John Thorne
Marlborough John Thorne was born on May, 15, 1926. A former paratrooper, he was 54 when he contested the Grand National on Spartan Missile. John Francome had offered to take the ride, and, had he done so, would almost certainly have won, but Thorne was determined to ride himself. Coming with a wet sail, he finished second to Aldaniti and Bob Champion.
Marlborough John Thorne was born on May, 15, 1926. A former paratrooper, he was 54 when he contested the Grand National on Spartan Missile. John Francome had offered to take the ride, and, had he done so, would almost certainly have won, but Thorne was determined to ride himself. Coming with a wet sail, he finished second to Aldaniti and Bob Champion.
He had trained for the race with local soldiers as he attempted to lose two stones in weight. He owned the Chesterton stud near Leamington Spa, and had bred Spartan Missile himself.
He had trained for the race with local soldiers as he attempted to lose two stones in weight. He owned the Chesterton stud near Leamington Spa, and had bred Spartan Missile himself.
Other good horses he rode were Indamelia, Polaris Missile, Flying Timber, Ben Aigen and Dubaythorn. His biggest wins included the 1966 National Hunt Chase on Polaris Missile, the Cheltenham Foxhunters twice on Some Baby (1959) and Spartan Missile (1979), and the Liverpool Foxhunters twice on Spartan Missile in 1978 and 1979.
Other good horses he rode were Indamelia, Polaris Missile, Flying Timber, Ben Aigen and Dubaythorn. His biggest wins included the 1966 National Hunt Chase on Polaris Missile, the Cheltenham Foxhunters twice on Some Baby (1959) and Spartan Missile (1979), and the Liverpool Foxhunters twice on Spartan Missile in 1978 and 1979.
On March 6th, riding Bend-A-Knee at Bicester point-to-point, John Thorne took his last fall. He was rushed to hospital where he died on Sunday March 7th 1982, leaving a widow, Wendy.
On March 6th, riding Bend-A-Knee at Bicester point-to-point, John Thorne took his last fall. He was rushed to hospital where he died on Sunday March 7th 1982, leaving a widow, Wendy.
His son Nigel had earlier been killed in a car crash returning home from Newmarket on December 22, 1968.
His son Nigel had earlier been killed in a car crash returning home from Newmarket on December 22, 1968.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1959: Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chase – Some Baby
1959: Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chase – Some Baby
1966: National Hunt Chase – Polaris Missile
1966: National Hunt Chase – Polaris Missile
1978: Liverpool Fox Hunters’ Chase – Spartan Missile
1978: Liverpool Fox Hunters’ Chase – Spartan Missile
1979: Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chase – Spartan Missile
1979: Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chase – Spartan Missile
1979: Liverpool Fox Hunters’ Chase – Spartan Missile
1979: Liverpool Fox Hunters’ Chase – Spartan Missile
1979: Horse and Hound Cup Champion Hunters’ Chase – Spartan Missile
1979: Horse and Hound Cup Champion Hunters’ Chase – Spartan Missile
Spartan Missile and the Grand National
Spartan Missile and the Grand National
Arguably, Spartan Missile was the best Point to Pointer/Hunter Chaser of all time. He stood head and shoulders above the other horses in his class and almost won the Aintree Grand National.
Arguably, Spartan Missile was the best Point to Pointer/Hunter Chaser of all time. He stood head and shoulders above the other horses in his class and almost won the Aintree Grand National.
The horse's owner, John Thorne, an amateur rider in his 50s, came out of retirement to ride this horse that he had bred and trained because he believed it would allow him to attain his dream of riding the winner of the Grand National.
The horse's owner, John Thorne, an amateur rider in his 50s, came out of retirement to ride this horse that he had bred and trained because he believed it would allow him to attain his dream of riding the winner of the Grand National.
John Thorne had also bred and ridden Spartan Missile’s dam, Polaris Missile, and returned to race riding after his son Nigel was killed in a car accident. After graduating to Hunter Chases from Point to Points he won the Aintree Foxhunters in 1978 and again a year later. The 1978 win was particularly memorable as the pin in one of his leathers broke and he had to ride over the last 8 jumps with no stirrups.
John Thorne had also bred and ridden Spartan Missile’s dam, Polaris Missile, and returned to race riding after his son Nigel was killed in a car accident. After graduating to Hunter Chases from Point to Points he won the Aintree Foxhunters in 1978 and again a year later. The 1978 win was particularly memorable as the pin in one of his leathers broke and he had to ride over the last 8 jumps with no stirrups.
Spartan Missile missed 1980 through injury and, on his return a year later, John Thorne weighed in at 13 stone. Needing to get down to a race weight of 11 stone 2lbs, he trained with the soldiers at his local barracks and managed to achieve 11 stone 5lbs, just over 3lbs heavier than his target.
Spartan Missile missed 1980 through injury and, on his return a year later, John Thorne weighed in at 13 stone. Needing to get down to a race weight of 11 stone 2lbs, he trained with the soldiers at his local barracks and managed to achieve 11 stone 5lbs, just over 3lbs heavier than his target.
John Francome, the champion jockey at this time, offered to ride Spartan Missile in the big race, but John declined. The likelihood is that if John Francome had ridden, it would have won, thereby denying Aldaniti and Bob Champion of their fairytale ending.
John Francome, the champion jockey at this time, offered to ride Spartan Missile in the big race, but John declined. The likelihood is that if John Francome had ridden, it would have won, thereby denying Aldaniti and Bob Champion of their fairytale ending.
Spartan Missile was settled at the back in the race and made a bad mistake at the first fence on the second circuit setting him even further back. Slowly he made his way through the field but Aldaniti had set sail for home already. Clawing his way past horse after horse, at the last fence only Aldaniti was in front of him. Relentlessly gaining length after length on the run-in, the post came just in time for Aldaniti. The galloping grandpa had just failed.
Spartan Missile was settled at the back in the race and made a bad mistake at the first fence on the second circuit setting him even further back. Slowly he made his way through the field but Aldaniti had set sail for home already. Clawing his way past horse after horse, at the last fence only Aldaniti was in front of him. Relentlessly gaining length after length on the run-in, the post came just in time for Aldaniti. The galloping grandpa had just failed.
Great sportsman he was, John Thorne was pleased for Bob Champion, the rider of Aldaniti, and even had a drink with him in the local pub that evening.
Great sportsman he was, John Thorne was pleased for Bob Champion, the rider of Aldaniti, and even had a drink with him in the local pub that evening.
Unfortunately, this story does not have a happy ending. The following year, John Thorne was tragically killed in a fall at a Point to Point.
Unfortunately, this story does not have a happy ending. The following year, John Thorne was tragically killed in a fall at a Point to Point.