Grand National

This article is about the English horse race. For other uses, see Grand National (disambiguation).

Grand National

Grade 3 race
Location	Aintree Racecourse Liverpool, England
Race type	Chase
Sponsor	John Smith's
Website	www.aintree.co.uk
Race information
Distance	4 mi, 4 f (7,242 m)
Track	Turf, left-handed
Qualification	Six-years-old and up Rated 110+ by BHB
Weight	Handicap Maximum: 11 st 10 lb
Purse	£950,000 (2011) 1st: £535,135

External videos
Full replay of the most recent Grand National BBC Sport, 9 April 2011

The Grand National (also known as The National) is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards (7,242 m), with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course. The race has been held at Aintree each year since 1839, with the exception of 1916-1918 during the First World War when it was held at Gatwick Racecourse, 1941-1945 during the Second World War when it was called off, and in 1993 when the race was declared void owing to a false start. It is currently scheduled to take place on a Saturday afternoon in early April. The next Grand National will be held on 14 April 2012.

The steeplechase is the centrepiece of a three-day meeting, one of only four run at Aintree in the racing season. It is the most valuable National Hunt event in Britain, offering a total prize fund of £950,000 in 2011. The race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year.

The racecourse is triangular in shape and contains sixteen fences, all except The Chair and the Water Jump are jumped twice. The course has a reputation as the ultimate test of horse and jockey, most starters failing to complete the two circuits. Certain fences are famous for their severity, notably Becher's Brook, The Chair, and the Canal Turn.

The National is listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, ensuring it is broadcast live on free-to-air terrestrial television in the United Kingdom. The first radio commentary of the race was broadcast by Meyrick Good and George Allison on the BBC in 1927; the first televised coverage was in 1960 with commentary led by Peter O'Sullevan, and the BBC has retained the rights ever since. An estimated 500 to 600 million viewers watch the Grand National in over 140 countries.

The most recent Grand National took place on 9 April 2011 and was won by jockey Jason Maguire on Ballabriggs, for trainer Donald McCain, Jr. and owner Trevor Hemmings.

History

Founding and early Nationals

File:Beecher's-Brook,-1890.jpg

1890 engraving of horses jumping the famous Becher's Brook fence in the Grand National.

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. There is much debate regarding the first official Grand National; most leading published historians, including John Pinfold, now prefer the idea that the first running was in 1836 and was won by The Duke. 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.

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 5/1 favourite 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 after it had been a weight-for-age race for the first four years, and took over the land lease in 1848. One century later, the Topham family bought the course outright.

First World War

For three years during the First World War, while Aintree Racecourse was closed, 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 for the following two years the race was known as 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 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. This year's National was run during misty weather conditions with the going very heavy. 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.

1950s

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.

Oh, that's racing!

The Queen Mother on Devon Loch's collapse moments from certain victory

The running of the 1956 Grand National witnessed one of its more bizarre incidents. Devon Loch, owned by HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, had cleared the final fence in leading position five lengths clear of ESB. Only forty yards from what seemed like certain victory, the horse suddenly appeared to half jump in the air before collapsing in a belly flop on the turf. Despite efforts by jockey Dick Francis, Devon Loch was unable to complete the race, leaving ESB to cross the finishing line first. Responding to the commiserations of ESB’s owner, the Queen Mother merely commented: "Oh, that's racing". Had Devon Loch completed the race he may have set a new record for fastest finishing time, which ESB missed by only four fifths of a second. Many explanations have been offered for Devon Loch’s behaviour, but the incident remains inexplicable. In modern language, ‘to do a Devon Loch’, is used to describe a last minute failure to achieve an expected victory.

Foinavon

Rutherfords has been hampered, and so has Castle Falls; Rondetto has fallen, Princeful has fallen, Norther has fallen, Kirtle Lad has fallen, The Fossa has fallen, there's a right pile-up... And now, with all this mayhem, Foinavon has gone off on his own! He's about 50, 100 yards in front of everything else!

Commentator Michael O'Hehir describes the chaotic scene at the 23rd fence in 1967

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, allowing the rank outsider Foinavon to become a surprise winner at odds of 100/1. At the 23rd fence a loose horse named Popham Down, who had unseated his rider at the first jump, suddenly veered across the leading group 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 one hundred 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 has since been officially named Foinavon's fence.

