Then there is Voinafone, the 27th and 23rd hurdle, just behind Baker Brook. It is necessary to compare with the story of the short tracker Stephen Bradbury.
The Australian had somewhat reconciled to fifth and final place in the 2002 Olympic final, secretly hoping that the Chinese, Korean, Canadian and American plane would crash. And preferably two, because after that he had a bronze. But the four fell, and then suddenly gold fell on him.
But it could get even crazier. The Foinavon Fence was named after the winning horse in 1967, who was in 18th place in the middle of the second round, but won because the seventeen (!) Horses all fell ahead of him or stopped at this 23rd hurdle.
Red Rum at DBC Studio
The name Red Rum shouldn’t be missing in any story about Grand National. The Red Rum (read back Murder; see also The Shining) is the only horse to have won three times in 172 copies: in 1973, 1974 and 1977. It also took second place twice.
In his third win, Red Rum was allowed to perform as a guest star at the BBC Studios award ceremony Sports Personality of the Year. The award went to tennis star Virginia Wade, who won the Wimbledon tournament that year by beating Dutch Petty Stoff in the final.
