“Water tastes disgusting without the benefits of whisky”. – Captain Becher on his experience of being tossed into the brook that was later named after him.
“I like Inca Trail very much and obviously he’s a horse who will be going there with a definite chance, I would imagine. All three horses are all right, so we’ll just tick away quietly now. They are all about straight enough and it’s just a case of freewheeling along to Liverpool.” – Ginger McCain, speaking in Scouse.
“This is really a lovely horse and I speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother.” – Ted Walsh, horse racing commentator.
“I went over to see the horse and the woman who was selling him had the greatest legs I’d ever seen. I’m a great legs man and I couldn’t resist. I came home and let John do the deal.” – Ginger McCain on his decision to buy Grand National winner Amberleigh House.
“Punters will be celebrating until Christmas and they will need wheelbarrows to collect their winnings. They will be collecting the best part of £10 million on the result.” – William Hill spokesman quoted after the 2000 Grand National.
“That’s racing.” – The Queen Mother’s Grand National quote came after her horse Devon Loch inexplicably went to ground a few hundred meters from the finishing post whilst in the lead.
“Bet enough to hurt but not to do damage and never less and never more.” – Betting pundit Mark Coton on the best approach to Grand National betting.
“A horse gallops with his lungs, perseveres with his heart, and wins with his character.” – Tesio
“This is the best thing that has happened to me for a long time. I never thought I would win another National. Now you can take me around the corner and shoot me.” – Ginger McCain after winning the Grand National for the fourth time with Amberleigh House.
Grand National winning jockey Mick Fitzgerald: “Sex is an anti-climax after that!”
Desmond Lynam, BBC presenter: “Well, you gave the horse a wonderful ride; everyone saw that.”
“If Carrie Ford wins the National I’ll bare my backside to the wind, and let everyone kick it.” – One of Ginger McCain’s more infamous Grand National quotes on the prospects of jockey Carrie Ford.
“Nobody has ever bet enough on a winning horse.” – Anonymous Grand National quote.
