20 east

I’m not a huge horse racing fan but I have been known to enjoy a day at the races. The Grand National is a strange race and has been very much a British institution since 1836. It’s a long and tough race, steeplechase to be precise, where the horses have to run 4 miles and 4 furlongs (over 7,000 metres) and jump 30 fences along the way (16 fences twice each, except for two that are jumped once only). The fences are notoriously difficult to manage, especially the second time around the track when the horses are getting tired. Most notorious is Becher’s Brook which comprises a massive fence with a ditch (that you can’t see until you’re in the air) on the other side. This fence has been altered quite a bit in recent times to try and cut down on accidents and deaths (horses). Aside from the course itself, the weather at Aintree racecourse is not always the best, so they often have mud to contend with as well.

Given all that I’ve explained already, it won’t surprise you that picking the winner of the Grand National is about as hard as winning the lottery. It’s known for being a race that almost anyone could win depending on form, luck over the sticks and the weather conditions. Just finishing the course is a major achievement. There are usually about 40 horses start the race, the most ever to finish was 23 and the least was only 2! This makes it a fun race to have a flutter on and, I think, there is more money bet on the National than on any other race. I suppose the Epsom Derby and the Cheltenham Gold Cup come in 2nd and 3rd? Coming up to the National, companies around Britain will be busy organising “sweepstakes” where everyone chips in and picks a horse out of a hat. Winner takes all.

I’ve never bet more than 20 quid on any race but when my horses came in in ‘85 (Last Suspect, 50/1), in ‘87 (Maori Venture, 28/1) and in ‘95 (Royal Athlete, 40/1) I was pretty happy. My overall performance is far less impressive! There have been four winners of the race at 100/1, the last being in ‘67.

The greatest memories for me have to be Red Rum’s staggering three wins (the only horse ever to do so) in ‘73, ‘74 & ‘77. He also came second in ‘75 and ‘76!! Not only was he a superb horse but he had real character as well. He’s buried by the finishing post at Aintree. I also remember fondly Corbiere’s win in ‘83 which was the first time a female trainer had won the race, Jenny Pitman.

So. To have a 7/1 joint favourite win, like today’s winner, Comply or Die, is a bit of an anti-climax. 40 horses started the race, 25 of them didn’t reach the finish line.

EDIT – I just found another article giving details of the darker side of the race, and horse racing generally. The number of horses that die trying.

Sorry, just couldn’t resist the headline.

Good luck to him. A chance to see how he does under real pressure and nice to see my favourite car engine manufacturer finally making headway in F1. Let’s just hope Kubica doesn’t become the next Małysz, I don’t think I could stand it!

Nice irony in BMW (engine makers to the Third Reich) taking pole position in the same week that FIA President, Max Mosely is savaged for his “Nazi themed sex orgy“!

Funny how the name Mosley keeps cropping up in connection with fascists. Britain’s own Adolf was called Mosley.

Are Max and Oswald related, I wonder?