grand national commentators

Julian Wilson (commentator) Julian David Bonhote Wilson (21 June 1940 – 20 April 2014) was BBC Television 's horse racing correspondent from 1966 until his retirement in 1997. (Except 2000, where the BBC's commentary team gave live pictures and commentary for SIS). Latest updates and video from the world of equestrian sports. "You have to get it right. On the final lap, after the 30th fence, the remaining runners bear right, avoiding The Chair and Water Jump, to head onto a "run-in" to the finishing post. "I was just about to leave when I was told 'Standby, Jim, we're coming to you,'" he says. [16] Contemporary newspaper reports place all the 1836-38 races at Aintree although the 1839 race is the first described as "national". Rate 5 stars Rate 4 stars Rate 3 stars Rate 2 stars Rate 1 star Support Sporcle… After years of negotiation the Grand National was televised in 1960, with the original commentators being Peter O’Sullevan, Clive Graham and Peter Bromley. Hill will be joined by Gary O'Brien, Darren Owen and Martin Harris from various points of the course as they describe the action to listeners. In modern language, the phrase "to do a Devon Loch" is often used to describe a last-minute failure to achieve an expected victory. Producer Keith Mackenzie Height: 4 feet 6 inches (1.37 m) However, some historians have unearthed evidence in recent years that suggest those three races were run over the same course at Aintree and were regarded as having been Grand Nationals up until the mid-1860s. Between 1969 and 1992, he was one of the commentators for the Grand National and for a time he had editorial control over the BBC's midweek racing coverage. The first big test in the race as horses are still adapting to the obstacles. [44] He successfully used this treatment on his newly acquired racehorse. Although the Grand National was run as normal in 1940 and most other major horse races around the world were able to be held throughout the war, the commandeering of Aintree Racecourse for defence use in 1941 meant no Grand National could be held from 1941 to 1945. I can hardly describe how disappointed we all were after the race, that it just hadn't happened.". Knowing the numbers, colours and statistics is vital - and still, errors can creep in. Course officials tried to stop the runners by waving red flags, but many jockeys continued to race, believing that they were protesters (a group of whom had invaded the course earlier), while Peter Scudamore only stopped because he saw his trainer, Martin Pipe, waving frantically at him. This was utilised for the first time during the 2011 race as casualties at fences 4 and 6 (Becher's Brook) resulted in marshals diverting the remaining contenders around those fences on the final lap. The nine-year-old impressed recently with a win in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase, and he ticks all the right boxes for a potential Grand National winner. Hedgehunter, who would go on to win in 2005, fell at the last while leading. Height: 4 feet 7 inches (1.40 m) Jim McGrath retired from the commentary box in 2013 after a 40-year career. Since 2017, the race and accompanying festival have been sponsored by Randox Health. In 1973, eight years after Mrs. Mirabel Topham announced she was seeking a buyer, the racecourse was finally sold to property developer Bill Davies. Three BBC commentators – Jim McGrath, John Hunt and Matt Hill – recall some of their highlights, memories and pitfalls from the famous Aintree race. In the past, such amateur riders would have been joined by army officers, such as David Campbell who won in 1896, and sporting aristocrats, farmers or local huntsmen and point to point riders, who usually opted to ride their own mounts. "The rest of the horses were able to jump Becher's Brook. "I didn't have any time to think about it. Secondly, the railway, opened from Manchester to Liverpool in 1830, was linked to a line from London and Birmingham in 1839 enabling rail transport to the Liverpool area from large parts of the country for the first time. Height: 5 feet (1.52 m) with a 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) brook "[27] These words turned out to be true, as 41 of the 42 starters fell during the race. Commentators: Peter O'Sullevan , Julian Wilson Richard Pitman and John Hanmer. McCain had equalled George Dockeray and Fred Rimell's record feat of training four Grand National winners.