Grand National first jump, suddenly veered across the leading group at the 23rd, causing them to either stop, refuse or unseat their riders. Racing journalist Lord Oaksey described the resulting pile-up by saying that Popham Down had "cut down the leaders like a row of thistles". Some horses even started running in the wrong direction, back the way they had come. Foinavon, whose owner had such little faith in him that he had travelled to Worcester that day instead, had been lagging some 100 yards behind the leading pack, giving his jockey, John Buckingham, time to steer his mount wide of the
Fred Barrett (jockey) Fred Barrett (jockey) Frederick John Barrett (1867 – 21 January 1895) was an English horse racing jockey. His greatest success came in 1888, when he won The Derby and the Jockeys' Championship. His career is summed up by two top class racehorses – Ayrshire and Donovan – which he rode in their championship years of 1888 and 1889. He rode Ayrshire in the 1888 Derby, even though the veteran John Osborne had ridden him to victory in the 2,000 Guineas. He won, but only after nearly throwing the race away. While going clear, he jabbed Ayrshire on one side only