Aintree Grand National 2014
Date to be confirmed
Often referred to as the World’s greatest steeplechase, The Grand National at Aintree is the ultimate test of any participating horse. The course is nearly two and a quarter miles in length with 16 daunting and unique fences to be jumped twice. What makes the Grand National so hard in comparison to other races at Aintree is that horses must complete two circuits of the course which makes it a fantastic experience for any spectator at Aintree.
With a prize fund of £975,000, The Grand National is the most valuable of all the National Hunt events run in Britain and with the large audience sizes it attracts, it has become a date not to be forgotten in many peoples sporting diaries.
The Grand National has been officially run since 1839 with Lottery taking the winnings and being the first horse into the record books. Due to the difficulty of the race and its unpredictability there have been winners that come in with very long odds. In recent history Mon Mome became the longest-priced winner of the National for 42 years when she won by 12 lengths with odds of 100/1 in 2009. In 1967 a remarkable incident involving an unseated jockey and free running horse occurred allowing Foinavon to win the race with odds of 100/1.
Red Rum managed to dominate the National in the 1970’s winning it three times, and coming second twice. This record makes Red Rum the only horse to win the National three times a record which will possibly remain intact for years to come.
2009 saw the race sponsor John Smith’s launch a poll to get people associated to the Grand National inducted into the the Grand National Legends initiative. Each winner has their name and reason for being inducted inscribed on commemorative plaques at Aintree. Some of these are listed below:
- Ginger McCain and Red Rum for three wins
- Manifesto for the most runs (Eight with two wins)
- George Stevens for riding home five winners
- West Tip for running six consecutive Nationals
- Brian Fletcher for riding home three winners
Sir Peter O’Sullivan for commentating on fifty grand nationals on radio and television from 1947 to 1997.
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