The Grand National’s 7 weirdest moments – from a ‘farcical’ pile-up to a mass evacuation

Thirty four horses will line up at Aintree Racecourse today as the chaotic, thrilling and unpredictable Grand National returns.

The historic event, dating back to 1839, is renowned for its drama and excitement as the pack jump 30 fences during the four-mile long course.

In addition to the highs and lows, the Aintree crowd has also witnessed some downright bizarre and unexplained moments over the years.

Here, Metro revisits seven of the weirdest incidents at the Grand National as the legendary steeplechase takes centre stage once again.

A royal horse’s unexplained collapse

Devon Loch, owned by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, was on the final straight while leading the 1956 Grand National.

The animal was streaks ahead of his competitors and had already won two races that season.

Just 40 yards before the finish line, and right in front of the royal box, something inexplicable happened.

Devon Loch leaped into the air and crumpled to the ground.

The horse had not tripped or hit an obstacle, but it was enough for runner ESB to overtake and win.

The Queen was unmoved, exclaiming ‘Oh that’s racing!’.

But the cause of this spectacular spreadeagle moment has never been explained.

Experts have speculated a cramp in his hindquarters, or even a heart attack, but the truth never came out.

Mass pile up which ‘degenerated into farce’

The 1967 Grand National was going as planned until the 23rd fence.

Chaos then unfolded as a loose horse caused a huge pile up which took out most of the leading racers.

Foinavon, being jockeyed by John Buckingham, had outsider 100/1 odds to win and was near the back of the pack when the mayhem began.

Buckingham had time, however, to find a gap through the disorder and take his horse to an unlikely win.

The fence at Aintree has now been renamed Foinavon Fence due to this underdog story.

The race that never was

£75million was riding on the 1993 Grand National, and 300 million television viewers around the world were tuned in to see what would happen.

What unfolded was ‘the greatest disaster in the history of the Grand National,’ as BBC commentator Peter O’Sullevan described it.

Animal rights protestors had first disrupted the race after invading the course at the first fence.

Not long later, several riders became entangled in the starting tape and a false start was called.

At the second attempt to kick off the race, the tape became tangled again around the neck of jockey Richard Dunwoody.

But this time, 30 of the 35 riders set off around the track, unaware of the recall.

Officials continued to wave frantically at the jockeys to stop, which most did, but a small group of runners continued to the end.

Esha Ness crossed the line first but the race was declared null and void and not re-run.

£15million worth of stakes had to be refunded by bookmakers.

A busty bonus for Aintree onlookers

The prize money for the 2011 Grand National was £950,000, making it the highest valued National Hunt race in the United Kingdom.

The competition stood out for another reason, though, as two friends decided to strip off in front of the Aintree crowd.

Gemma Porter and Louise Van-Marle took off their clothes before dodging stewards and making their way onto the course.

Both ended up with an £80 fine and their antics did not stop Irish horse Ballabriggs from later winning the race.

The literal two horse race

Conditions during the 1928 Grand National were brutal.

The misty weather conditions and heavy going course meant all riders bar one fell off their horse at some point during the race.

Eventually horse Tipperary Tim, raced by amateur jockey William Dutton, crossed the line first, followed by Billy Barton and his remounted jockey Tommy Cullinan.

But that was it – no other horse completed the race, setting the record for the fewest finishers in a Grand National.

Not far behind was the wet and muddy 2001 Grand National.

Only two rides managed to get through the race scot-free, and just two more riders completed the course after re-mounting.

A bomb threat delays proceedings

The 1997 Grand National was due to go ahead as planned when a threatening call was made to nearby Aintree University hospital.

The caller said a bomb had been planted within the racecourse.

This was followed up minutes later by another similar communication made to the police’s control room in nearby Bootle.

Both phone calls reportedly used IRA codewords and so the area was hastily evacuated.

The Aintree crowd had to make their way onto the racecourse.

This forced the unusual step of the Saturday race being rescheduled for the following Monday.

A jockey allergic to horses

Sean Bowen raced the 20-1 shot Three Card Brag at Aintree last year.

But he has a bizarre secret – he is allergic to horses.

Sean told BBC Sport Wales: ‘I still am [allergic to horses] now a little bit, it’s a bit of a weird one.’
‘If Dad would come in from clipping and there’d be horse hair everywhere, I’d be itching for days.

Even now, sometimes if I spend all morning round horses, I’d be sneezing for the rest of the day.’
It didn’t seem to matter, though, with Bowen finishing in a respectable eleventh place.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.