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.

The crowd are willing him home now. The 12-year-old Red Rum, being preceded only by loose horses, being chased by Churchtown Boy... They're coming to the elbow, just a furlong now between Red Rum and his third Grand National triumph! He gets a tremendous reception, you've never heard one like it at Liverpool... and Red Rum wins the National!

Commentator Peter O'Sullevan describes Red Rum's record third Grand National win in 1977

During this period Red Rum was breaking records to become the most successful racehorse in Grand National history. Originally bought as a yearling in 1966 for 400 guineas (£420), he passed through various training yards before being bought for 6,000 guineas (£6,300) by Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain on behalf of Noel Le Mare. Two days after the purchase while trotting the horse on Southport beach, McCain noticed that Red Rum appeared lame. 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.

Red Rum became, and remains, the only horse to win the steeplechase three times, in 1973, 1974, and 1977. He also finished second in the two intervening years, 1975 and 1976. In 1973, he was in second place at the last fence, 15 lengths behind champion horse Crisp, who was carrying 23 lbs more. Red Rum made up the ground on the run-in and, two strides from the finishing post, he pipped the tiring Crisp to win by three-quarters of a length in what is arguably the most memorable Grand National of all time. Finishing in 9 minutes 1·9 seconds, Red Rum broke the record for fastest completion time of the National which had previously stood since 1934 by Golden Miller. His record was to stand for the next sixteen years.

Champion's National

The 1981 running produced arguably the most emotive and absorbing result in the race's history. Two years prior, jockey Bob Champion had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and given only months to live by doctors. But he was passed fit to ride in the 1981 Grand National and paired with Aldaniti, a horse deprived in his youth and who had only recently recovered from chronic leg problems. Despite a poor start, the pair went on to win four-and-a-half lengths ahead of 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.

Seagram's sponsorship

In 1984, Seagram began sponsoring the Grand National. The Canadian distiller provided a solid foundation on which the race's revival could be built, firstly enabling the course to be bought from Davies and to be run and managed by the Jockey Club. It is said that Ivan Straker, Seagram's UK chairman, became interested in the potential opportunity after reading a passionate newspaper article written by journalist Lord Oaksey, who, in his riding days, had come within three-quarters of a length of winning the 1963 National. The last Seagram-sponsored Grand National was in 1991. Coincidentally, the race was won by a horse named Seagram. Martell, then a Seagram subsidiary, took over sponsorship of the Aintree meeting for an initial seven years from 1992, in a £4 million deal.

The race that never was

1994 Grand National

The result of the 1993 Grand National was declared void after what commentator Peter O'Sullevan called "the greatest disaster in the history of the Grand National." While under starter's orders a series of incidents occurred which resulted in one jockey being tangled in the starting tape which had failed to rise correctly. A false start was declared, but lack of communication between course officials meant that 30 out of the 39 jockeys did not realise and began to race. Course officials tried to stop the runners by waving red flags, but many jockeys thought that they were protesters (some had invaded the course earlier) and so continued to race. Peter Scudamore only stopped because he saw his trainer, Martin Pipe, waving frantically at him. Seven horses ran the course in its entirety, forcing a void result. The first past the post of the horses that completed was Esha Ness (in the second-fastest time ever), ridden by John White and trained by Jenny Pitman.

The Monday National

The 1997 Grand National was postponed after two coded bomb threats were received from the Provisional Irish Republican Army. The course was secured by police who then evacuated jockeys, race personnel and local residents along with 60,000 spectators. Cars and coaches were locked in the course grounds, leaving some 20,000 people without their vehicles over the weekend. With limited accommodation available in the city, local residents opened their doors and took in many of those stranded. This prompted tabloid headlines such as "We'll fight them on the Becher's", in reference to Winston Churchill's famous war-time speech. The race was run 48 hours later on the Monday, with the meeting organisers offering 20,000 tickets with free admission.

Recent history

Ballabriggs, the most recent Grand National winner

Red Rum's trainer Ginger McCain returned to the Grand National in 2004, 31 years after Red Rum's epic run-in defeat of Crisp to secure his first of three wins. McCain's Amberleigh House came home first, ridden by Graham Lee, overtaking Clan Royal on the final straight. Hedgehunter, who would go on to win in 2005, fell at the last while leading. McCain had equalled George Dockeray and Fred Rimell's record feat of training four Grand National winners.

