Gordon Elliott (racehorse trainer)
Encyclopedia
Gordon Elliott is a County Meath
-based National Hunt racehorse trainer who was 29 when his first Grand National
entry, the 33 to 1 outsider Silver Birch
won the 2007 race
on 14 April, 2007. Owned by Brian Walsh of County Kildare
, and ridden by Robbie Power
, the horse held off McKelvey and Slim Pickings to win the legendary Aintree Racecourse
event.
The 14th April 2007 saw Gordon Elliott become the youngest ever trainer to win the world's most prestigious steeplechase, the Aintree Grand National.The horse, Silver Birch, was bought from Paul Nicholls
. Despite having won the Grand National, Gordon had not at that stage trained a winner on the track back home in Ireland.
Elliott won another major handicap race in Britain in August 2010 when Dirar won the Ebor Handicap
at York Racecourse
.
At the age of thirteen Gordon first entered the racing world, working for Tony Martin at weekends and holidays. This developed into a full time job as soon as he could leave school. Taking out his amateur licence at sixteen, Gordon's first winner came in a bumper at Ballinrobe on board Caitriona's Choice, trained by Michael Cunningham for whom Gordon would go on to ride many winners.
As a jockey Gordon achieved great success, notably two winners at Cheltenham, the Punchestown Champion Bumper
and five winners in the US.
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
-based National Hunt racehorse trainer who was 29 when his first Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
entry, the 33 to 1 outsider Silver Birch
Silver Birch (horse)
Silver Birch is an Irish-trained thoroughbred racehorse, owned by Brian Walsh of County Kildare. Ridden by Robbie Power and trained by 29 year-old Gordon Elliott, Silver Birch was the winner of the 2007 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse, run on Saturday 14 April 2007...
won the 2007 race
2007 Grand National
The 2007 Grand National was the 160th official annual running of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 14 April 2007 and attracted the maximum permitted field of forty competitors for a total prize money of £700,000...
on 14 April, 2007. Owned by Brian Walsh of County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and ridden by Robbie Power
Robbie Power
Robbie "Puppy" Power, son of Irish show-jumper Con Power, is the National Hunt jockey who rode 33-1 outsider Silver Birch to victory in the 2007 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday 14 April 2007 .-Footnotes:...
, the horse held off McKelvey and Slim Pickings to win the legendary Aintree Racecourse
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....
event.
The 14th April 2007 saw Gordon Elliott become the youngest ever trainer to win the world's most prestigious steeplechase, the Aintree Grand National.The horse, Silver Birch, was bought from Paul Nicholls
Paul Nicholls (horse racing)
Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money...
. Despite having won the Grand National, Gordon had not at that stage trained a winner on the track back home in Ireland.
Elliott won another major handicap race in Britain in August 2010 when Dirar won the Ebor Handicap
Ebor Handicap
The Ebor Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
at York Racecourse
York Racecourse
York Racecourse is a horse racing track in the southwest of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap, which is run during the Ebor Festival meeting in August...
.
At the age of thirteen Gordon first entered the racing world, working for Tony Martin at weekends and holidays. This developed into a full time job as soon as he could leave school. Taking out his amateur licence at sixteen, Gordon's first winner came in a bumper at Ballinrobe on board Caitriona's Choice, trained by Michael Cunningham for whom Gordon would go on to ride many winners.
As a jockey Gordon achieved great success, notably two winners at Cheltenham, the Punchestown Champion Bumper
Punchestown Champion Bumper
The Champion INH Flat Race is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Ireland for amateur riders which is open to horses aged four to seven years. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles , and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or...
and five winners in the US.