Odd Grand National Facts

Actress Elizabeth Taylor famously won the Grand National in 1945 riding "The Pie" to victory. We must say the victory only happened in the movie 'National Velvet' and not on the Aintree course, sadly Liz was stripped of her title in the movie once it was discover she was - A LADY!

1945 proved a unhappy year for male riders in the nation's as 4 prior winning jockeys died in service in the 2nd 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 Countrywide Win

Wonder horse Silverbirch helped one Irish man to a half million euro win after the 2007 Aintree Grand Countrywide. The nameless married man staked his money on a 4 horse accumulator and included the grand national in his bet.

Once all 3 had bounced home he headed back to the bookies to look at his last horse, ten / one Paymaster General run at Lingfield.

First Time A Charm

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!

It may appear absolutely mad to incorporate the Grand State , one of the most unpredictable races, in an accumulator bet except for this very fortunate man the risk paid off and he walked home with over half 1,000,000 EU Buck in his pocket!

The Irish Grand State's Early History

The Irish Grand National first took place in 1870 and the following six years of it's history would produce some terribly bizzare if not unlucky tales! In 1871 a horse by the name of Mabel Gray raced home at ten / one but this was no thoroughbred because Mabel Gray was acquired for 5 bob from a knackers yard. And if that wasn't enough triumph over difficulty she then went on to supply the 1881 British Grand National winner!

Two years on, in 1873, Scots Gray came in second place but only after the horse had bolted into the gambling ring scattering the bookies. His rider, Garry Moore, got him back on track but not fast enough to take the Grand National.

He attempted again the next year but only managed 3rd place so in 1875, and 3rd time being a charm, Scots Gray eventually won the Irish Grand National.

This in itself isn't so weird but there had been a delay in the official verdict in which time a young clerk fom Dublin, convinced that Scots Gray had lost ( he had backed him with money that wasn't his ) left the course and committed suicide!

The following year, 1876, the race was won by a horse called - and this is true - Grand National!