A new era in the race's modern history began in 2005 when John Smith's took over from Martell as main sponsors of the Grand National and many of the other races at the three-day Aintree meeting for the first time. In 2006 John Smith's launched the John Smith's People's Race which gave ten members of the public the chance to ride in a flat race at Aintree on Grand National day. In total, thirty members of the public took part in the event before it was discontinued in 2010.

In 2009, Mon Mome became the longest-priced winner of the National for 42 years when he defied outside odds of 100/1 to win by 12 lengths. The victory was also the first for trainer Venetia Williams, the first female trainer to triumph since Jenny Pitman in 1995. The race was also the first National ride for Liam Treadwell.

In 2010 the National became the first horse race to be televised in high-definition in the UK.

The course

The Grand National is run over the National Course at Aintree and consists of two circuits of sixteen fences, the first fourteen of which are jumped twice. Participating horses cover a distance of four miles and four furlongs, the longest of any National Hunt race in Britain. The course is also notable for having one of the longest run-ins from the final fence of any steeplechase, at 494 yards.

File:The-Big-Raspers-At-Ai.jpg

The Big Raspers At Aintree, 1927 painting of an incident at the Grand National

A map of the National Course at Aintree

The Grand National was designed as a cross-country steeplechase when it was first officially run in 1839. The runners started at a lane on the edge of the racecourse and raced away from the course out over open countryside towards the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The gates, hedges and ditches that they met along the way were flagged to provide them with the obstacles to be jumped along the way with posts and rails erected at the two points where the runners jumped a brook. The runners returned towards the racecourse by running along the edge of the canal before re-entering the course at the opposite end. The runners then ran the length of the racecourse before embarking on a second circuit before finishing in front of the stands. The majority of the race therefore took place not on the actual Aintree Racecourse but instead in the adjoining countryside. That countryside was incorporated into the modern course but commentators still often refer to it as "the country", much to the confusion of millions of once-a-year racing viewers.

Fences

There are sixteen fences on the National Course topped with spruce from the Lake District. Some carry names from the history of the race. All sixteen are jumped on the first circuit, but on the second circuit the runners bear to the right onto the run-in for home, avoiding The Chair and the Water Jump. The following is a summary of all sixteen fences on the course:

• Fence 1 & 17

Height: 4 ft 6in
Often met at great speed, which can lead to several falls, the highest being 12 runners in 1951. The drop on the landing side was reduced in 2011.

• Fence 2 & 18

Height: 4 ft 7in
Prior to 1888 the first two fences were located approximately halfway between the first to second and second to third jumps. The second became known as The Fan, after a mare who refused the obstacle three years in succession. The name fell out of favour with the relocation of the fences.

• Fence 3 & 19: Open Ditch

Height: 4 ft 10in; fronted by a 6 ft ditch
The first big test in the race as horses are still adapting to the obstacles.

• Fence 4 & 20

Height: 4 ft 10in
A testing obstacle that often leads to falls and unseated riders. In 2011 the 20th became the first fence in Grand National history to be bypassed on the second circuit, following an equine fatality on the first.

• Fence 5 & 21

Height: 5 ft
A plain obstacle which precedes the most famous fence on the course.

• Fence 6 & 22: Becher's Brook

Height: 5 ft, with the landing side 6in to 10in lower than the takeoff side
The drop at this fence often catches runners by surprise. Becher's has always been a popular vantage point as it can present one of the most spectacular displays of jumping when the horse and rider meet the fence right. Jockeys must sit back in their saddles and use their body weight as ballast to counter the steep drop. It takes its name from Captain Martin Becher who fell there in the first Grand National and took shelter in the small brook running along the landing side of the fence while the remainder of the field thundered over. It is said that Becher later reflected: "Water tastes disgusting without the benefits of whisky."

• Fence 7 & 23: Foinavon

Height: 4 ft 6in
One of the smallest on the course, it was named in 1984 after the 1967 winner who avoided a mêlée at the fence to go on and win the race at outside odds of 100/1.

