Legendary Grand National winner dies as heartbreaking statement made
The legendary horse won 2013 Grand National at Aintree with Ryan Mania on board before being retired in 2014 following a leg injury.
Grand National champion Auroras Encore has died at the age of 23.(Image: Alex Livesey, Getty Images)
Auroras Encore, the 2013 Grand National champion, has died, with heartfelt tributes flooding in for the beloved horse who triumphed at Aintree.
The 66/1 outsider, ridden by Ryan Mania and trained by Sue Smith, stormed to victory by nine lengths 13 years ago. He remains the longest-priced winner of the nation’s most celebrated race in over 15 years.
J Parkinson and S Smith Racing broke the sad news of the horse’s death on social media, announcing in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we share the passing of 2013 Grand National winner, Auroras Encore, 23. He achieved what every owner, trainer dreams of.
“After his racing days were over, he spent his retirement here with us. Rest easy, champion. You will always be remembered.”
The Irish-bred bay gelding claimed eight victories from 47 starts, including six over fences. His standout stamina was apparent long before his Aintree glory – he finished runner-up in the 2012 Scottish Grand National before going on to seal his place in history at Aintree the following year.
Auroras Encore’s Grand National victory made him the first northern-trained winner of the race in more than three decades. He would compete just twice more following his Aintree triumph before being retired in 2014 after sustaining a leg injury at Doncaster.
The Grand National triumph represented the pinnacle of trainer Smith’s career, having originally set her sights on merely securing a place finish when he ran 13 years ago. She said at the time: “I would have been happy to have been in the first four or five and we’ve won it.
Auroras Encore was the 66-1 outsider winner of the 2013 Grand National. (Image: Julian Finney, Getty Images)
“The horse ran a fantastic race, Ryan gave him a fantastic ride and always had the horse where he wanted to be. He ran so well in the Scottish National (2nd) that we knew he would get the trip.”
Jockey Mania said: “Everything went right. Crossing the Melling Road I thought we could be in the first three or four. I couldn’t believe the way the front two stopped in front of me at the last.”
Smith expressed her hopes that Auroras Encore would enjoy a well-deserved retirement, insisting he “doesn’t owe us anything” following the injury that brought his racing career to a premature end.
She said: “I just want him to have a happy retirement. They got him up successfully after surgery and he was staying overnight in the operation box. Fingers crossed.
“He won the National for us. It doesn’t get bigger than that. He doesn’t owe us anything.
“This is a racing injury and I’m afraid that is what you have to expect from the job on occasion. I just want him back to his retirement.”
