"meeting, and was traditionally contested on the final day, Saturday. In 2013 it was moved to the opening day of the meeting, Thursday. The Aintree Hurdle often features horses which ran previously over a shorter distance in the Champion Hurdle, and the last to win both events in the same year was Buveur d'Air in 2017. The 2010 running was named in memory of Dick Francis (1920–2010), a former jockey who was closely associated with Aintree. He famously rode Devon Loch in the Grand National, and he was leading the race on the run-in when the horse jumped and was"
"E.S.B. (horse) E.S.B. was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his victory in the 1956 Grand National. E.S.B. was a dark bay gelding bred in County Kildare by Sheila Bourke. Trained by Fred Rimell, E.S.B. was ridden by jockey Dave Dick in the 1956 running of the famous steeplechase at Aintree Racecourse. He started at odds of 100/7 in a field of twenty-nine runners. The race seemed certain to be won by Devon Loch, who held a five-length lead on the run-in. However, forty yards from the finishing post, Devon Loch suddenly, and inexplicably, half-jumped into the air"
"Dick and Alice Isabel Ivall. He died in Reading, aged 76. Dave Dick (jockey) David Victor Dick (8 March 1924 – 15 February 2001) was a British jockey who competed at the Grand National from 1951–1965, winning the race in 1956 on E.S.B. He was the only jockey ever to win both races of the Lincoln-Grand National Spring Double and he holds the record, nine times, for the number of clear rounds on a notoriously difficult Aintree course. (The Aintree Clear Rounds Award, given for any jockey completing more than five clear rounds, was not instituted until 1986.) Dick was"
"Dave Dick (jockey) David Victor Dick (8 March 1924 – 15 February 2001) was a British jockey who competed at the Grand National from 1951–1965, winning the race in 1956 on E.S.B. He was the only jockey ever to win both races of the Lincoln-Grand National Spring Double and he holds the record, nine times, for the number of clear rounds on a notoriously difficult Aintree course. (The Aintree Clear Rounds Award, given for any jockey completing more than five clear rounds, was not instituted until 1986.) Dick was born in Ashampstead, Berkshire, the son of racehorse trainer David Purves"
"for the fastest finishing time, which E.S.B. missed by only four-fifths of a second. Many explanations have been offered for Devon Loch's behaviour on the run-in, but the incident remains inexplicable. In modern language, the phrase ""to do a Devon Loch"" is sometimes used to describe a last-minute failure to achieve an expected victory. In the 1967 Grand National, most of the field were hampered or dismounted in a mêlée at the 23rd fence, allowing a rank-outsider, Foinavon, to become a surprise winner at odds of 100/1. A loose horse named Popham Down, who had unseated his rider at the"
"1938. The horse was named after Captain Roderick Owen, an amateur jockey who won the 1892 Grand National. Roddy Owen developed into a high class steeplechaser in Ireland, finishing third in the 1956 Irish Grand National and winning the Leopardstown Chase in 1958. He made his first appearance at the Cheltenham Festival in 1957 when he ran unsuccessfully under a weight of 167 pounds in the National Hunt Handicap Chase. After winning one of his first two starts of the 1958/59 season Roddy Owen was sent to England in December 1958 for the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park"
"was not the first time a horse had seemed to jump some form of ghost fence on the run in of the National. In 1901, Arthur Nightingall's race was well won on board Grudon when his mount also made to jump a fence that wasn't there. On that occasion the pair recovered and had sufficient time to continue and win the race. 1956 Grand National The 1956 Grand National was the 110th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 24 March 1956. It is probably best remembered for Devon"
"Meath. Eddie Dempsey Eddie Dempsey (1911 - 7 February 1989) was an Irish National Hunt racing jockey, during the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in County Meath in 1911. He rode Caughoo to victory in the 1947 Grand National, and Prince Regent in the Enniskerry Hurdle in 1941. In the 1947 Grand National, the jockey in second place (Daniel McCann) accused him of cheating by taking a shortcut in the fog, leading to the pair exhanging blows before the matter was settled in court. He retired at the end of the 1950 season and lived in Donaghmore House in"