• Fence 8 & 24: Canal Turn

Height: 5 ft
Noted for its sharp 90-degree left turn immediately after landing. Before the First World War it was not uncommon for loose horses to continue straight ahead after the jump and end up in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal itself. There was once a ditch before the fence but this was filled in after a mêlée in the 1928 race.

• Fence 9 & 25: Valentine's Brook

Height: 5 ft with a 5 ft 6in brook
The fence was originally known as the Second Brook but was renamed after a horse named Valentine was reputed to have jumped the fence hind legs first in 1840. A grandstand was erected alongside the fence in the early part of the 20th century but fell into decline after the Second World War and was torn down in the 1970s.

• Fence 10 & 26

Height: 5 ft
A plain obstacle that leads the runners alongside the canal towards two ditches.

• Fence 11 & 27: Open Ditch

Height: 5 ft, with a 6 ft ditch on the takeoff side

• Fence 12 & 28: Ditch

Height: 5 ft, with a 5 ft 6in ditch on the landing side

The runners then cross the Melling Road near to the Anchor Bridge, a popular vantage point since the earliest days of the race. This also marks the point where the runners are said to be re-entering the "racecourse proper". In the early days of the race it was thought there was an obstacle near this point known as the Table Jump, which may have resembled a bank similar to those still seen at Punchestown in Ireland. In the 1840s the Melling Road was also flanked by hedges and the runners had to jump into the road and then back out of it.

• Fence 13 & 29

Height: 4 ft 7in
A plain obstacle that comes at a point when the runners are usually in a good rhythm and thus rarely causes problems.

• Fence 14 & 30

Height: 4 ft 6in
The final fence on the second circuit and which has often seen very tired horses fall. Despite some tired runners falling at the 30th and appearing injured, no equine fatality has been recorded at the 30th fence to date.

On the first circuit of the race, runners continue around the course to negotiate two fences which are only jumped once:

• Fence 15: The Chair

Height: 5 ft 2in, preceded by a 6 ft wide ditch
This fence is the site of the only human fatality in the National's history, Joe Wynne who sustained injuries in a fall in 1862. This brought about the ditch on the take-off side of the fence in an effort to slow the horses on approach. The fence was the location where a distance judge sat in the earliest days of the race. On the second circuit he would record the finishing order from his position and declare any horse that had not passed him before the previous runner passed the finishing post as "distanced", meaning a non-finisher. The practise was done away with in the 1850s but the monument where the chair stood is still there. The ground on the landing side is six inches higher than on the takeoff side, creating the opposite effect of the drop at Becher's. The fence was originally known as the Monument Jump but The Chair came into more regular use in the 1930s. Today it is one of the most popular jumps on the course for spectators.

• Fence 16: Water Jump

Height: 2 ft 6in
Originally a stone wall in the very early Nationals. The Water Jump was one of the most popular jumps on the course, presenting a great jumping spectacle for those in the stands and was always a major feature in the newsreels' coverage of the race. As the newsreels made way for television in the 1960s so in turn did the Water Jump fall under the shadow of its neighbour, The Chair, in popularity as an obstacle.

On the second circuit, after the 30th fence the remaining runners bear right, avoiding The Chair and Water Jump, to head onto a "run-in" to the finishing post. The run-in is not perfectly straight: an "elbow" requires jockeys to make a slight left before finding themselves truly on the home straight. It is on this run-in — the longest in the United Kingdom at 474 yards — that many potential winners have been snatched of victory, such as Devon Loch in 1956 and Crisp in 1973.

Records

Leading horse:

• Red Rum – 3 wins (1973, 1974, 1977, also second in 1975 and 1976)

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Leading jockey:

• George Stevens – 5 wins (Freetrader (1856), Emblem (1863), Emblematic (1864), The Colonel (1869, 1870))

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Leading trainers:

• George Dockeray – 4 wins (Lottery (1839), Jerry (1840), Gaylad (1842), Miss Mowbray (1852))
• Fred Rimell – 4 wins (ESB (1956), Nicolaus Silver (1961), Gay Trip (1970), Rag Trade (1976))
• Ginger McCain – 4 wins (Red Rum (1973, 1974, 1977), Amberleigh House (2004))

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Leading owners:

