First run in 1839, the Aintree Grand National is long established as one of the jewels in the crown of British National Hunt racing. Home to the most spectacular fences in the sport, the Merseyside marvel is a race celebrated by all, from the diehard racing fans to the once-a-year punters.
However, while celebrated by all, for much of its history, the Grand National was not open to all. Between that inaugural edition of 1839 and Rag Trade’s win in 1976, every jockey to compete in the great race had one thing in common – they were all male.
That unfortunate fact had nothing to do with a lack of desire on the part of the female riders, but rather the antiquated rules of the day. Women were permitted to ride in the amateur point-to-point sphere from the age of 18, or in occasional female-only amateur events. However, they were expressly forbidden from riding in any professional race held under the official rules of racing, let alone the most famous jumps race in the world.
Time for Change
The subject of women in sport was swept up in the revolutionary era of the 1970s. Under pressure following the passing of the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975, the Jockey Club finally relaxed its rules. From 1975, women were allowed to apply for a professional licence and compete against men on the flat, with professional National Hunt racing opened up to female participation in 1976.
Among those to send their application to the Jockey Club was a 20-year-old Essex lass who had cut her teeth in pony racing. Inspired by little more than her lifelong love of horses and a desire to compete, Charlotte Brew would go down in history as the first woman to ride in the most famous jumps race of them all.
Early Success in Pony Racing
Born in 1955, Charlotte Brew inherited a love of horses from her parents, who were keen participants on the point-to-point and hunting scene. Regularly on horseback by the age of seven, one of Charlotte’s earliest partners was a pony by the name of Rosie, whom the family obtained from a gypsy caravan.
Repurposed as a racing pony, Rosie proved more than up to the task when carrying Charlotte to victory in a midnight steeplechase at the Essex Showgrounds. Having tasted that winning feeling, young Charlotte was bitten by the bug.
Double Delight on 18th Birthday
Despite being the most passionate rider among her siblings, Charlotte was forced to watch on enviously as her younger brother Anthony competed in a point-to-point event before she did. While there was no lower age limit in place for male point-to-point riders, females were unable to compete until they turned 18.
As such, Charlotte’s 18th birthday marked a landmark moment in her equine career. In addition to an ability to compete in points, Charlotte received a spectacular present from her parents. That present stood 17.2 hands tall and went by the name of Barony Fort.
Initially impressed with the gelding’s jumping during a trial spin at Newmarket, Charlotte was delighted with her new ride. The discovery of a deformed back leg did little to dissuade her. While that ailment blunted Barony Fort’s pace, he could certainly jump.
Surprise Grand National Qualification
Now in possession of a licence and a willing partner, Charlotte took Barony Fort to a 1976 event at Huntingdon to make her debut under rules. The pair finished an unheralded fourth in that Cambridgeshire contest. Filling the same position at Aintree later that year would produce a more tangible result.
Once again showing jumping to be his strong suit, Barony Fort took to the famous Grand National fences like a duck to water in the 1976 Foxhunters’ Chase. In the lead over the last, that trademark lack of pace saw the duo overhauled to finish fourth. However, unbeknownst to Charlotte, a fourth-place finish was good for an automatic spot in the 1977 Grand National field. Despite only finding out this information in a post-race interview, Charlotte and Barony Fort’s course was set.
Support and Criticism in Equal Measure
Set to become the first lady to ride in the Aintree Grand National, Charlotte quickly attracted a media circus, with interviewers clamouring for a slice of the story. Charlotte reports hundreds of letters of support from former female riders who were never afforded the chance to compete on racing’s biggest stage. Former Grand National-winning jockey Bruce Hobbs also wished her well. Others weren’t as positive about her appearance.
Grand National winning trainer Ginger McCain stated that women should not be allowed to ride in the race “under any circumstances”. Red Rum jockey Tommy Stack added his voice to the dissent, quipping, “My advice to Charlotte would be to be in the Eurovision Song Contest, not riding around Liverpool.”
Charlotte’s response to those ridiculing her appearance was a short and simple, “Well they can get stuffed!”
Racing into the History Books, and Almost to the Finish Line
With Aintree, much like every other track in the land, unprepared for female participation, Charlotte was forced to get changed in a female bathroom way up in the stands before her date with destiny. Once prepared she teamed up with the horse whom she owned, trained, and rode in the parade ring.
Labelled “the worst horse to ever run in a Grand National” by Lord Oaksey, who was otherwise supportive of Brew, Barony Fort started at odds of 200/1. True to his slow and steady style, he plodded around well adrift of the leaders but did at least look like completing the course. Having successfully negotiated the water jump for a second time, the cry of legendary commentator Sir Peter O’Sullevan that, “Charlotte Brew is still going”, was met with wild cheers in the stands.
Alas, Charlotte and her mount would make it no further than the fourth-last fence. Witnessing a runner in front of him pull up, Barony Fort also decided he had done enough for the day and refused to jump the 27th at the first, second, and third attempt.
Red Rum famously entered racing legend with a third Grand National victory that day as he incredibly carried top-weight to a 25-length success. Looking back to Valentine’s, Barony Fort and his 21-year-old rider were on their way back to the stables having carved their own slice of history.
Paving the Way for Those Who Followed
While disappointed not to have finished the race, Brew’s participation had propelled her into the national spotlight. Following the race, she made a guest appearance at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Ceremony, competed in a celebrity grand prix at Silverstone, and finished third in the sports challenge TV show, Superstars.
On the racing front, Charlotte became only the fourth woman to contest the notorious Czech jumps contest of the Velká pardubická. She made one further appearance in the Grand National, when falling at the third aboard Martinstown in 1982.
Reflecting on her achievement in later years, a typically modest Charlotte (now Charlotte Budd through marriage) recalled, “I just did what was nice for me and my horse.” What was nice for her and her horse ultimately helped pave the way for the Bryony Frosts and Rachael Blackmores of the world.
When Blackmore entered the Grand National history books with her win aboard Minella Times in 2021, among those cheering on from the sofa, with a bottle of champagne and a tear in her eye, was a rider who produced the most influential pulled-up effort in the history of the great race.