Brian Fletcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brian Fletcher |
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|---|---|
| Born | 18 May 1947 Cockfield, County Durham, England |
| Died | 11 January 2017 (aged 69) |
| Nationality | English |
| Major racing wins | |
| 1968 Grand National 1973 Grand National 1974 Grand National 1974 Scottish Grand National |
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| Significant horses | |
| Red Alligator Red Rum |
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Brian Fletcher (born May 18, 1947 – died January 11, 2017) was a famous English jockey. A jockey is a person who rides horses in races. Brian was best known for riding two amazing horses. He rode Red Rum to win the Grand National race in both 1973 and 1974. He also came second with Red Rum in 1975. Before that, he won the Grand National in 1968. He was only 20 years old then, riding a horse named Red Alligator.
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Brian's Racing Adventures
Brian Fletcher started his career as a jockey when he was 16. He worked with a trainer named Denys Smith. In 1967, Brian rode Red Alligator in the Grand National. They finished in third place, which was a great start!
Winning the Grand National
The very next year, in 1968, Brian and Red Alligator won the Grand National! This was a big surprise to many. Brian had actually fallen off a horse the day before. Most other jockeys didn't think he would be able to race. But he did, and he won!
After a break due to an injury in 1972, Brian returned to racing. He then teamed up with the legendary horse, Red Rum. Together, they made history.
Red Rum's Amazing Wins
Brian and Red Rum won the Grand National two years in a row. They won in 1973 and again in 1974. Their winning time in 1973 was super fast. It was the fastest for 17 years!
Brian Fletcher is one of only a few jockeys to win the Grand National three times. This shows how skilled and brave he was. In 1974, Brian and Red Rum also won the Scottish Grand National. This was another big win for the team.
In 1976, Brian rode a different horse, Eyecatcher, in the Grand National. They finished third. Brian decided to retire from horse racing later that year.
Life After Racing
Brian Fletcher was born and grew up in Cockfield, England. After he stopped racing horses, he moved to Wales. He lived on a farm in Carmarthenshire. There, he raised sheep and special horses called Welsh Cobs.
Brian also enjoyed Harness Racing in Wales. This is a type of racing where a horse pulls a driver in a two-wheeled cart. He even won a race in 2004. Sometimes, he was invited to big racing events as a special guest.
Brian Fletcher passed away on January 11, 2017. He was 69 years old.
