Grand National’s most controversial moments from streakers on the turf to bomb scares and Devon Loch’s famous collapse
HORSE racing fans will descend upon Aintree for the annual Grand National.
While millions of viewers around the globe will be watching all the drama, as it unfolds.
But sometimes, the fun doesn’t just happen during the race.
The famous meet has had its controversial moments over the years.
From male and female streakers to a favourite’s collapse right before the finishing line, here’s the moments that have stood out in history.
Streakers
Or when exhibitionism goes too far…
In recent times there have been two separate incidents of punters getting their kit off for kicks.
Pals Gemma Porter and Louise Van-Marle managed to dodge stewards and made their way to the track, where they stripped off bare in 2011.
Thousands of fans were stunned as the first day of the festival turned into a spectacle and a half.
They were reprimanded for their actions and handed £80 fines.
That followed a lad running starkers around the course in 1996.
And in 2016, another man repeated that trick – throwing himself over the course’s fences, before face-planting in the mud.
Race void
The 147th running of the Grand National was beset by problems in 1993.
First, 15 animal rights protesters invaded the course near the first fence, a repeat of an incident at the 1991 race, resulting in a delayed start.
A first false start was caused when several riders became tangled in the starting tape.
At the second attempt, the tape got tangled again – forcing starter Keith Brown to wave his red recall flag.
However, his recall flag did not unfurl as he waved it, so 30 of the 39 riders zoomed around the track oblivious to the recall.
The Jockey Club was forced to declare the race void.
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Bomb scare
In 1997, the race was scheduled to be ran on April 5 at 3:45pm.
However, at 2:49pm a bomb threat was made over the phone to Aintree University Hospital.
That was followed two minutes later by a second to the police’s control room in Bootle.
It was reported both calls used code words associated with the IRA.
An explosive device was warned to have been planted within Aintree Racecourse.
It was one of several threats made before the 1997 UK general election.
Racegoers were evacuated by the police, and the race was postponed by two days to a Monday.
Terrible accident
A female racegoer was left injured after being hit by two stampeding horses which veered off course last year.
The horses charged towards the woman on the first corner – after their jockeys fell from the saddle further up the course.
Unable to stop their speed, Recite A Prayer and Galvin came off the track and ploughed into the woman, sending her crashing to the ground.
Onlookers could be heard shouting “watch out” and “move out the way” before the two horses tripped on the concrete and ploughed into the woman.
Bystander Mugdim Mujakovic, 52, had been filming the race and caught the dramatic moment on camera.
The chauffeur stopped his camera and went over to see if the woman was OK before police took over and gave her first aid.
Mugdim said he heard an ambulance being called and sirens approaching when he left the scene ten minutes later.
Tale of Devon Loch
In 1956, Devon Loch was the talk of the town.
Owned by the Queen Mother, it had won two races that season and finished third in the National Hunt Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
When favourite Must, and a previous winner, Early Mist, fell early on it seemed destined to win.
It went straight to the front of the race with a commanding on the final stretch.
Then, some 40 yards away from the finish line (and ironically) in front of the Royal box, he suddenly inexplicably jumped into the air and landed on his stomach, allowing E.S.B. to overtake and win.
It is not known why Devon Loch jumped; some reports claimed he suffered a cramp in his hindquarters causing the collapse.
Another report suggested that a shadow thrown by the adjacent water-jump fence may have confused Devon Loch into thinking a jump was required and – confused as to whether he should jump or not – he half-jumped and collapsed.
Afterwards, the Queen Mother quite poetically remarked: “Oh, that’s racing.”