Grand National Videos
If you've never had the good fortune to see a Grand National race then the videos below will show you the amazing spectacle in full flow. We have compiled some of the great Grand National runs in recent memory - from the epic battle between Red Rum and Crisp to Bob Champions highly emotional win in 1981.
Foinavon The 100-1 winnner - 1967
The 1967 Grand National is fondly remembered by bookmakers the length of the country! Foinavon the 100-1 outsider won against all the odds. The horse was so un-fancied that the trainer of Foinavon didn't even bother watching the race as he assumed the horse had absolutely no chance of winning and he was right. The only way this horse could win was if every other horse fell, and luckly for Foinavon and the bookmakers they all did! Even then many jockeys remounted and nearly caught the plucky Foinavon in the final furlongs! However, he managed to hold off the other challengers and in the process he became a national legend. Today the fence at which the other horses fell has been renamed in his honour.
Devon Loch, Right Royal Balls Up - 1956
Devon Loch may just about be the unluckiest horse in a Grand National race. Leading the race and just 45 metres from the winning post, Devon Loch suddenly appeared to jump in the air and do the splits! It's incredible to watch and to this day no one really knows what caused the horse to react this way.
The jockey on the horse was Dick Francis (now a famous author) and the horse's owner was the Queen Mother. One theory suggests a plausible cause of the incident. As the owner of Devon Loch was the hugely popular Queen Mother it's suggested that the crowd cheered so loudly when they saw it was in the lead that the actual noise from the crowd was so great it startled the horse and caused it to jump in the air! The horse was then unable to gain it's balance.
The Queen Mother was at Aintree race course and watched as her horse handed the race to ESB, she reportedly said of the incident afterwards "Oh that's racing".
Champion's National - 1981
On the surface the 1981 race seemed unremarkable until you understand the heroic personal efforts of jockey Bob Champion and his horse Aldaniti. In 1979 Bob had been told he only had months to live after being diagnosed with cancer but what kept Bob going was his dream of winning the The Grand National. Bob had to under go many months of chemotherapy but eventually won his battle with cancer and was passed fit to ride in the 1981 race. He was paired with the horse 'Aldaniti', who had also just recovered after suffering a career threatening injury.
Bob Champion summed it up well when after the race he said "I must admit I thought if I won the Grand National it would be one of the seven wonders of the world. It proves miracles do happen. Some people wrote us off as two old crocks together but I think we proved in the race we are not quite past it yet."
The two survivors melded on the Aintree Racecourse that April day in 1981. Their victory is one of the most memorable and emotional moments ever to be recorded in horse racing. Coming in four-and-a-half lengths ahead of the competition, Champion and Aldaniti beat the odds and made history.
Although Aldaniti died in 1997 and Bob Champion retired from training horses in 1999, they are both legends of the horse racing world. Their legacy is a sense of hope for all those who follow in their paths. They taught us that, even when things look desperate, success is just over the next fence for those who choose to make the jump.
Red Rum Vs Crisp ~ 1973 Grand National
If you've ever been in any doubt about the quality of National Legend Red Rum then watch 'Rummy' eat up the 15 lengths between himself and Crisp in the 1973 epic Grand National race. Both horses smashed the course time record in this battle of the titans.
Tribute to the three time Grand National winner Red Rum.
