THOUSANDS of racing fans will be descending on Aintree for this Saturday’s Grand National – and millions more will be tuning in to watch from home.
With 30 fences to jump over the more than two mile long course, drama during the race is guaranteed.
But given the very first Grand National took place way back in 1839, there’s been plenty of shocking moments off the course as well during its 185 year-long history.
There’s the daredevil streakers who’ve given us all something to laugh at.
But there have also been the more serious moments – including terrifying bomb threats that led to a mass-evacuation.
Meanwhile, some races have come to a conclusion in a pretty strange way, including the Queen Mother’s horse performing a bellyflop, and 2001’s race which saw only four horses end up finishing.
Join us as we take a look back at the Grand National’s wildest moments over the years.
‘National that never was‘
The year 1993 looked set to be a Grand National like any other – but it would go down a disaster.
Just as the race was due to begin, 15 animal rights protesters invaded the course.
Though this only led to the start being delayed, it was an omen of what was to come.
An initial attempt to kick things off came to an abrupt halt when several riders became tangled in the starting tape.
At the second attempt, the same thing happened again – but this time, when starter Keith Brown attempted to wave his flag, it didn’t unfurl.
As a result, 30 of the 39 riders raced around the track, oblivious to the fact it had been declared a false start.
In the end, The Jockey Club was forced to declare the race void – leading this year to be dubbed “the National that never was”.
Racing commentator Sir Peter O’Sullevan described it as “the greatest disaster in the history of the Grand National.”
Bookies were also forced to refund an estimated £75million in bets that had been placed.
Bomb danger
In 1997, the Grand National was scheduled to be held mid-afternoon on April 5.
But just under an hour before the race was scheduled to start, a threatening call was made to Aintree University hospital saying that there was a bomb planted within the racecourse.
Two minutes later this was followed up by a similar call made to the police’s control room in nearby Bootle.
Both calls reportedly used code words associated with the IRA.
It was a threat to be taken seriously. Only a few weeks before, an IRA bomb had detonated on a railway line in Cheshire.
And just a year previous, they’d carried out the devastating truck bombing of Manchester city centre.
Police immediately evacuated the public, who had to make their way out via the course.
Meanwhile, the race itself was postponed by two days and held the following Monday instead.
Gang connections
Irish trainer Gordon Elliot trained two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll and is considered to be one of the greats in his field.
But in 2021 a photo of the trainer leaked, which showed him sat astride a dead horse, posing to the camera.
He was heavily criticised for the stunt, with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board hitting him with a twelve-month ban.
However, later emerged that the photo – which was taken in 2019 – may in fact have been leaked by Irish gangsters in an effort to destroy Elliot’s career.
Notorious criminal John Boyland was the owner of Labaik, a horse trained by Eliiot.
But his celebrations after Labaik won a 2017 race in Cheltenham drew attention from police who determined that the racehorse had been purchased with money made from crime.
Trainer Elliot, who had no involvement in nor knowledge of Boylan’s crimes, then refused to work with him any further nor train the horses of his associates.
This then sparked a feud between the pair – reportedly leading to the leak of the shocking photo.
Royals rumbled
The year was 1956, and the horse Devon Loch was the talk of the town.
Not only had it already won two races that season and come third in the Cheltenham National Hunt Handicap Chase, but it was owned by the Queen Mother.
After its closest competitors fell early on, it seemed destined to win and was out in front for the final stretch.
But then, just 40 yards from the finish line, it inexplicably jumped and made a belly-flop landing – right in front of the Royal Box.
Rival E.S.B. then overtook and won, and it remains a mystery as to why it performed such a bizarre move.
Unfazed though no doubt dismayed, the Queen Mother then remarked: “Oh, that’s racing!”.
Busty displays
With the eyes of the world focused in on Aintree, why not make the most of the day and show off a bit?
At least, that’s what went through the mind of a few punters who decided to get their kit off.
Back in 2011, thousands were stunned when pals Gemma Porter and Louise Van-Marle stripped bare, then dodged stewards and made their way on to the track.
Both unfortunately ended up with £80 fines.
Then in 2016, another man thought he’d repeat the trick – but an attempt to make the first jump left him faceplanted in the mud.
Leave it to the professionals!
Virtually the same
Sometimes it isn’t a world war that disrupts racing, but a global pandemic – as was the case in 2020 when Covid hit, which saw the race cancelled.
In its place? A virtual race produced using CGI.
But it wasn’t just some naff recreation. The race used algorithms to model the behaviour of the 40 horses who were considered most likely to have competed.
In the end, Potters Corner was victorious – winner of the 2019 Welsh Grand National.
And despite being virtual, the race was still full of drama, with long-time frontrunner Aso falling towards the end.
It even featured virtual ambulances following the riders around the course, just like the real thing.
A virtual race of previous champions was also televised shortly before, which was won by Red Rum.
Bookmakers’ profits went to NHS Charities Together.
Wartime woes
For three years during World War One, Aintree was taken over by the War Office – so the races were held at Gatwick instead.
It wasn’t an airport back then, though, with today’s modern runway built on top of what was a racecourse.
The first of these races was held in 1916 and called the Racecourse Association Steeplechase, while the races in the following two years were called the War National Steeplechase.
However, these days the races that were held at Gatwick are often not recognised as official “Grand Nationals”, and the results from these years tend to be left off winners’ lists.
Facts about the Grand National
EVERY year the Grand National sees millions of racing fans tune in to soak up the action.
- The first Grand National took place in 1839, with a horse named Lottery winning the race.
- Obstacles like Becher’s Brook, The Chair, and the Canal Turn are renowned for their difficulty and have become iconic in the racing world.
- Red Rum is celebrated for winning the Grand National three times (1973, 1974, 1977) and finishing second twice (1975, 1976).
- In 1977, Charlotte Brew became the first woman to ride in the Grand National, breaking gender barriers in the sport.
- Rachael Blackmore made history in 2021 as the first female jockey to win the Grand National, riding Minella Times to victory.
- An estimated 500 to 600million viewers watch the race worldwide.
- The race covers about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs, with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps.
