. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2011 Irish presidential election.-Biography:Gallagher grew up...
's campaign came undone in the final television debate his fall from grace was compared to Devon Loch's fall at the winning post in the 1956 Grand National.