Grand National Trivia
The Grand National is such a famous race that many a story has been borne from it over the years that it has been running. Below are just a few of these and as you will read they're just a little bit on the strange side...
Beginners Luck?
In 1924 the Old Etonian and Grenadier Guard Lord Manners of Foston claimed, in the Times Literary Supplement, that he only rode in two races in his life and, quite amazingly, he won them both. So what were these races? They were the 1882 Grand National and the Grand Military Gold Cup of the same year. Is this remarkable or strange? Well, let's put it this way - it would be like picking up a tennis racket for the first time and winning Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year!
Better Dead Than Red?
William Hill were delighted to finally get a version of their online bookmakers site up in running in China in time for the 2001 Grand national which was being screened in the country for the first time. What they didn't know was that tradition and superstition play a huge part in Chinese gambling and their luckiest colour is red. How fortunate then that all 2,000 new customers backed 'Red Marauder' who romped home at 33/1. Oh dear - poor William Hill!
The Only Female Jockey To Win The National?
Actress Elizabeth Taylor famously won the Grand National in 1945 riding "The Pie" to victory. We must point out that the victory only occurred in the film 'National Velvet' and not on the Aintree course, unfortunately Liz was stripped of her title in the film once it was discover she was - A LADY!
1945 proved a sad year for male riders in the National as four previous winning jockeys died in service during the Second World War. They were Frank Furlong who won in 1935 on Reynoldstown, Bobby Everett who won in 1929 on Gregalach, Mervyn Jones who won on Bogskar in 1940 and Tommy Cullinan who rode Shaun Goilin to victory in 1930.
500K Grand National Win
Wonder horse Silverbirch helped one Irish man to a half million euro win after the 2007 Aintree Grand National. The unnamed married man staked his cash on a four horse accumulator and included the grand national in his bet.
During a lunch break he strolled into Paddy Powers betting office in Bantry, Cork on Saturday with 20 Euro (£15) and backed Silverbirch at 33/1 for the Grand National, 16/1 Kings Key and 12/1 Al Eile also at Aintree on the same day. Once all three had romped home he headed back to the bookies to watch his final horse, 10/1 Paymaster General run at Lingfield.
It may seem absolutely crazy to include the Grand National, one of the most unpredictable races, in an accumulator bet but for this very lucky man the risk paid off and he walked home with over half a million euro in his pocket!
The Irish Grand National's Early History
The Irish Grand National first took place in 1870 and the next 6 years of it's history would produce some very bizzare if not unfortunate tales! In 1871 a horse by the name of Mabel Grey romped home at 10/1 but this was no thoroughbred because Mabel Grey was bought for five bob from a knackers yard. And if that wasn't enough triumph over adversity she then went on to produce the 1881 English Grand National winner!
Two years later, in 1873, Scots Grey came in 2nd place but only after the horse had bolted into the betting ring scattering the bookies. His rider, Garry Moore, got him back on track but not fast enough to take the Grand National. He tried again the following year but only managed third place so in 1875, and third time being a charm, Scots Grey finally won the Irish Grand National.
This in itself is not so unusual but there was a delay in the official verdict in which time a young clerk fom Dublin, convinced that Scots Grey had lost (he had backed him with money that wasn't his) fled the course and committed suicide!
The following year, 1876, the race was won by a horse called - and this is true - Grand National!
"Well, That's Racing"
In 1956 one of the most dramatic Grand National incidents took place when Devon Loch, 45 metres from the finishing line and in the lead, suddenly appeared to jump and fall over. Devon Loch, owned by the Queen Mother and riden by Dick Francis apparently got spooked by the noise of the crowd as he romped toward the finishing line and simply stopped running. According to Francis he was a nervous horse and there was nothing anybody could have done to stop it. What did the Queen Mother say? - "Well, that's racing"
This incident is not unique however. In 1903, Ambush II, owned by King Edward VII was running in a field of 23 runners and was taking a great lead when he fell at the last fence. The race then came down to two similarly named horses - Drumcree and Drumree until Drumree just stopped mid-race and against his jockey's protests simply refused to move and paved the way for Drumcree to take the title!