"Eddie Dempsey Eddie Dempsey (1911 - 7 February 1989) was an Irish National Hunt racing jockey, during the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in County Meath in 1911. He rode Caughoo to victory in the 1947 Grand National, and Prince Regent in the Enniskerry Hurdle in 1941. In the 1947 Grand National, the jockey in second place (Daniel McCann) accused him of cheating by taking a shortcut in the fog, leading to the pair exhanging blows before the matter was settled in court. He retired at the end of the 1950 season and lived in Donaghmore House in County"
"status in the world of British National Hunt racing. He won over 350 races, becoming champion jockey in the 1953–54 season. Shortly after becoming a professional, he was offered the prestige job of first jockey to Vivian Smith, Lord Bicester. From 1953 to 1957 Francis was jockey to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. His best remembered moment as a jockey came while riding the Queen Mother's horse, Devon Loch, in the 1956 Grand National, when the horse inexplicably fell when close to winning the race. Decades later, Francis considered losing that race his greatest regret and called it ""a disaster"
"and collapsed in a bellyflop on the turf. E.S.B. overtook and sealed an unlikely victory, completing the course in 9 minutes 21.4 seconds, one second off the record completion time. E.S.B.'s win was the first of four for trainer Rimell, who went on to train winners Nicolaus Silver (1961), Gay Trip (1970) and Rag Trade (1976). E.S.B. (horse) E.S.B. was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his victory in the 1956 Grand National. E.S.B. was a dark bay gelding bred in County Kildare by Sheila Bourke. Trained by Fred Rimell, E.S.B. was ridden by jockey Dave Dick in"
"1951 Grand National The 1951 Grand National was the 105th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 7 April 1951. A crowd of 250,000 people saw the race won by Nickel Coin at odds of 40/1. The nine-year-old mare was ridden by jockey John Bullock and trained by Jack O'Donoghue. Royal Tan, who won in 1954, finished second, and Derrinstown was third. An unprecedented twelve horses (a third of the field) went at the first fence- either falling or being bought down. Of the 36 runners, only three completed the"
"16 July 2001, aged 89. Evan Williams (jockey) Evan Morgan Williams (9 May 1912 – 12 July 2001) was a horse racing jockey born in Cowbridge, Wales, in 1912. He won the 1937 Grand National on Royal Mail, and he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1936 (on Golden Miller) and 1940 (on Roman Hackle). Evan Williams' father, Fred, was an amateur jockey. After service in the armed forces during the Second World War, he became a trainer and won the first running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1951 (with Supreme Court). He later relocated"
"1954 Grand National The 1954 Grand National was the 108th annual renewal of the Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 10 April 1954. The race was won by ten-year-old gelding Royal Tan, an 8/1 shot trained by Vincent O'Brien. O'Brien had also trained the previous year's winner, Early Mist, and would secure a third consecutive win the following year with Quare Times. Royal Tan was ridden by jockey Bryan Marshall, who also won his second consecutive Grand National. Tudor Line was second and the 15/2 favourite Irish Lizard finished third. Only 29 horses"
"in the Grand National. 1954 Grand National The 1954 Grand National was the 108th annual renewal of the Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 10 April 1954. The race was won by ten-year-old gelding Royal Tan, an 8/1 shot trained by Vincent O'Brien. O'Brien had also trained the previous year's winner, Early Mist, and would secure a third consecutive win the following year with Quare Times. Royal Tan was ridden by jockey Bryan Marshall, who also won his second consecutive Grand National. Tudor Line was second and the 15/2 favourite Irish Lizard finished"
"1955 Grand National The 1955 Grand National was the 109th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 26 March 1955. Thirty horses ran in the race, which was won by 100/9 shot Quare Times, who was ridden by jockey Pat Taaffe and trained by Vincent O'Brien. This was O'Brien's third consecutive Grand National win. Early Mist, the previous year's winner and another O'Brien-trained mount, was the favourite. In attendance at Aintree were The Queen Mother (who owned M'as Tu Vu who was also running in the race), and her daughters"