• James Machell – 3 wins (Disturbance (1873), Reugny (1874), Regal (1876))
• Noel Le Mare – 3 wins (Red Rum (1973, 1974, 1977))

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• Fastest winning time: Mr. Frisk (1990), 8 minutes 47.8 seconds
• Oldest winning horse: Peter Simple (1853); aged 15
• Youngest winning horse: Alcibiade (1865), Regal (1876), Austerlitz (1877), Empress (1880), Lutteur III (1909); all aged five
• Oldest winning jockey: Dick Saunders (1982); aged 48
• Youngest winning jockey: Bruce Hobbs (1938), aged 17
• Longest odds winner: Tipperary Tim (1928), Gregalach (1929), Caughoo (1947), Foinavon (1967), Mon Mome (2009); all 100/1
• Shortest odds winner: Poethlyn (1919), 11/4
• Largest field: 66 runners (1929)
• Smallest field: 10 runners (1883)
• Most horses to finish: 23 (1984)
• Fewest horses to finish: 2 (1928)
• Most rides in the race: 19 (Tom Olliver, 1839–1859)
• Most rides without winning: 15 (Jeff King, 1964–1980)

Winners

Main article: List of Grand National winners

The following table lists the winners of the last ten Grand Nationals:

Year	Winner	Age	Weight	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Starting price
2011	Ballabriggs	10	11-00	Jason Maguire	Donald McCain, Jr.	Trevor Hemmings	1014 14/1
2010	Don't Push It	10	11-05	Tony McCoy	Jonjo O'Neill	J. P. McManus	1010 10/1 JF
2009	Mon Mome	9	11-00	Liam Treadwell	Venetia Williams	Vida Bingham	1100 100/1
2008	Comply or Die	9	10-09	Timmy Murphy	David Pipe	David Johnson	1007 7/1 JF
2007	Silver Birch	10	10-06	Robbie Power	Gordon Elliott	Brian Walsh	1033 33/1
2006	Numbersixvalverde	10	10-08	Niall Madden	Martin Brassil	Bernard Carroll	1011 11/1
2005	Hedgehunter	9	11-01	Ruby Walsh	Willie Mullins	Trevor Hemmings	1007 7/1 F
2004	Amberleigh House	12	10-10	Graham Lee	Ginger McCain	Halewood Int. Ltd	1016 16/1
2003	Monty's Pass	10	10-07	Barry Geraghty	Jimmy Mangan	Dee Racing Syndicate	1016 16/1
2002	Bindaree	8	10-04	Jim Culloty	Nigel Twiston-Davies	Raymond Mould	1020 20/1

*Weights are in stones and pounds.

Jockeys

When the concept of the Grand National was first envisaged it was designed as a race for gentlemen riders, meaning men who were not paid to compete, and while this was written into the conditions of the early races many of the riders who weighed out for the 1839 race were professionals for hire. Throughout the Victorian era the line between the amateur and professional sportsman existed only in terms of the rider's status, and the engagement of an amateur to ride in the race was rarely considered a handicap to a contender's chances of winning. Many gentleman riders won the race prior to the First World War.

Although the number of amateurs remained high between the wars their ability to match their professional counterparts gradually receded. After the Second World War it became rare for any more than four or five amateurs to take part in any given year, despite many fine performances from amateur riders, including some victories before the turn of the century. By the 21st century, openings for amateur riders had become very rare with some years passing with no amateur riders at all taking part. Those that do in the modern era are most usually talented young riders who are often close to turning professional. In the past such amateur riders would have been joined by army officers, such as David Campbell who won in 1896, and sporting aristocrats, farmers or local huntsmen and point to point riders, who usually opted to ride their own mounts. But all these genres of rider have faded out in the last quarter of a century with no riders of military rank or aristocratic title having taken a mount since 1982.

The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 made it possible for female jockeys to enter the race. To date fourteen have done so, although mainly on outsiders with little chance of winning. The first female jockey to enter the race was Charlotte Brew on the 200/1 outsider Barony Fort in the 1977 race. The 21st century has not seen a significant increase in female riders but it has seen them gain rides on mounts considered to have a genuine chance of winning. In 2011, Nina Carberry became the first female jockey to take her third ride in the Grand National, and has completed the course each time, albeit her best place being seventh in 2010.

