The Grand National is held at Aintree racecourse the first weekend in April.
1950 - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth had her first horse in this race, "Monaveen", which finishes sixth while "Freebooter" won at 10-1.
1956 - The greatest mystery ever on a racecourse occurred with "Devon Loch". It was coronation year, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II's horse, "Devon Loch", was clear coming up to the elbow at the end of the National when he went to jump a non existent obstacle, slipped along the turf and came to a halt being beaten by "ESB". Was it the shadow of the Chair Fence that made him jump? Was it the huge crowd that frightened him with the tremendous crescendo of noise that was about to greet a Royal Grand National winner? We will never know, but Devon Loch will always be known as the unluckiest Aintree loser of all time.
1960 - Saw the first ever televised Grand National with the great Peter O'Sullevan starting his affiliation with Aintree and the Grand National. "Merryman II" won the race in a time of 9 minutes and 26 seconds.
1967 - "Foinavon" won at 100-1 as he was the only horse to negotiate fence 23 at the first time of asking. "Popham Down" ran right across the fence causing complete chaos for the rest of the field. The selling race which took place the day before, saw a horse dead heat for first place that would later bring the Grand National back to its place at the heart of the nation - that horse was called "Red Rum".
11973 - "Red Rum" won his first National in a record time of 9 minutes and 2 seconds. The race revolved around Red Rum and a great Australian chaser called Crisp, both 9-1 joint favourites. Crisp had 12-0 on his back and Red Rum had 10-5. The Australian horse led for a lot of the way but was just run out of it in the last few strides. It was a memorable Grand National and the start of a legend of "Red Rum".
1974 - "Red Rum" at 11-1 won for the second time, with his jockey, Brian Fletcher, taking his third win in the race.
1977 - History was made! "Red Rum" at 9-1 won his third Grand National beating "Churchtown Boy" by 25 lengths. This remains the most moving piece of Aintree's history as this horse captured the heart of the nation. Also in this year Miss Charlotte Brew became the first woman ever to ride in the race but her mount, "Barony Fort", refused with 4 fences still to jump.
1990 - The first horse to win in under 9 minutes - Mr Frisk takes first place in 8 minutes and 47 seconds. A few weeks later Mr Frisk went on to win the Whitbread Gold Cup and became one of the few horses ever to do the big race double.
1993 - This National that wasn't . First attempt and animal activists meddled at the start. When the race was eventually started Richard Dunwoody got the tape stuck round his neck and a false start was given. Unfortunately the flagman did not see the flag so he never signalled for a false start. Consequently some horses stopped at the start and some horses stopped halfway while 7 carried on to complete the course with "Esha Ness" and John White winning for trainer Jenny Pitman only to be told that the race was void.
1997 - A bomb scare disrupted the race and it was re-scheduled for Monday afternoon where it was won by "Lord Gyllene" ridden by Tony Dobbin.
2002 - A maximum field of 40 horses set off with The Last Fling taking up the lead early on until a fall at the Canal Turn on the second circuit. Bindaree and What's Up Boys then took up the lead and pulled free from the rest of the field resulting in a tight finish with Bindaree just taking the honours. Ten horses completed the race.