"Evan Williams (jockey) Evan Morgan Williams (9 May 1912 – 12 July 2001) was a horse racing jockey born in Cowbridge, Wales, in 1912. He won the 1937 Grand National on Royal Mail, and he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1936 (on Golden Miller) and 1940 (on Roman Hackle). Evan Williams' father, Fred, was an amateur jockey. After service in the armed forces during the Second World War, he became a trainer and won the first running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1951 (with Supreme Court). He later relocated to Ireland, and died on"
"in Ireland. In 1961 he was sold again and exported to Japan. His progeny included Nihon Pillow Ace who won the Satsuki Shō in 1966. Montaval Montaval (foaled 1953) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Although trained in France throughout his career, his most notable achievements came in Britain: he was narrowly beaten in the 1956 Epsom Derby and won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the following year. In total he won five times in a career of at least seventeen races which lasted from 1955 until November 1957. He was retired to stand as"
"sixteenth on dirt. That same year, Dave Erb became the regular jockey for future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Swoon's Son. Ridden by Erb in all but one of his twenty-two career stakes race wins, they raced primarily at tracks in Chicago and Kentucky In 1956 Erb won the most important races of his career aboard the future Hall of Fame colt, Needles. After winning the Flamingo Stakes and the Florida Derby, Erb and Needles narrowly missed winning the American Triple Crown. They won the Kentucky Derby, finished second to Fabius in the Preakness Stakes, then won the Belmont"
"1959 Grand National The 1959 Grand National was the 113th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, on 21 March 1959. The race was won by the 8/1 second-favourite Oxo, ridden by Michael Scudamore and trained by Willie Stephenson. Thirty-four horses ran, including the previous year's winner Mr. What, who finished third. Wyndburgh was second and Tiberetta was the only other finisher, each finishing in the places for the third consecutive year. There was one equine fatality during the race: Henry Purcell, who was one of fourteen horses to fall or be"
"safely to the stables. 1947 Grand National The 1947 Grand National was the 101st renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 29 March 1947. The race was won by 100/1 Irish outsider Caughoo. The eight-year-old was ridden by 35-year-old jockey Eddie Dempsey and trained by Herbert McDowell, for owner John McDowell who had bought Caughoo for £50. The Irish Lough Conn finished in second place, Kami, from France, was third, and Prince Regent, also from Ireland, fourth. Fifty-seven horses ran — the largest field since 1929 when 66 participated"
"1947 Grand National The 1947 Grand National was the 101st renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 29 March 1947. The race was won by 100/1 Irish outsider Caughoo. The eight-year-old was ridden by 35-year-old jockey Eddie Dempsey and trained by Herbert McDowell, for owner John McDowell who had bought Caughoo for £50. The Irish Lough Conn finished in second place, Kami, from France, was third, and Prince Regent, also from Ireland, fourth. Fifty-seven horses ran — the largest field since 1929 when 66 participated — and all returned"
"course. All of the horses returned safely to the stables. In the long history of the Grand National only 13 mares have won the race, Nickel Coin being the most recent. 1951 Grand National The 1951 Grand National was the 105th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 7 April 1951. A crowd of 250,000 people saw the race won by Nickel Coin at odds of 40/1. The nine-year-old mare was ridden by jockey John Bullock and trained by Jack O'Donoghue. Royal Tan, who won in 1954, finished second, and"
"Grand National at only his first attempt, giving a patient ride to Rule The World, a horse which had never previously won a steeplechase. He became one of the youngest jockeys ever to win the race and declared: →""It's a weird feeling, you don't really believe it"" →""I beat Faugheen on Nichols Canyon but I think this tops that"". The only younger jockey to claim the Grand National was the 17-year-old Bruce Hobbs back in 1938. David Mullins (jockey) David James Mullins (born 6 June 1996) is a National Hunt jockey. He is the son of Tom Mullins and grandson"
"remounted, also at odds of 100-1. Foinavon Foinavon (1958–1971) was an Irish racehorse. He won the Grand National in 1967 at odds of 100/1 after the rest of the field fell, refused or were hampered or brought down in a mêlée at the 23rd fence. The fence was officially named after Foinavon in 1984. He was at one point owned by Anne Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster, whose colours were also carried by Arkle. Both were named after Scottish mountains. Foinavon, ridden by John Buckingham, was a rank outsider at odds of 100/1 to win the 1967 Grand National, and his"
