The English Grand National

[westdog54]

Arguably the World's most famous horse race, this year it will be run on Saturday 5th March, as always at Aintree racecourse.

The race is run over 4 miles and 4 furlongs (7200 metres for those on the metric system) over 30 fences.

As well as being one of the most famous races in the world, it is one of the ultimate tests of both horse and rider. It is not uncommon for less than 10 of the 40 runners to complete the course. Last year only 12 of 40 completed, and in 2001, after heavy rains and in very soft conditions, only 4 horses crossed the line, two of which had their riders remount.

Last year's winner, Silver Birch, will be unable to defend his crown owing to injury. A damn shame too because it was a wonderful ride. The two horses who rounded out the quinella, McKelvey and Slim Pickings, will go around again, as will many others attempting the great race again, including 2005 winner Hedgehunter, and Point Barrow, who, despite being highly fancied last year, fell at the first fence, although that is not an uncommon trait in this race.

Among the 30 fences, there are many which are famous, or infamous depending on your point of view. These are:

Becher's Brook: A 4ft 10in fence with a 2 foot brook on the landing side. Jockeys who have jumped Becher's have described it as 'like stepping off the end of the world'. The race is named after Captain Martin Becher, who fell from his mount in the first Aintree National, and crawled into the brook to avoid oncoming horses. By far the most famous fence on the course:

The Foinavon: This fence used to be an unremarkable 4ft 6in fence, that is until 1967, when, on the second lap of the course, a loose horse caused a massive pile-up at the 7th fence. While most horses either fell, lost their riders, or pulled up, Foinavon, who started the race at 444-1 on the tote and had fallen about 50 yards behind the leaders, steered carefully around the pile-up, jumped the fence, and had built a lead of about 200 yards on the rest of the field. He held off the chasing pack and recorded a remarkable victory. About 25 years later the fence was renamed in his honour.

The Canal Turn: This fence can make or break the race for a horse, a 5ft fence followed by an immediate 90 degree turn. Taking this fence on the right line is essential.

The Chair: The highest jump on the course at 6ft high, amazingly it claims few horses every year.

[GVGjr]

I'm not a horse racing fan but remember the race used to be shown on TV and the highlights etc but to be honest I can't recall anything more that some minor mentions in the press and on the TV.

Is it still one of the most popular races? I seem to recall that it copped some bad press several years back.

[westdog54]

I'm not a horse racing fan but remember the race used to be shown on TV and the highlights etc but to be honest I can't recall anything more that some minor mentions in the press and on the TV.

Is it still one of the most popular races? I seem to recall that it copped some bad press several years back.

The race had a public relations disaster in 1993, the farce that was the void race. That is a tale in itself.

Because of the number of runners in the field, the race is still started the old-fashioned way, with the tape. In 1993, one of the jockeys was caught in the tape and the starter waved his flag to signal a recall, however most of the field didn't see this, nor did the flagman down the course, because his signal was nowhere to be seen. So with the field continuing to charge to the first fence, the commentators had no real option but to start calling the action, which they did admirably despite knowing it couldn't be an official race.

The problem was worsened by the prescence of demonstrators on the day, as when the field came to jump The Chair at the end of the first lap, the jockeys ignored the official who tried to wave them around it, believing he was a demonstrator. When the starter ran onto the course waving his flag, even this, and the boos from the crowd, did not stop a dozen or so horses who continued on to run the second circuit, with nothing else left th stop them. The jockeys sensed something was up but none of them seemed game to pull up.

I'm not sure which commentator was more accurate. Jim McGrath described it as an 'absolute farce', head commentator and Doyen of the Grand National Peter O'Sullevan called it 'the greatest disaster in the history of the National'. In the end, Escha Ness beat home the 6 remaining horses in The National that never was, and after much deliberation from the Stewards it was decided that the race would be declared void, despite a suggestion that the horses who obeyed the recall could restart under the rules of racing.

All in all it was a sad day in English sporting history, which left connections, bookmakers, stewards and spectators alike simply saying 'Please, never again'.