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
Jerry Lambert (jockey) Jerry Lambert (jockey) Jerry Lambert (December 27, 1940 – February 23, 2015) was an American jockey in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing best known as the jockey of Hall of Fame inductee, Native Diver. Lambert accomplished what Breeders' Cup Inc. calls "one of California’s top racing achievements" when he rode Native Diver to victory in three straight Hollywood Gold Cups from 1965 through 1967. In 1963, Lambert was the leading jockey at Ak-Sar-Ben Racetrack meet in Omaha, Nebraska, as well as at Turf Paradise Race Course meet that same year. In 1967, he won a riding title at Del