This weekend, on 26th July, the world of horse racing commemorates the 50th anniversary of the legendary clash between Grundy and Bustino in the 1975 running of Ascot’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a contest that stands as a testament to the greatness of horse racing as a sport. This same date also marks the 75th edition of this classic race, first won by Supreme Court in 1951.
Although 50 years have passed, memories of the Ascot clash between Grundy and Bustino in 1975 remain vividly etched in the minds of racing fans, glowing like an inextinguishable star. Often hailed as the "Race of the Century," it chronicled the glory of horse racing in a manner unmatched by any other flat race.
The progression of the race felt like the climax of a classic novel or the final act of an epic film. It symbolised fierce competition, the battle for supremacy, and captivating drama, offering one of the most nail-biting and enthralling contests in sporting history. It embodied the sheer thrill and majestic allure of horse racing, proving that equine athletes can evoke the same magnetism as Olympians or Hollywood icons. The race exemplified the union of class and courage that defines the best in thoroughbred racing.
The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes has consistently featured Europe’s finest racehorses and has long stood as the continent’s premier open race. Over its 75-year history, it has produced performances that have scaled previously unimaginable athletic heights. These horses, akin to Olympic greats, have blazed down the track with regal presence. Among the most unforgettable were the dominant and seemingly effortless victories of Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Dahlia, Shergar, Generous, Montjeu, and Harbinger. Reflecting on these memories brings the emotional power of reading a grand epic.
The 1975 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes brought together a field of stellar equine talent, reminiscent of an all-star cast in a legendary film. It featured the high-class Derby winner Grundy, whose brilliant campaign under trainer Peter Walwyn had already yielded wins in the Irish 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby. Grundy was not bred for stamina, being the product of Great Nephew, a classic miler, and Princely Gift, a sprinter.
Bustino, in contrast, was a proven stayer, having won the previous year’s St Leger. While using a pacemaker would have been standard, his trainer Dick Hern employed two. Despite being viewed as a stayer, Bustino had demonstrated versatility by breaking the course record in the Coronation Cup at four. A tall, powerful bay reaching his prime, Bustino was a worthy second favourite behind Grundy in a strong international field.
The home contingent included the previous year's Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks winner Dibidale, Princess of Wales’s Stakes winner Libra's Rib, and two 500-1 outsiders, Highest and Kinglet, who acted as pacemakers for Bustino. Despite their limited ability, their role proved pivotal. The international field featured Dahlia, the dominant mare who had won the previous two King Georges, along with the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup and the Washington International. Also in the fray were Ashmore, runner-up in the Coronation Cup; Prix Ganay runner-up Card King; On My Way; and from Germany, Star Appeal, who would later win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe that year.
Trainer Hern was intent on testing Grundy to his limits, deploying both Highest and Kinglet to enforce a punishing pace, described by legendary commentator Sir Peter O’Sullevan as “a really blistering gallop.” The aim was to sap Grundy’s reserves and shift the balance in Bustino’s favour.
At the start, Bustino broke quickly before Highest took over, setting a fierce pace. Kinglet assumed control midway through the race, continuing the relentless tempo. With half a mile remaining, Bustino surged ahead, pursued closely by Grundy, triggering a dramatic duel that left spectators breathless. No adjective adequately captures the intensity of the confrontation—it was likened to a heavyweight boxing match.
As Kinglet faded, Bustino took the lead, with Star Appeal second and Grundy closing in. Pat Eddery, aboard Grundy, was forced to act early, unable to give his horse any respite. Grundy overtook Star Appeal as they rounded the final turn, trying to cut into Bustino’s three-length lead.
With two furlongs remaining, Bustino was still two lengths clear. Dahlia and On My Way followed, though neither threatened the leaders. Joe Mercer, riding hands and heels, urged Bustino without the whip, while Eddery resorted to stronger tactics. “I thought I’d never get to him,” Eddery later said. “Every time I got nearer, he kept finding more.”
At the furlong marker, Grundy finally edged alongside Bustino. Eddery pushed him into a narrow lead, but Bustino responded heroically. For nearly a hundred yards, the two raced side-by-side, the outcome hanging by a thread. Eventually, Bustino faltered slightly, veering toward the rail, and Grundy edged ahead by half a length to win.
The pace was so unrelenting that a new course record was set, shattering the previous mark by two and a half seconds. Even Dahlia, five lengths behind in third, beat the old record. The pacemakers had played a decisive role in shaping the race’s dynamics.
Had Bustino won, the tactics used on his behalf may have drawn criticism. But Grundy fought tenaciously in an all-out war of attrition, and neither horse raced again. Bustino retired immediately, and Grundy, physically spent, finished fourth in his final outing. Both had been drained by the demands of their legendary battle.
Jockey Eddery reflected on the effort: “I was always struggling to lay up; it seemed like Bustino had a little more speed than me. When Joe set him alight, I thought I wasn’t going to catch him. But Grundy was so game—he had such a big heart. He caught and passed Bustino, but I never thought I’d win until the last two strides. A few strides after the post, Grundy was almost walking. The effort crucified him.”
Fifty years on, the race remains a benchmark for evaluating great sporting contests. The 1975 King George defies the notion that only winners are remembered. After the race, Lady Beaverbrook said of Bustino, “He filled me with pride as well as with heartache.” In public memory, the race belongs equally to Grundy and Bustino—the narrow margin that separated them forged an unbreakable legacy. It’s always “Grundy and Bustino,” not one without the other. Their duel embodies the spirit of great racing: it takes two to make a race.
“The hardest, most implacable, most moving Flat race that I have ever seen.” — Brough Scott, Sunday Times.
“A glittering, flawless example of horse racing at its most irresistible.” — Hugh McIlvanney, The Observer.
“No race ever was more heroic; no race ever more emotional or exciting. It created an honoured place for Grundy and Bustino in the history of the Turf.” — Christopher Hawkins, author of The Race of the Century.
“Misty-eyed, you ask the question to which you know the answer: ‘Wasn’t that the greatest race you’ve ever seen?’” — Tony Morris, 100 Great Races.
“Grundy and Bustino will be talked about as long as there are people left on the planet to whom hard battles between horses on high summer grass are matters of importance.” — Alastair Down, Racing Post.
The 1975 epic saw echoes in later King Georges, notably the gripping duels of 1977 between The Minstrel and Orange Bay, and in 1985 between Petoski and Oh So Sharp—each offering their own tales of suspense and high drama.
Among the most memorable stars, Nijinsky won the 1970 edition with balletic ease, dominating a field that included Derby, Coronation Cup, and Washington International winners. In 1971, Mill Reef surpassed even that effort, winning by six lengths against a similarly strong international field. His grace on turf was breathtaking.
In 1973, Dahlia’s six-length win redefined the potential of a racemare. Shergar, with his four-length triumph in 1981, revived memories of legendary performances. Generous’s seven-length win in 1990 and Harbinger’s record-breaking 15-length victory in 2010 set new standards of dominance. Notably, Montjeu’s finishing burst to overpower Fantastic Light in 2000 remains unforgettable, as do Swain’s back-to-back wins.
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*Freelance journalist
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