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‘Part of the family to the end’: farewell to Grand National winner who made dreams come true

Eleanor Jones Eleanor Jones

    • The 2013 Grand National winner Auroras Encore has died aged 24, having been “part of the family to the end”.

    Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith Racing have paid tribute to the horse who made dreams come true, promising he would never be forgotten.

    “Auroras Encore achieved what every owner, trainer and jockey dreams of when he won the 2013 Grand National – the world’s most famous and toughest steeplechase,” they said.

    “To conquer the Aintree fences and win the hardest jumps race of them all takes an incredibly brave and special horse, and Auroras Encore did it in unforgettable style. His victory gave everyone connected to him memories that will last a lifetime and secured his place in racing history.”

    Auroras Encore won the 166th Grand National with Ryan Mania by nine lengths, for Sue Smith and owners Douglas Pryde, Jim Beaumont and David van der Hoeven. The 66-1 shot had been sold to Frank Barry for €7,000 as a yearling, then to Sue’s husband Harvey for €9,500 as a three-year-old. The son of Second Empire, bred by Mountarmstrong Stud in Ireland, went on to win £725,737 in total.

    He was trained by Sue Smith for his whole career, which also included finishing second in the Scottish Grand National in 2012 and winning a listed hurdle at Aintree in 2008, at 50-1.

    Auroras Encore raced three more times after his National win, retiring in January 2014.

    “After his racing days were over, he spent his retirement here with us on the farm, enjoying the peaceful life he deserved,” Joel and Sue said. “He was a much-loved horse with a kind nature and a big personality, and he remained part of the family right until the very end.

    “We feel incredibly lucky to have cared for him throughout his retirement and to have shared so many years with such a remarkable horse.

    “Rest easy, champion. You will always be remembered and never forgotten.”

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    Eleanor Jones
    Eleanor Jones

    H&H news editor
    Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
    Eleanor Jones

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