Teddy Davies finds redemption at Grand National Steeplechase Races

(Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/TNS)

It was a little sweeter than a typical win for Teddy Davies this week.

The 22-year-old jockey raised his fist and flashed a wide smile in the winner’s circle Saturday, clad in red and gold silks after winning the 123rd running of the Grand National timber race in Butler.

About 40 minutes later, he was back again — different colors, same result.

Davies claimed the fifth Grand National Maiden Timber, surging late in a navy, star-studded kit for his second win of the day. For a moment, a third seemed possible.

It felt like redemption for Davies a week after being disqualified from a first-place finish at My Lady’s Manor.

“Take me down and I keep going,” Davies joked. “I didn’t let that discourage me. It’s definitely a good feeling.”

At the Grand National, nothing comes easy.

Shorter than the Maryland Hunt Cup but run at a quicker pace, the 3-mile Butler course demands both speed and precision, its higher, unforgiving timber fences leaving little margin for error.

“It’s a blend of conditioning and jumping expertise — you have to get it right to win,” said race co-chairman Ned Worthington.

Since the race moved to its current course in 1946, 16 horses have won both the Grand National and the Hunt Cup. But 15 Hunt Cup winners have come to Butler and left without a victory.

Even the best don’t always survive it.

“There was a lot that happened during that race,” Davies said. “It was a bit faster than I thought it would be.”

Midway through the Grand National, a horse missed a flag and cut across the course, taking another with it and forcing a split-second decision behind.

“So I had a couple options — take back or try to beat them to the fence,” Davies said. “I sent my horse. It was risky, but we got it and avoided the rest of the chaos.”

The field clear the second fence during the 60th running of the Benjamin H. Murray Memory Steeplechase race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jockey Eric Poretz celebrates his win with Recoup in the 60th running of the Benjamin H. Murray Memory Steeplechase race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Competitors running in the 60th Benjamin H. Murray Memory Steeplechase race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) The eventual winner Recoup (2) with jockey Eric Poretz, center, clear the third fence during the 60th running of the Benjamin H. Murray Memory Steeplechase race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) The Ballybreen Fox with jockey Teddy Davies go off course and crash through the 16th fence to avoid colliding with another horse during the 60th running of the Benjamin H. Murray Memory Steeplechase race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Competing horses parade before the running of the 5th Grand National Maiden Timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Pavoni, with jockey Teddy Davies, center, clears the third gate during the 5th Grand National Maiden Timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Pavoni (2) with jockey Teddy Davies, center, outrun Itsknownasthebern (1) to win the 5th Grand National Maiden Timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jockey Teddy Davies, right, fist bumps trainer Todd McKenna after winning the 5th Grand National Maiden Timber race with Pavoni.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Mr. Fine Threads (5) with jockey Teddy Davies win the 123rd running of The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Bill Carlson, of Boring, Md., serves as bar tender at his and wife\xe2\x80\x99s tailgate party during the 123rd running of The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Mr. Fine Threads (5) with jockey Teddy Davies, left, clears the 4th fence during the 123rd running of The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Martha Washington tree topper sits on a horse overlooking a spread of good eats at the America\xe2\x80\x99s 250th themed tailgate the 123rd running of The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Mr. Fine Threads (5) with jockey Teddy Davies clear the final fence to win the 123rd running of The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Mr. Fine Threads (5) with jockey Teddy Davies, right, avoid a riderless horse, left, and clears the 11th gate on the way to win the 123rd running of The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Mark Kaltenborn, left, of Potomac, Md., takes pictures of son Jack with a big USA hat at their America\xe2\x80\x99s 250th themed tailgate at the 123rd running of The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Mr. Fine Threads (5) with jockey Teddy Davies clear the 12th gate on the way to win the 123rd running of The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Mr. Fine Threads (5) with jockey Teddy Davies, center, is in the middle of the pack early on during the 123rd running of The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ed Funk, left, of Hereford, blows soap bubbles for granddaughter Navy Witman, 2, at the 123rd running of The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jockey Teddy Davies raises the trophy after riding Mr. Fine Threads to win the 123rd running of The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) A prancing horse statue at one of the tailgate party at the 123rd running of The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Show Caption1 of 22Mr. Fine Threads (5) parades in the paddock before racing and winning the 123rd The Grand National Steeplechase, a demanding three-mile timber race. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)