As readers gear up for this year's Grand National at 5.15pm today, Mail Remembers takes a trip back 20 years to April 1997. This was the year when Grand National fever really gripped Burton and South Derbyshire as punters flocked to back local favourite Lord Gyllene.
The racehorse was owned by Barton businessman Stan Clarke who hoped Lord Gyllene as the bookies' favourite at 9-1 would romp to victory in the 3.50pm race at Aintree. Speaking the day before the 1997 Grand National, Mr Clarke said: "He will be doing his very best.
"I don't bet myself but if people want to have a bet on him, he is in top form. "He is an excellent jumper and he is at the right weight and the course is just right for him".
The whole Clarke family planned to cheer on Lord Gyllene at Aintree and the family thought they had a good omen when Hilda Clarke's horse Midnight Legend came home first in a race.
Chris Bytham, the manager of Burton's Needwood Racing in Burton said: "Everything is being backed. Obviously there is a lot of interest in Stan Clarke's horse but Avro Anson has attracted quite a bit of money and it has come down from 25-1 to 10-1."
To add to the Grand National fever sweeping the area in 1997, Ladbroke's in Burton's High Street held events for first-time betters on the Friday evening before the race. In the days leading up to the race, bets totalling more than £50,000 were placed on Lord Gyllene. Betting chain Ladbroke's said the horse which was among the favourites, was the biggest liability in the region.
District supervisor George Kennedy said: "In general, a win for Lord Gyllene would be a good result for the company but regionally, it would be quite bad if it comes in.
As readers will remember, history was made in April 1997 and Stan Clarke's name was carved into sporting history. Mr Clarke had never entered a horse into the Grand National and neither had trainer Steve Brookshaw.
Lord Gyllene's jockey Tony Dobbin had only ridden once before in the race in 1994 and on that occasion he was unseated at the third fence. However, Lord Gyllene surged for victory from the start and won by an incredible 25 lengths. The Clarke family celebrated with fish and chips from Alrewas.
