Legendary racing family ‘devastated’ after Grand National winner Bindaree dies aged 30
LEGENDARY racing family the Twiston-Davies have been left ‘devastated’ after the death of Grand National winner Bindaree at the grand old age of 30.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained runner won the 2002 Aintree feature under Jim Culloty, the uncle of three-time Flat champion jockey Oisin Murphy.
Bindaree was sent off 20-1 for the world’s most famous race and looked to be beaten early on in the run-in.
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But he found a new lease of life in the closing stages to rally and beat 10-1 What’s Up Boys by just under two lengths.
The thrilling ding-dong went down as an instant classic, with third-placed Blowing Wind, the 8-1 favourite under AP McCoy, a further 27 lengths behind.
Bindaree put Twiston-Davies back on the map as a trainer and his jockey son Sam broke the news of the horse’s death on X on Friday morning.
He said: “Bindaree sadly passed away this morning , all at Grange Hill Farm devastated, all owe him so much as wouldn’t be here with out him. An amazing horse.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for us , may you Rest In Peace.”
Bindaree was owned by the late multi-millionaire businessman Harold Raymond Mould, who died in September 2015.
The horse won just shy of £500,000 in a 40-race career that included nine wins, five seconds and four thirds.
Hugely popular trainer Twiston-Davies said he was on the brink of quitting before Bindaree’s miraculous win.
He told the Racing Post: ““It’s not just me who owes Bindaree so much.
“We were on the verge of quitting. If we had done, there’s a real chance that my sons Sam and Willy wouldn’t have had the opportunities to achieve what they have done.
“He was a character, but not the sort who wanted to cuddle you. I remember watching the Grand National with Philip Hobbs, who trained What’s Up Boys.
“Bindaree was headed at the last by What’s Up Boys but fought back. It was a great race.
“We shall all miss him.”
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