"1960 Grand National The 1960 Grand National was the 114th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 26 March 1960. The steeplechase was won by nine-year-old Merryman II, who, at odds of 13/2, became the first clear favourite to win for 33 years. His jockey, 22-year-old Gerry Scott, had been lucky to take part in the race, having broken his collarbone two weeks prior. The top weight was officially reduced to a maximum of 12 stone from 12 stone 7 lbs, though it had been over a decade since any"
"Desert Orchid Desert Orchid (11 April 1979 – 13 November 2006), known as Dessie, was an English racehorse. The grey achieved a revered and estemeed status within National Hunt racing, where he was much loved by supporters for his front-running attacking style, iron will and extreme versatility. He was rated the fifth best National Hunt horse of all time by Timeform. During his racing career he was partnered by five different jump jockeys: Colin Brown, Richard Linley, Simon Sherwood, Graham Bradley and Richard Dunwoody. In addition, Brian Rouse rode him in his only flat race. Desert Orchid's first race occurred"
"first to complete the course, in 1982. In 2012 Katie Walsh became the first female jockey to earn a placed finish in the race, finishing third. The 1900 winner Ambush II was owned by HRH Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VII. In 1950 Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother had her first runner in the race in Monaveen, who finished fifth. Six years later she would witness her Devon Loch collapse on the run-in, just yards from a certain victory. The favourite for the 1968 race, Different Class, was owned by actor Gregory Peck. The 1963 winner Ayala"
"Ireland in the 1922 New Year Honours, entitling him to the style ""The Right Honourable"". Thomas Kennedy Laidlaw Thomas Kennedy Laidlaw PC (Ire) (8 November 1864 – 9 September 1943) was a Scottish-born Irish racehorse owner and breeder. Laidlaw was educated at Park School and the University of Glasgow, but later moved to Ireland. His racing colours were black with gold spots. He bred Aboyeur, winner of the 1913 Derby, and Gregalach and Grakle, winners of the Grand National in 1929 and 1931 respectively, although he did not own any of them at the time of their wins. He was"
"1956 English Greyhound Derby The 1956 Greyhound Derby took place during June with the final being held on 30 June 1956 at White City Stadium. The winner was Dunmore King and the winning owner Mr Jack McAlister (an Irish farmer) received £1,500. At White City (over 525 yards): ½, dead heat, 1, 3, 1¾ (lengths)<br> The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. From 1950 one length was equal to 0.08 of one second. Shipping magnate Noel Purvis owned a four strong team heading into the 1956 Derby led by Gulf of Darien the Cesarewitch"
"1926 Grand National The 1926 Grand National was the 85th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 26 March 1926. The steeplechase was won by Jack Horner, a 25/1 bet ridden by jockey Billy Watkinson and trained by Harvey Leader for American owner Charles Schwartz, who had paid 5,000 guineas for him a week beforehand. Schwartz won £5,000 for the victory. Harvey Leader was a brother of Ted Leader and son of Tom Leader. Old Tay Bridge finished in second place for the second successive year, Bright's Boy was"
"the Mackeson Gold Cup on Richard of Bordeaux. In 1966 he won the Triumph Hurdle aboard Black Ice. Beasley rode Roddy Owen in the 1959. He was trained by Danny Morgan and owned by Lord Fingall. The horse was named after amateur rider Roddy Owen who won the 1892 Grand National aboard Father O'Flynn. Roddy Owen was joint second favourite at odds of 5/1. The outright favourite was Taxidermist the winner of the 1958 Hennessy Gold Cup. Coming to the final fence Pas Seul was in the lead with Linwell and Lochroe in hot pursuit. Roddy Owen was in fourth"
"Declan Murphy (jockey) Declan Murphy (born 5 March 1966) is an Irish former jockey known for his return to the saddle after a life-threatening injury. Murphy was raised in County Limerick and went on to study law at the University of California. He began his jockey career with a win on Rules as Prom at Tralee in 1983. Barney Curley brought him to England where he would become Josh Gifford's stable jockey. Through this partnership, Murphy rode Deep Sensation to win the 1993 Queen Mother Champion Chase and Bradbury Star to the 1993 Mackeson Gold Cup. He would also ride"