The Grand National’s 7 weirdest moments – from streakers to a mysterious collapse

Weirdest moments at Grand National AP/Bruce Adams — Some of the strange mysteries have never been solved (Picture: AP/Bruce Adams)

Forty horses are about to line up at Aintree Racecourse this afternoon 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 a four-mile long course.

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

Here, Metro revisits seven of the weirdest incidents at the Grand National, including one scheduled for today’s race.

CORRECTION / RACING-ENG-NATIONAL — The Grand National has had many twists and turns in its 186-year history (Picture: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

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

It was fifty-years ago when the Racehorse seen here Devon Loch, owned by the Queen Mother Elizabeth is well clear of the field in the world's most grueling race, the Grand National steeplechase, at Aintree, England, on March 24, 1956, when he appears to jump a phantom fence 25-meters from the line and lands on his belly. The stricken Devon Loch gets back on his feet but is overtaken in the most dramatic final in the race's history and the jockey Dick Francis, walks away in despair. After clearing 30 jumps on the course the horse stumbled and fell just yards from the winning post, but now the jockey, Francis is a prolific fiction writer, and he owes his writing career to the downfall of his horse, according to his autobiography. (AP Photo) Dick Francis died 14/02/2010 at the age of 89. Richard Francis — Racehorse Devon Loch mysteriously collapsed just before the finish line (Picture: AP)

Devon Loch leaped into the air and crumple 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 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 most out of the leading racers.

Foinavon, being jockeyed by John Buckingham, had outsider 100/1 odds to win and 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 gate at the Aintree racecourse has now been renamed Foinavon Fencedue to this underdog story.

The race that never was

£75million was riding on the 1993 Grand National, and 300 million television viewers 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.

File photo dated 03-04-1993 of Eshs Ness crossing the finish line first in 1993. The darkest day in the history of the National. There is chaos after a second false start as most of the field continue. John White passes the post first on the Jenny Pitman-trained ESHA NESS, only to discover the race has been declared void. Issue date: Friday March 28, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story RACING National Milestones. Photo credit should read MALCOM CROFT/PA Wire. — Eshs Ness crossing the finish line first in 1993, a race declared null and void (Picture: MALCOM CROFT/PA Wire)

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.

Officially 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 2011 Grand National was £950,000, making it the highest valued National Hunt race in the United Kingdom.

GRAND NATIONAL MEETING, AINTREE, MERSEYSIDE. LIVERPOOL DAY - TWO STREAKERS RUN ALONG THE CROWD LINE BEFORE THE 3.05PM RACE. . REXMAILPIX. — Gemma Porter and Louise Van-Marle produced a show of their own (Picture: DAILY MAIL)

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 of 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.

Horse Racing in Britain '1928 Grand National' The winner 'Tipperary Jim' passes the post The 1928 Grand National was the 87th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, in 1928. Before the race, Tipperary Tim's amateur jockey, William Dutton, heard a friend call out to him: "Billy boy, you'll only win if all the others fall!" These words turned out to be true, as all of the 41 other starters fell during the race. The 1928 National was run during misty weather conditions with the going very heavy. As the field approached the Canal Turn on the first circuit, Easter Hero fell, causing a pile-up from which only seven horses emerged with seated jockeys. By the penultimate fence this number had reduced to three, with Great Span looking most likely to win ahead of Billy Barton and Tipperary Tim. Great Span's saddle then slipped, leaving Billy Barton in the lead until he too fell. Although Billy Barton's jockey Tommy Cullinan managed to remount and complete the race, it was Tipperary Tim who came in first at outside odds of 100/1. The 10-year-old was trained by Joseph Dodd for owner Harold Kenyon. With only two riders completing the course, 1928 set the record for the fewest number of finishers in a Grand National . REXSCANPIX. — The winner ‘Tipperary Jim’ passes the post, one of only two in 1928 (Picture: Associated Newspapers)

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.

1997 Grand National — The crowd sieze the opportunity to jump the famous fences at Aintree due to the evacuation of the stands (Picture: Getty Images)

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.

And today… a jockey allergic to horses

Sean Bowen, 27, is a world-leading jockey about to race the 20-1 shot Three Card Brag at Aintree.

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.’

Jockey Sean Bowen before the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Hurdle during the Halloween Family Day at Aintree racecourse, Liverpool. Picture date: Sunday October 27, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story RACING Aintree. Photo credit should read: Nigel French/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder. — Jockey Sean Bowen has an unhelpful allergy (Picture: Nigel French/PA Wire)

‘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.’

Despite this Sean is ready to race this afternoon, and it is a brotherly affair.

Younger brother James will also be riding the Grand National this weekend, on board horse Chantry Housel.

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The Grand National’s 7 weirdest moments – from streakers to a mysterious collapse

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