Professionals now hold dominance in the Grand National and better training, dietary habits and protective clothing has ensured that riders' careers last much longer and offer more opportunities to ride in the race. Of the 28 riders who have enjoyed 13 or more rides in the race, 17 had their first ride in the 20th century and six of those had careers that continued into the 21st century. Longevity is no guarantee of success however as ten of the 28 never tasted the glory of winning the race. Tony McCoy had been a 11th member of this group prior to winning the race at the 15th attempt in 2010 and in the process avoiding sharing the record for the most rides without ever being victorious; that honour still being held solely by Jeff King who, in 15 attempts from 1964–1980, never bettered third place. The other nine riders who never won or have not as yet won, having had more than 12 rides in the race are:

• Bill Parvin (1926–1939): finished second once in 14 attempts;
• Richard Johnson (1997–2010): finished second once in 14 attempts;
• Graham Bradley (1983–1999): finished second once in 14 attempts;
• Chris Grant (1980–1994): finished second three times in 13 attempts;
• Stan Mellor (1956–1971): finished second once in 13 attempts;
• David Nicholson (1957–1973): never in first three in 13 attempts;
• George Waddington (1861–1882): finished second once in 13 attempts;
• Walter White (1854–1869): finished second once in 13 attempts;
• Robert Thornton (1997–2009): never in first three in 13 attempts.

Many well-known jockeys have failed to win the Grand National. These include champion jockeys such as Terry Biddlecombe, John Francome, Josh Gifford, Stan Mellor, Jonjo O'Neill (who never finished the race), Fred Rimell and Peter Scudamore. More recently, Richard Johnson and Adrian Maguire have failed to win the race. Three jockeys who led over the last fence in the National but lost the race on the run-in ended up as television commentators: Lord Oaksey (on Carrickbeg in 1963), Norman Williamson (on Mely Moss in 2000), and Richard Pitman (on Crisp in 1973). Pitman's son Mark also led over the last fence, only to be pipped at the post when riding Garrison Savannah in 1991.

Horse welfare

See also: List of equine fatalities in the Grand National

Due to the high number of injuries and fatalities suffered by participating horses, the Grand National is often a target for animal rights groups, which have campaigned to have it banned. The modern three-day Grand National meeting sees an average of three equine fatalities each year. The centrepiece steeplechase itself, held on the final afternoon of the three-day meeting, has yielded 22 fatalities since 1984.

In recent years, Aintree officials have worked in conjunction with animal welfare organisations to reduce the severity of some fences and to improve veterinary facilities. In 2008 a new veterinary surgery was constructed in the stable yard which has two large treatment boxes, an X-ray unit, video endoscopy, equine solarium and sandpit facilities. Further changes in set-up and procedure allow vets to treat horses more rapidly and in better surroundings. Those requiring more specialist care can be transported by specialist horse ambulances, under police escort, to the nearby Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital at the University of Liverpool at Leahurst. A mobile on-course X-ray machine assists in the prompt diagnosis of leg injuries when horses are pulled up, and oxygen and water are available by the final fence and finishing post.

Five vets remain mobile on the course during the running of the race, and can initiate treatment of injured fallers at the fence. Additional vets are stationed at the pull-up area, finishing post, and in the surgery.

Some of the National's most challenging fences have also been modified, while still preserving them as formidable obstacles. Becher's Brook has had its brook covered and the landing slope levelled off; the drop on the landing side of Becher's was also reduced by 4 to 5 inches after the 2011 race. Screening at the Canal Turn now prevents horses being able to see the sharp left turn and encourages jockeys to spread out along the fence, rather than take the tight left-side route. Additionally, work has been carried out to smooth the core post infrastructure of the fences with protective padding to reduce impact upon contact, and the height of the toe-boards on all fences has been increased to 14 inches. These orange-coloured boards are positioned at the base of each fence and provide a clear ground line to assist horses in determining the base of the fence.

Parts of the course were widened in 2009 to allow runners to bypass fences if required. This was utilised for the first time during the 2011 race as fatalities at fences four (a plain 4 ft 10in obstacle) and six (Becher's Brook) of the first circuit resulted in marshals diverting the remaining contenders around those fences on the second circuit. This was the first time in the National's history that only 28 fences were jumped.

