The Grand National is the Super bowl of horse racing, well sort of. It is one of the most esteemed races in the world; it is steeped in rich history, and you have to be the best to compete. Only the best horses ages 6 years and up are allowed to participate. It is held at the same time each year, in early April, and it is what all horse owners and jockeys train for. This race has been held since 1939 on the record some say 1937; that is up for debate by those who know.
The horses have been well trained for years to be entered into this race. The age for a horse to run in this race is 6 years and over. It is one of the most difficult races to run for both horse and jockey. There have been 62 horses that have lost their lives and one jockey who lost his life during the running of this race since 1939. There are 16 fences and two other jumps that the horse must jump.
The race is done in a two set series so all but two of the jumps must be made twice. There are drop fences in which the horse will land on lower ground than they started on, and also fences where they will land higher on the ground then where they jumped from. The horse has no way to know this about these jumps until they are air borne. This is to test the abilities of the horses.
Another test of the horse's abilities is about halfway through the race course; there is difficult fence jump with a 90 degree turn at the end of the jump. This is also to test how well the jockey and horse work together to keep in tune with the track. At the final lap of the 4.5 mile course is a long run in to the finish. The horses are usually tired by this point and you can start to see the strain on them as they run toward the finish line.
This is an extremely difficult course for the horses and their jockeys. The horse is exercised and in his best weight and shape, and the jockey also must maintain his weight and strength. With this course being 4.5 miles strength and endurance is tested. The painstaking jumps on this race course take a toll on both the horse and jockey. This race is why they have worked and trained so hard. Six Hundred million people watch this race annually.
There are great stories and tales about the Grand National that include some great winning horses like Red Rum who won 3 times in 1973, 1974, and 1977, he came in 2nd in 1995 and 1996. There have been many records set at this racetrack in Liverpool like the oldest winning horse at age 15, the youngest winning jockey at age 17, and fastest winning time at 8m 47.8s, Mr. Frisk in 1990. There are many great stats and stories about this race and track.
The Grand National is the most valuable National Hunt horse race in the world. There is a lot of money to be won by the horse owners and jockeys as well as by the crowd. You can even bet online these days with your favorite pick to win.
Of course what would a horse race be without the big purse for the horse owners and the jockey, and the bets placed by the spectators at the track or online. There are many who have a science to betting on their horse, and others who have no special formula, they just pick who they feel is lucky.
The horses have been well trained for years to be entered into this race. The age for a horse to run in this race is 6 years and over. It is one of the most difficult races to run for both horse and jockey. There have been 62 horses that have lost their lives and one jockey who lost his life during the running of this race since 1939. There are 16 fences and two other jumps that the horse must jump.
The race is done in a two set series so all but two of the jumps must be made twice. There are drop fences in which the horse will land on lower ground than they started on, and also fences where they will land higher on the ground then where they jumped from. The horse has no way to know this about these jumps until they are air borne. This is to test the abilities of the horses.
Another test of the horse's abilities is about halfway through the race course; there is difficult fence jump with a 90 degree turn at the end of the jump. This is also to test how well the jockey and horse work together to keep in tune with the track. At the final lap of the 4.5 mile course is a long run in to the finish. The horses are usually tired by this point and you can start to see the strain on them as they run toward the finish line.
This is an extremely difficult course for the horses and their jockeys. The horse is exercised and in his best weight and shape, and the jockey also must maintain his weight and strength. With this course being 4.5 miles strength and endurance is tested. The painstaking jumps on this race course take a toll on both the horse and jockey. This race is why they have worked and trained so hard. Six Hundred million people watch this race annually.
There are great stories and tales about the Grand National that include some great winning horses like Red Rum who won 3 times in 1973, 1974, and 1977, he came in 2nd in 1995 and 1996. There have been many records set at this racetrack in Liverpool like the oldest winning horse at age 15, the youngest winning jockey at age 17, and fastest winning time at 8m 47.8s, Mr. Frisk in 1990. There are many great stats and stories about this race and track.
The Grand National is the most valuable National Hunt horse race in the world. There is a lot of money to be won by the horse owners and jockeys as well as by the crowd. You can even bet online these days with your favorite pick to win.
Of course what would a horse race be without the big purse for the horse owners and the jockey, and the bets placed by the spectators at the track or online. There are many who have a science to betting on their horse, and others who have no special formula, they just pick who they feel is lucky.
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