Red Rum Statue at Aintree

Grand National - History

1839 is now regarded as the official date of the first ever Grand National, which has grown to become the world’s greatest steeplechase and for many the world’s greatest race of any kind. Over its long history it has produced many fantastic stories, the most famous of which can be read on our Grand National Legends page. See here also for the list of the last ten Grand National past winners.

Lottery

Ironically the 1839 race was won by a horse with the highly appropriate name of Lottery, who not only set the first winning precedent but also the precedent for the race which as we all know is often a lottery in its own right.

Red Rum

Its most famous winner however, comes from much more recent times, who will go down in history as the greatest Grand National horse of all time. Red Rum won the ‘National’ three times in five years and was second on the other two occasions. Quite fittingly he has a bronze monument built in his honour at the Aintree racecourse, where his name still brings tears to the eyes of racegoers.

Broadcasting

These days the Grand National is televised each year and goes out worldwide to millions, however its very first live broadcast took place back in 1927 when BBC Radio broadcasted to an audience of listening millions. The race was first televised in 1961, when Merryman II won.

Postponements

The only times when the race has not been run was between 1941-45 during the second world war, but has run every year before and since, although it had to be declared void in 1993 after a second false start,. Unfortunately most of the jockey’s had not heard the call and proceeded to run the race, which was won by Esha Ness who soon after learned that he had become the first horse past the post of the Grand National never to have won.

A bomb scare in 1997 forced the race to be run for the first time on a Monday, however it did not spoil the race which was by 14/1 shot Lord Gyllene