1981 Grand National 1981 Grand National The 1981 Grand National was the 135th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 4 April 1981. It is remembered for the winning horse Aldaniti, who had recovered from chronic leg problems, and his jockey Bob Champion, who had recovered from cancer. Aldaniti's injuries dated back to 1976, while Champion had been diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1979. However, Aldaniti was nursed back to optimum form ahead of the race, and Champion overcame lengthy hospitalisation and chemotherapy to win the National by a distance of four lengths.
Charlie Cunningham (jockey) standing at 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing over 12 stone He had a serious fall in 1890, which contributed to his early death. In addition to race-riding, he was also a keen cricketer, representing Northumberland in their pre-County cricket days, Dalkeith, Aberdeenshire and Roxburghshire Charlie Cunningham (jockey) Charles "Charlie" Cunningham (1849-1906) was a 19th-century Scottish National Hunt jockey, who has been described as "Scotland's greatest jockey". Although he was an amateur throughout his career, he won the Scottish Grand National a record four times (1881, 1885, 1887 and 1889) and also the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup in