The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held
annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is
a handicap steeplechase over 4 miles furlongs
with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. It is the most valuable
jump race in Europe, with a prize fund of £1 million in 2015.
The course over which the race is run features much larger
fences than those found on conventional National Hunt tracks. Many of these,
particularly Becher's Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn, have become famous
in their own right and, combined with the distance of the event, create what
has been called "the ultimate test of horse and rider".
The Grand National has been broadcast live on free-to-air
terrestrial television in the United Kingdom since 1960. From then until 2012
it was broadcast by the BBC. Since 2013, it has been shown by Channel 4, which
holds the UK broadcasting rights until 2016. An estimated 500 to 600 million people
watch the Grand National in over 140 countries. It has also been broadcast on
radio since 1927; BBC Radio held the exclusive radio rights until 2013,
however, Talksport also now holds radio commentary rights. The race is popular
amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other
times of the year.
The next Grand National will be held on 9 April 2016. The
most recent, in 2015, was won by Many Clouds, ridden by jockey Leighton Aspell
for trainer Oliver Sherwood and owner Trevor Hemmings.
History
Founding and early Nationals
The Grand National was founded by William Lynn, a syndicate
head and proprietor of the Waterloo Hotel, on land he leased in Aintree from
William Molyneux, 2nd Earl of Sefton. Lynn set out a course, built a
grandstand, and Lord Sefton laid the foundation stone on 7 February 1829. This
same horse won again in 1837, while Sir William was the winner in 1838. These
races have long been disregarded because of the belief that they took place at
Maghull and not Aintree. However, some historians have unearthed evidence in
recent years that suggest those three races were run over the same course at
Aintree and were regarded as having been Grand Nationals up until the
mid-1860s. To date, though, calls for the Nationals of 1836–1838 to be restored
to the record books have been unsuccessful. The Duke was ridden by Martin
Becher. The fence Becher's Brook is named after him and is where he fell in the
next year’s race.
In 1838 and 1839 three significant events occurred to
transform the Liverpool race from a small local affair to a national event.
Firstly, the Great St. Albans Chase, which had clashed with the steeplechase at
Aintree, was not renewed after 1838, leaving a major hole in the chasing
calendar. Secondly, the railway arrived in Liverpool, enabling transport to the
course by rail for the first time. Finally, a committee was formed to better
organise the event. These factors led to a more highly publicised race in 1839
which attracted a larger field of top quality horses and riders, greater press
coverage and an increased attendance on race day. Over time the first three
runnings of the event were quickly forgotten to secure the 1839 race its place
in history as the first official Grand National. It was won by rider Jem Mason
on the aptly named, Lottery.
By the 1840s, Lynn's ill-health blunted his enthusiasm for
Aintree. Edward Topham, a respected handicapper and prominent member of Lynn's
syndicate, began to exert greater influence over the National. He turned the chase
into a handicap in 1843.
War National Steeplechase
For three years during the First World War, while Aintree
Racecourse was taken over by the War Office, an alternative race was run at
Gatwick Racecourse, a disused course on land now occupied by Gatwick Airport.
The first of these races, in 1916, was called the Racecourse Association
Steeplechase, and in 1917 and 1918 the race was called the War National
Steeplechase. The races at Gatwick are not always recognised as "Grand
Nationals" and their results are often omitted from winners' lists.
Tipperary Tim
On the day of the 1928 Grand National, before the race had
begun, Tipperary Tim's jockey William Dutton heard a friend call out to him:
"Billy boy, you'll only win if all the others fall down!" These words
turned out to be true, as 41 of the 42 starters fell during the race. As the
field approached the Canal Turn on the first circuit, Easter Hero fell, causing
a pile-up from which only seven horses emerged with seated jockeys. By the
penultimate fence this number had reduced to three, with Great Span looking
most likely to win ahead of Billy Barton and Tipperary Tim. Great Span's saddle
then slipped, leaving Billy Barton in the lead until he too then fell. Although
Billy Barton's jockey Tommy Cullinan managed to remount and complete the race,
it was Tipperary Tim who came in first at outside odds of 100/1. With only two
riders completing the course, this remains a record for the fewest number of
finishers.
