Grand National Racehorse World Records

GRAND NATIONAL RACEHORSE WORLD RECORDS With the prestigious Grand National taking place on the 5th of April 2014 in Liverpool, we take a look back at the most famous world records at the event from the last 180 years. THE GRAND NATIONAL "The ultimate test of horse and rider" - Aintree website Held every year at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool • The first official Grand National took place in 1839 (Ref *2) • The course is over 4 miles 3½ furlongs (7,141m) • The horses jump 30 fences over two circuits (Ref *3) • The winning prize fund in 2013 was £975,000 (Ref *4) • An estimated 500-600 million people watch the event over 140 countries (Ref *5) LEADING HORSE: RED RUM The lead winning horse in Grand National history is Red Rum with three wins in 1973, 1974 and 1977. During 1973, Red Rum made a remarkable comeback from 30 lengths behind to take the crown Red Rum won the race by three-quarters of a length The jockey for Red Rum's first Aintree win was Brian Fletcher Fletcher rode the horse in 1974, but Tommy Stack replaced him as jockey in Red Rum's 1977 win The horse died in 1995 and made the front pages of national newspapers LUCKY WINNER: FOINAVON (1967) In 1967 a rank-outsider named Foinavon won the event after a loose horse ran across the course and halted the other contenders. Foinavon's odds of winning the race were 100/1 The jockey was John Buckingham The fence where some of the horse's rivals fell was renamed Foinavon Fence in 1984 During the melee, some of the horses started galloping in the opposite direction EMOTIONAL EUENT; BOB CHAMPION'S NATIONAL (1981) After being diagnosed with cancer just two years prior, jockey Bob Champion was passed fit to ride in the 81 National and won! He paired with Aldaniti - a horse who had just recovered from chronic leg problems After a poor start, the pair won by four and a half lengths ahead of race favourite Spartan (Ref *6) Within two years of winning the race, their story was recreated in the film Champions which stared John Hurt LEADING JOCHEYS AND TRAINERS George Stevens holds the record for the most wins at the Grand National with five in total: HORSE YEAR Freetrader 1856 Emblem 1863 Emblematic 1864 The Colonel 1869 The Colonel 1870 There are three trainers who each have four Grand National wins under their belt: GEORGE DOCKERAY FRED RIMELL GINGER MCCAIN Lottery (1839) E.S.B (1956) Red Rum (1973) Jerry (1840) Nicolaus Silver (1961) Red Rum (1974) Gaylad (1842) Gay Trip (1970) Red Rum (1977) Miss Mowbray (1852) Amberleigh House ( 2004) Rag Trade (1976) THE BEST OF THE REST Mr. Frisk (1990) Fastest winning time 8 minutes 47.8 seconds Peter Simple (1853) aged 15 Oldest winning horse Alcibiade (1865), Regal (1876), Austerlitz (1877), Empress (1880) and Lutteur III (1909); all aged five Youngest winning horse Dick Saunders (1982) aged 48 Oldest winning jockey Bruce Hobbs (1983) aged 17 Youngest winning jockey Largest field 66 runners (1929) Smallest field 10 runners (1883) Most horses to complete the course 23 (1984) Fewest horses to complete 2 (1928) the course Most riders in a race 19 (1839 - 1859) Most rides without winning 15 (Jeff King - 1964-1980) (Ref *7 and *8) ABOUT THE AUTHOR GJW Timuss is a leading online pet supplies store offering a wide range of pet products, foods, toys and accessories. View the GJW Titmuss website: www.gjwtitmuss.co.uk or alternatively visit our friendly team in store: GJW Titmuss Ltd, New Mill, Lamer Lane, Wheathampstead, St. Albans, Herts, AL4 8RG GJW TITMUSSE EST. Infographic Sources: 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_National 2. British Racing and Racehorses (ISBN 978-0950139722) by Marion Rose Halpenny - Page 167. 3. http://www.thecrabbiesgrandnational.co.uk/ 4. http://www.grandnational.org.uk/grand-national-betting.php 5. http://www.aintree.co.uk/pages/broadcasting-of-the-grand-national/ 6. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/the-most-memorable-grand-national-moments-1650378.html 7. http://www.theguardian.com/sport/1990/apr/09/grandnational2005.grandnational 8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_National#cite_note-nostalgia-20