Aintree Race Course, Liverpool
The "Devon Loch" Grand National in which the Queen Mother's horse loses its footing when only yards from winning the race.
GV. Aintree racecourse towards the paddock. GV. Paddock - jockeys getting up into the saddles ready to go to the racecourse. GV. The gate where the horses are being led out of the paddock, horses being led out. SV. Line of horses going out after leaving the parade ring. SCU. Mr Georgi Maximilianovich Malenkov, Soviet Commissar for Power Stations, with Mrs Topham, owner of the racecourse, laughing and chatting. TLV. The course and stands full of people. SCU. Angle shot, Queen Mother and the Queen Elizabeth II on balcony. LV. The racecourse - horses walking down being turned round to run up to start. STV. Ring of bookmakers. SCU. Two men tick-tacking violently. CU. Another man tick tacking. CU. Another man. LV. Horses up at the start getting ready. SV. Massed crowd. Side view - the horses standing before the tapes waiting for them to go up. Starter is on the platform. SCU. & SCU. Starter on his platform - he pulls down the handle for the tapes to go up. Long front view, horses starting. Camera pans with horses (can't tell who's leading at the moment). Bunch of them go towards and over the first fence. SCU. Spectators looking. LV. In front of jump No 1 - horses approaching it, they reach it. GV The first hurdle going over. The grey is down (believed High Guard) and behind him a couple of others go down also. The grey back on his feet, starts to chase after the horses without his jockey. The scene leaves two jockeys on the ground and two standing. Loose horses gallop out of picture to follow the others. One of the jockeys puts his hands on his hips and looks in the direction his horse has gone. SCU. Section of crowd. SV. Tracking shot - horses just coming up to jump No 1, they reach it. The horse that nears the camera is number 16 and he jumps it quite well, but the grey is down. Horses near the camera are Pipperkin and Martiniq. Also in the picture we can see "E.S.B." and now the camera brings in jump No 2.
- still tracking with them, horse coming alongside near camera is "Much Obliged" - and he reaches the third hurdle and jumps it quite well. Field spreading out now and camera bringing in leading horse, they reach jump No. 4. - 'Armourial' is over safely and is making the running - in the background another one has gone. 'Armourial' now about two lengths in front and near at hand is "Sun Dew" - - they reach Jump No. 5. SV. No. 12 'Armourial' over safely - followed by another horse who land and just manages to keep his feet (can't name it - can't see number) continue tracking with 'Armourial' in front, and over the far side quite near him is 'Domata' behind him "Eagle Lodge" and just behind him is "Devon Loch" still tracking.... into semi close view. 'Armourial' still. LV. just approaching "Beechers" first two horses. over - followed by the others. SCU. Massed crowds. LV. Approaching jump at canal turn horses coming towards camera head on, first over - (can't read numbers - but none of leaders have fallen) Other horses follow them into the jump. LV. Horses approaching "Valentines" 'Armourial' is now well in the lead. He jumps and is persuaded in (I think the same order of Horses.) LV Horses approaching jump No. 11 'Armourial' over - somebody falls. All the other horses still coming over jumps including the grey that fell at the first fence. LV. Horses now approaching No. 12. 'Armourial 'looks to be about eight lengths in the lead. He jumps over safely, persuaded by a group of horses including 'Devon Loch' to looks to be lying about fifth at this point. Another falls, and his jockey is left lying on the ground dodging the oncoming jumpers. SV. Pan - 'Armourial' on the rails, going well, no others horses are in the picture at the moment.
LV. Horses now approaching jump 14 - 'Armourial' still in front. He jumps over safely. 'Devon Loch' is still tucked in about the next three horses. Horses continue to jump this hurdle. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and group of men looking through binoculars. LTV. Horses now approaching the water jump - 'Armourial' now in the picture at the moment, first to be seen jumps - and the grey tailing the field jumps. (Part 2) GV. The bend where they come round for the first time and 'Armourial' comes into picture - well out in front - camera pans with him. GV. Horses now approaching jump No. 17 Armourial jumps - the others seem closer to him now. GV. Towards camera- horses approaching jump No. 19. 'Armourial' is now joined by loose horse. 'Armourial' over - and the loose horse is laying with him - Camera pans to back view going over jump - loose horse and 'Armourial' over - followed by four other horses and 'Devon Loch'
FILM ID:577.01