Midlands_Grand_National

Midlands Grand National

Midlands Grand National

Steeplechase horse race in Britain

The Midlands Grand National is a Premier Handicap National Hunt race in Great Britain. It is a handicap steeplechase and is run at Uttoxeter Racecourse in March, over a distance of about 4 miles and 2 furlongs (4 miles, 2 furlongs and 8 yards, or 6,847 metres). During the race there are 25 fences to be jumped. The race held Listed status until 2022 and was re-classified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Listed status was removed from handicap races.[1]

Quick Facts Location, Inaugurated ...
Midlands Grand National
2024
Light blue, orange chevrons, light blue sleeves and cap Light blue, light blue and pink striped cap Yellow, black disc, yellow sleeves, black stars, yellow cap
Beauport Mr Incredible My Silver Lining
More information Previous years ...
More information 2020-2011 ...
More information 2010-2001 ...
More information 2000-1991 ...
More information 1990-1988 ...

History

The first race was run on 3 May 1969.[2] The race was initially run over 4m2f and was increased up to 4m4f in 1977. During this period it would have been, assuming accurate measurements, by 24 yards or approximately the length of a cricket pitch, the longest race in the NH calendar. In 1991 the distance was dropped to 4m, before being upped to 4m2f in 1993. The distance of the race was then reduced to 4m1½f in 2004 before being returned back to 4m2f in 2018. It is now the second-longest race in the British calendar, after the Grand National at Aintree.

The 1977 winner Watafella finished third in the race but was promoted to first place after the first and second, No Scotch and Evander were disqualified after it was realised they failed to meet the conditions of the race, along with three other runners.[3]

The race was not covered on television in its early years but was shown by Channel 4 during the 1980s and up until 1998. The BBC took over coverage between 1998 and 2005 before the race returned to Channel 4, who continued to show it until their coverage of British racing ended in 2016. It is now broadcast on ITV Racing.

Records

Most successful horse:

  • no horse has won the race more than once

Leading jockey (2 wins):

  • Ken White – Happy Spring (1969), Rip’s Lyric (1973)
  • Derek Morris – Midnight Madness (1987), Mister Ed (1993)
  • Brendan Powell – Another Excuse (1996), Young Kenny (1999)
  • Norman Williamson – Lucky Lane (1995), The Bunny Boiler (2002)

Leading trainer (4 wins):

  • David Pipe – Minella Four Star (2011), Master Overseer (2012), Big Occasion (2013), Goulanes (2014)
  • Widest winning margin – Another Excuse (1996) – distance
  • Narrowest winning margin – Fighting Chance (1974), Knock Hill (1988) – head
  • Most runners – 22, in 1978, 1979 and 1981
  • Fewest runners – 6, in 2000

Winners

More information Year, Winner ...
  1. amateur jockey
  2. The 1983 running was cancelled due to a waterlogged track
  3. The 2001 running was cancelled due to a foot-and-mouth crisis
  4. The 2004 running was cancelled due to high winds

See also

  • Race Recordings 1991–2007

References

  1. [1]
    "Jump Pattern Committee update 22/23 season". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Stoke & Staffordshire – Radio Stoke – The Midlands Grand National". BBC. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  3. [3]
    "Big Race History: Midlands National". Betting.betfair.com. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Midlands_Grand_National, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.