Grand National Legends

In 2009 the race sponsors John Smith's launched a poll to determine five personalities to be inducted into the inaugural Grand National Legends initiative. The winners were announced on the day of the 2010 Grand National and inscribed on commemorative plaques at Aintree. They were:

• Ginger McCain and his record three-time winning horse Red Rum;
• John Buckingham and Foinavon, the unlikely winners in 1967;
• Manifesto, who holds the record for most runs in the race, eight including two victories;
• Jenny Pitman, the first woman to train the winner of the race in 1983; and
• Sir Peter O'Sullevan, the commentator who called home the winners of fifty Grand Nationals on radio and television from 1947 to 1997.

A panel of experts also selected three additional legends:

• George Stevens, the record five-time winning rider between 1856–1870;
• Captain Martin Becher, who played a major part in bringing the National to Liverpool, rode the winner of the first precursor to the National in 1836 and was the first rider to fall into the brook at the sixth fence, which forever took his name after 1839; and
• Edward Topham, who was assigned the task of framing the weights for the handicap from 1847 and whose descendants played a major role in the race for the next 125 years.

In 2011, nine additional legends were added:

• Bob Champion and Aldaniti, the winners of the 1981 Grand National;
• West Tip, who ran in six consecutive Nationals and won once in 1986;
• Richard Dunwoody, the jockey who rode West Tip and Miinnehoma to victory and who competed in 14 Grand Nationals, being placed in eight;
• Brian Fletcher, a jockey who won the race three times (including Red Rum's first victory in 1973, and finished second once and third three times;
• Vincent O'Brien, who trained three consecutive winners of the race in the 1950s;
• Tom Olliver, who rode in nineteen Nationals, including seventeen consecutively, and won three times, as well as finishing second three times and third once;
• Count Karel Kinsky, the first international winner of the race, and at his first attempt, on board the mare Zoedone in 1883;
• Jack Anthony, three-time winning jockey in 1911, 1915 and 1920; and
• Peter Bromley, the radio commentator, who covered 42 Nationals until his retirement.

John Smith's also added five "people's legends" who were introduced on Liverpool Day, the first day of the Grand National meeting. The five were:

• Arthur Ferrie, who worked as a groundsman during the 1970s and 1980s;
• Edie Roche, a Melling Road resident, who opened her home to jockeys, spectators and members of the media when the course was evacuated following a bomb threat in 1997;
• Ian Stewart, a fan who had travelled from Coventry every year to watch the race and was attending his fiftieth National in 2010;
• Police Constable Ken Lawson, who was celebrating thirty-one years of service in the mounted section of Merseyside Police and was set to escort his third National winner in 2010; and
• Tony Roberts, whose first visit to the National had been in 1948 and who had steadily spread the word to family and friends about the race, regularly bringing a party of up to thirty people to the course.

Notes

Mares

Since its inception, 13 mares have won the race:

• Charity (1841)
• Miss Mowbray (1852)
• Anatis (1860)
• Jealousy (1861)
• Emblem (1863)
• Emblematic (1864)
• Casse Tete (1872)
• Empress (1880)
• Zoedone (1883)
• Frigate (1889)
• Shannon Lass (1902)
• Sheila's Cottage (1948)
• Nickel Coin (1951)

Greys

Only two greys have won:

• The Lamb (1868, 1871)
• Nicolaus Silver (1961)

Female jockeys

Since 1977, female jockeys have participated in 18 Grand Nationals. Geraldine Rees became the first to complete the course in 1982. In 2011 Nina Carberry became the first female jockey to take her third ride in the race, also completing for the third time.

