0
The thrilling Grand National in Aintree, Liverpool, is arguably one of the best horse races in the world; a historic steeplechase of heart-stopping excitement for people of all ages.
But for the dozens of horses and jockeys taking part, it’s a gruelling and often fatal contest, one dotted with famously difficult fences along the 4.5 mile course.
As this year’s race nears and the excitement builds, we present five remarkable things you may never have known about this most spectacular of races.
1. The Grand National usually features around 40 horses each year, and in recent times a limit has been set at that number, but sometimes it has been far smaller, and bigger.
There were only 10 horses in the 1883 event but 66 in 1929, the least and most ever. No matter the size of the field, there’s always interest in Grand National odds and horses – place your bets online.
2. 2015 marks the 176th time the Grand National has been held, with the first ever run in 1839 – which was two hours late getting under way owing to difficulties with jockeys’ weights. The winner was the well-named Lottery, a 5-1 favourite.
3. As for the number of horses that have finished the race, 23 were past the post in 1984, the most ever, but just two managed it in 1928. The fastest winning time for the Grand National was 8 minutes, 47.8 seconds, a record by speedy steed Mr Frisk in 1990 (with amateur jockey Marcus Armytage aboard) while the slowest was nearly double that, taking first ever winner Lottery 14 minutes and 53 seconds in 1839. The most successful horse was Irish-bred Red Rum, winning three times, in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and no other horse has had consecutive wins since then.
4. Becher’s Brook – the most famous fence in the Grand National, and one of its most dangerous, although it has been modified in recent years to make it safer – is named after champion jockey Captain Martin Becher, who fell there during the race’s first running and sought shelter in the brook. “Water tastes disgusting without the benefits of whisky,” he later famously said.
5. The Grand National was not held at Aintree for three years during World War I and was instead moved to Gatwick, south of London, where the busy international airport is now located. In 1916 the event changed its name to the Racecourse Association Steeplechase and for the following two years it was called the War National, before reverting back to what it remains to this day.
The Grand National is certainly one of the world’s top races, with a long and storied history, and when the runners and riders line up for starter’s orders this year, it promises to be another adrenaline-fuelled race that will be watched by people all over the world.
For those punters who have studied the form, rich rewards may be on their way. To find out this year’s favourites, click here
This is a sponsored post.