The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run officially in 1839, it is a handicap steeplechase over 4 miles 3½ furlongs (7,141m) with horses jumping 30 fences over two circuits. The next Grand National will be held on 5 April 2014. The Grand National is the most valuable jump race in Europe, with a prize fund of £975,000 in 2013.It is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year. The course over which the race is run - the National Course - is uniquely challenging, featuring much larger fences than those found on conventional National Hunt tracks. Many of these fences, including Bechers Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn have become famous in their own right. These, combined with the extreme distance of the event, create what has been called the ultimate test of horse and rider. The Grand National has been broadcast live on free-to-air terrestrial television in the United Kingdom since 1960.An estimated 500 to 600 million people watch the Grand National in over 140 countries... My personal opinion on The Grand National Steeplechase it`s too hard for horse and rider and with too many serious injuries to participants.. Ive only played on horses once,and that was when the legendary Red Rum was created... Red Rum was never better than in the 1973/74 season when he won four more races before collecting his second Grand National, this time carrying top-weight of 12st. Giving 1lb to the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner L’Escargot, Red Rum started third favourite at 11/1. He won easily by seven lengths when again partnered by Brian Fletcher. Only three weeks later, Red Rum captured the Scottish Grand National. Between the autumn of 1974 and spring of 1976, he ran in 18 chases, winning twice and being placed seven times including his second when Irish challenger L’Escargot turned the tables in the 1975 Grand National. Red Rum carried 12st again and was beaten 15 lengths. The attendance at Aintree for that Grand National was the smallest in living memory after Davies tripled admission prices and there was a lot of doom and gloom about the future of both the racecourse and the Grand National. Ladbrokes stepped in later during 1975 and signed an agreement with Davies to manage the course and run the Grand National which the bookmaker did successfully for seven years. Ginger, bombarded with media criticism for running Red Rum too often, was called on to retire his stable star. But Red Rum showed good form when sixth in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November, 1975 and the following April, shouldering top-weight of 11st 10lb, was worn down by the Fred Rimell-trained Rag Trade in the 1976 Grand National, finishing runner-up, two lengths behind, after Tommy Stack took over from Fletcher in the saddle. The 1976/77 season began dismally. After an initial small win at Carlisle, Red Rum appeared lacklustre in his next four races and even Ginger began to think that he might have ‘gone’. Red Rum finally showed something like his true form when sixth in his prep race to the 1977 Grand National, the Greenall Whitley Chase ay Haydock. He then dazzled the trainer in his last gallop before Aintree. Again ridden by Stack, Red Rum at the age of 12 tackled his fifth Grand National in 1977 and Churchtown Boy’s mistake at the second last fence settled things in the former’s favour, winning easily by 25 lengths under 11st 8lb. Sir Peter O’Sullevan’s now legendary commentary for BBC Television was heard in millions of living rooms up and down the country as Red Rum took his place among the racing immortals: “As they come to the last fence in the National and Red Rum with a tremendous chance of winning his third National. “He’s jumped it clear of Churchtown Boy - he’s done it with a tremendous cheer from the crowd; they’re willing him home now! “The 12-year-old Red Rum, being preceded only by loose horses … they’re coming to the “elbow” with a furlong now between Red Rum and his third Grand National triumph. “He’s coming up to the line to win it like a fresh horse in great style. It’s hats off and a tremendous reception - you’ve never heard one like it at Liverpool. Red Rum wins the National.” The phenomenal chaser was trained for a sixth attempt at the great race in 1978 as a 13-year-old but, on the day before, he pulled up lame. The problem proved to be a hairline fracture and the horse had to be retired. Red Rum was feted as a people’s champion throughout his retirement and Ginger fully embraced the chaser’s standing as a national treasure. The horse became a limited company, gracing key rings, fine china, records, tea towels - a shop was opened across the rode from the trainer’s car showroom dedicated to selling Red Rum merchandise - while supermarkets, pubs and betting shops were opened up and down the country besides numerous television appearances. Aintree Racecourse’s future was finally secured in 1984 when it was purchased from Davies by Racecourse Holdings Trust, a Jockey Club subsidiary which is now called Jockey Club Racecourses. Red Rum, the horse who put the Grand National and Aintree back into the limelight, lived to the ripe old age of 30. He died on October 18, 1995 and was buried by the winning post at Aintree Racecourse. The spot is marked by a headstone, listing his unparalleled Grand National record......
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 12:45:21 +0000
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