Year	Jockey	Horse	SP	Result
1977	Charlotte Brew	Barony Fort	200/1	Refused, 26th fence
1979	Jenny Hembrow	Sandwilan	100/1	Fell, 1st fence
1980	Jenny Hembrow	Sandwilan	100/1	Pulled up, 19th fence
1981	Linda Sheedy	Deiopea	100/1	Refused, 19th fence
1982	Geraldine Rees	Cheers	66/1	Completed, 8th and last place
1982	Charlotte Brew	Martinstown	100/1	Unseated, 3rd fence
1983	Geraldine Rees	Midday Welcome	500/1	Fell, 1st fence
1983	Joy Carrier	King Spruce	28/1	Unseated, 6th fence
1984	Valerie Alder	Bush Guide	33/1	Fell, 8th fence
1987	Jacqui Oliver	Eamons Owen	200/1	Unseated, 15th fence
1988	Gee Armytage	Gee-A	33/1	Pulled up, 26th fence
1988	Venetia Williams	Marcolo	200/1	Fell, 6th fence
1988	Penny Ffitch-Heyes	Hettinger	200/1	Fell, 1st fence
1989	Tarnya Davis	Numerate	100/1	Pulled up, 21st fence
1994	Rosemary Henderson	Fiddlers Pike	100/1	Completed, 5th place
2005	Carrie Ford	Forest Gunner	8/1	Completed, 5th place
2006	Nina Carberry	Forest Gunner	33/1	Completed, 9th and last place
2010	Nina Carberry	Character Building	16/1	Completed, 7th place
2011	Nina Carberry	Character Building	25/1	Completed, 15th place

International winners

Battleship is the only horse to win both the American Grand National and the English Grand National steeplechase races

• Two French-trained horses have won the Grand National, Huntsman (1862) and Cortolvin (1867). Four other winners were bred in France — Alcibiade (1865), Reugny (1874), Lutteur III (1909), and Mon Mome (2009).

• In 1923, Sergeant Murphy became the first U.S.-bred horse to win the race. He is also the joint-second oldest horse to win, at age 13, alongside Why Not (1884). The U.S.-bred Battleship, son of the famous Man o' War, became the first (and so far only) horse to have won both the Grand National (in 1938) and the American Grand National (which he won four years earlier).

• Jockey William Watkinson recorded the first riding success for Australia in 1926. He was killed at Bogside, Scotland, less than three weeks after winning the National.

• 1991 was the seventh and final year that the Grand National was sponsored by Seagram. Aptly, the race was won by a horse named Seagram, bred in New Zealand. 1997 saw another New Zealand-bred winner in Lord Gyllene.

Other British winners

• The only Welsh-trained horse to win was Kirkland in 1905.

• Rubstic, trained by John Leadbetter in Roxburghshire, became the first Scottish-trained winner, with victory in 1979.

Irish winners

• Irish horses have enjoyed by far the most success of international participants, with 16 winners since 1900, including six since 1999:

Year	Horse	Jockey	SP
2007	Silver Birch	Robbie Power	33/1
2006	Numbersixvalverde	Niall Madden	11/1
2005	Hedgehunter	Ruby Walsh	7/1 F
2003	Monty's Pass	Barry Geraghty	16/1
2000	Papillon	Ruby Walsh	10/1
1999	Bobbyjo	Paul Carberry	10/1
1975	L'Escargot	Tommy Carberry	13/2
1958	Mr. What	Arthur Freeman	18/1
1955	Quare Times	Pat Taaffe	100/9
1954	Royal Tan	Bryan Marshall	8/1
1953	Early Mist	Bryan Marshall	20/1
1947	Caughoo	Eddie Dempsey	100/1
1939	Workman	Tim Hyde	100/8
1920	Troytown	Mr. Jack Anthony	6/1
1900	Ambush II	Algy Anthony	4/1

Famous owners

The 1900 winner Ambush II was owned by HRH Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VII. In 1950 Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother had her first runner in the race in Monaveen, who finished fifth. Six years later she would witness her Devon Loch collapse on the run-in, just yards from a certain victory.

The favourite for the 1968 race, Different Class, was owned by actor Gregory Peck.

The 1963 winner Ayala and the 1976 winner Rag Trade were both part-owned by celebrity hairdresser Raymond Bessone.

1994 winner Miinnehoma was owned by comedian Freddie Starr.

A 12/1 shot, What A Friend, running in 2011, was part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson. He was pulled up by jockey Daryl Jacob before the 27th fence.

See also

• Horseracing in Great Britain
• List of British National Hunt races

References

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• aintree.co.uk – Winners 1886–present.
• aintree.co.uk – Grand National Media Guide.
• bbc.co.uk – Grand National facts.
• horseracinghistory.co.uk – Grand National.
• pedigreequery.com – Grand National – Aintree.
• tbheritage.com – The Grand National.

External links

• BBC history of Grand National
• Film footage of the 1967 Grand National great pile up