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The IRISH GRAND NATIONAL: CHASING a DREAM
BROWN LAD 3-Time Winner of the Irish Grand National (1975, 1976 & 1978) w/His Regular Rider Tommy Carberry
ARKLE - the 1964 Irish Grand National Victor
ARKLE - the 1964 Irish Grand National Winner
DESERT ORCHID - 1990's Irish Grand National Champ
DESERT ORCHID - Winner of the 1990 Irish Grand National
DESERT ORCHID - 1990 Irish Grand National Champ
This unique chronicle captures the essence of the Irish Grand National, run at Fairyhouse, telling the story of one of Ireland’s best loved traditions since 1870, when it was set up by the Ward Union Hunt and records the development of its sporting heritage in the wider context of Irish history.
Revealing and intimate accounts are told with passion, emotion and humor by those most associated with the country’s richest and most iconic National Hunt race, including members of the generations of racing families who helped to make it famous such as the Carberrys, Dreapers, Hughes', Moores, Mullins', Taaffes, Walshs and Woods.
Other contributors including Richard Dunwoody, David Elsworth, Ann Ferris, Mouse Morris and Jenny Pitman share their personal accounts and tell their own special intriguing stories of their participation in the Irish Grand National. Expert insight comes from commentator Dessie Scahill, Guy Williams, senior national hunt handicapper Noel O'Brien, Robert Hall and Ted Walsh.
The program features many outstanding racehorses that have taken their place in sports folklore such as DESERT ORCHID, who had movie star status and was stabled in a secret location before the race; the great ARKLE, who won in 1964; BROWN LAD, the King of Fairyhouse and many others. Part of the allure of the race is you don’t have to be a celebrity racehorse to win it and horses including 50-1 shot Liberty Counsel in 2013 have proved this.
This captivating feature examines the famous Anglo Irish rivalry and how this thrilling and dramatic sport, steeplechasing came to be and how far it has evolved around the world. It explores the origin of steeplechasing when two gentlemen challenged each other to a race in 1752 (for a hogshead of wine) over a distance of four and a half miles between the Church Steeples of the small towns of Buttevant and Doneraile in North Cork, Ireland...hence the word steeplechasing.
This fast moving feature length documentary packed with never seen before archive footage and images, relates the fascinating history of this historic race, contextualizing it with relevant transformative events in Irish history. Known as the "people’s race", its strong emotional stories will capture the hearts of all viewers not just horseracing fans.
(77 Minutes)
| Listing Info: | |
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| Listing ID: | 1590 |
| Format(s) Available: | DVD And VHS |
| Category: | National Hunt / Jumps / Steeplechase |