Second World War and the 1950s
Although the Grand National was run as normal in 1940 and
most other major horse races around the world were able to be held throughout
the war, the commandeering of Aintree Racecourse for defence use in 1941 meant
no Grand National could be held from 1941 to 1945.
During the 1950s the Grand National was dominated by Vincent
O'Brien, who trained different winners of the race for three consecutive years
between 1953 and 1955. Early Mist secured O'Brien's first victory in 1953;
Royal Tan won in 1954, and Quare Times completed the Irish trainer's hat-trick
in 1955.
The running of the 1956 Grand National witnessed one of the
chase's most bizarre incidents. Devon Loch, owned by Queen Elizabeth The Queen
Mother, had cleared the final fence in leading position, five lengths clear of
E.S.B. Forty yards from what seemed like certain victory, Devon Loch suddenly,
and inexplicably, half-jumped into the air and collapsed in a belly-flop on the
turf. Despite efforts by jockey Dick Francis, Devon Loch was unable to complete
the race, leaving E.S.B. to cross the finishing line first. Responding to the
commiserations of E.S.B.’s owner, the Queen Mother famously commented:
"Oh, that's racing!"
Had Devon Loch completed the race he may have set a new
record for the fastest finishing time, which E.S.B. missed by only four-fifths
of a second. Many explanations have been offered for Devon Loch's behaviour on
the run-in, but the incident remains inexplicable. In modern language, the
phrase "to do a Devon Loch" is sometimes used to describe a last-minute
failure to achieve an expected victory.
Foinavon
The 1967 Grand National saw one of the race's most
remarkable incidents, when most of the field were hampered or dismounted in a
mêlée at the 23rd fence, allowing a rank-outsider, Foinavon, to become a
surprise winner at odds of 100/1. A loose horse named Popham Down, who had
unseated his rider at the first jump, suddenly veered across the leading group
at the 23rd, causing them to either stop, refuse or unseat their riders. Racing
journalist Lord Oaksey described the resulting pile-up by saying that Popham
Down had "cut down the leaders like a row of thistles". Some horses
even started running in the wrong direction, back the way they had come.
Foinavon, whose owner had such little faith in him that he had travelled to
Worcester that day instead, had been lagging some 100 yards behind the leading
pack, giving his jockey, John Buckingham, time to steer his mount wide of the
havoc and make a clean jump of the fence on the outside. Although 17 jockeys
remounted and some made up considerable ground, particularly Josh Gifford on
15/2 favourite Honey End, none had time to catch Foinavon before he crossed the
finishing line. The 7th/23rd fence was officially named the 'Foinavon fence' in
1984.
1970s and Red Rum
The 1970s were mixed years for the Grand National. In 1973,
eight years after Mrs. Mirabel Topham announced she was seeking a buyer, the
racecourse was finally sold to property developer Bill Davies. Davies tripled
the admission prices; consequently, the attendance at the 1975 race, won by
L'Escargot, was the smallest in living memory. It was after this that bookmaker
Ladbrokes made an offer, signing an agreement with Davies allowing them to
manage the Grand National.
During this period, Red Rum was breaking all records to
become the most successful racehorse in Grand National history. Originally
bought as a yearling in 1966 for 400 guineas, he passed through various
training yards before being bought for 6,000 guineas by Ginger McCain on behalf of Noel le Mare.
The horse was suffering from pedal osteitis, an inflammatory bone disorder.
McCain had witnessed many lame carthorses reconditioned by being galloped in
sea-water. He successfully used this treatment on his newly acquired racehorse.
Despite a poor start, the pair went on to win four-and-a-half lengths ahead of
the much-fancied Spartan Missile, ridden by amateur jockey and 54-year-old
grandfather John Thorne. Champion and Aldaniti were instantly propelled to
celebrity status, and within two years, their story had been re-created in the
film Champions, starring John Hurt.
Part Two coming tomorrow.
Tipster Street.
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