[56]. Bill McLaren and Nigel Starmer-Smith were two of the commentators used, with Cliff Morgan also a lead commentator until 1987. If someone said you're going to hold the fort for 13 minutes and 50 seconds, you might get a tad nervous. Welfare groups have suggested a reduction in the size of the field (currently limited to a maximum of 40 horses) should be implemented. Firstly, the Great St. Albans Chase, which had clashed with the steeplechase at Aintree, was not renewed after 1838,[21] leaving a major hole in the chasing calendar. Hill has been part of the radio commentary team before and remembered the 2005 race when Clan Royal, ridden by champion jockey Tony McCoy, was carried out by a loose horse at Becher's Brook on the second circuit when he was well clear of the field. [41] Two days after the purchase while trotting the horse on Southport beach, McCain noticed that Red Rum appeared lame. [26], On the day of the 1928 Grand National, before the race had begun, Tipperary Tim's jockey William Dutton heard a friend call out to him: "Billy boy, you'll only win if all the others fall down! "The way the horses cut across the fence was so dramatic that Tony McCoy ended up on the inside rail and the horse crashed through it. Other fences have also been reduced in height over the years, and the entry requirements for the race have been made stricter. [15] The last Seagram-sponsored Grand National was in 1991. [15] There is much debate regarding the first official Grand National; most leading published historians, including John Pinfold, now prefer the idea that the first running was in 1836 and was won by The Duke. For other uses, see, English steeplechase horse race that takes place at Liverpool's Aintree racecourse, 1890 engraving of horses jumping the famous. [42] The horse was suffering from pedal osteitis, an inflammatory bone disorder. Geraldine Rees became the first to complete the course, in 1982. Between 1969 and 1992, he was one of the commentators for the Grand National and for a time he had editorial control over the BBC's midweek racing coverage. It is on this run-in—one of the longest in the United Kingdom at 494 yards (452 m)—that many potential winners have had victory snatched away, such as Devon Loch in 1956, Crisp in 1973, What's Up Boys in 2002 and Sunnyhillboy in 2012. Oscar Time was fourth, Rare Bob fifth. He has also commentated for Channel 4 Racing.. Bartlett has always been associated with his role at Aintree.He commentated for SIS's feed of their Grand National coverage from 1998 to 2001. [49][50][51][52], The 1997 Grand National was postponed after two coded bomb threats were received from the Provisional Irish Republican Army. The drama is unpredictable, as witnessed 25 years ago with the 'National That Never Was'. [35] The incident became part of the folklore of the event, and by extension British sporting culture. Unusually and for this year only, the National was the first race of the meeting that was run over the National fences and it was the only National Hunt race on an otherwise all flat card. I got them wrong and I was absolutely crestfallen walking away from the track. The other 13 riders who never won or have not as yet won, having had more than 12 rides in the race are: Peter Scudamore technically lined up for thirteen Grand Nationals without winning but the last of those was the void race of 1993, which meant that he officially competed in twelve Nationals. McCain's Amberleigh House came home first, ridden by Graham Lee, overtaking Clan Royal on the final straight. He also finished second in the two intervening years, 1975 and 1976. It was another absolutely unbelievable situation at Aintree.". Some of the National's most challenging fences have also been modified, while still preserving them as formidable obstacles. The drama is unpredictable, as witnessed 25 years ago with the, 5 live Special: How to commentate on the Grand National. Miscellaneous Quiz / BBC TV Grand National Commentators 1960 to 2012 Random Miscellaneous Quiz Can you name the BBC TV Grand National Commentators 1960 to 2012. by superdooper Plays Quiz not verified by Sporcle . It has normally been run on a Saturday ever since. A public vote announced at the 2012 Grand National saw five more additions to the Legends hall: The selection panel also inducted three more competitors: In the 70 races of the post-war era (excluding the void race in 1993), the favourite or joint-favourite have only won the race ten times (in 1950, 1960, 1973, 1982, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2019) and have failed to complete the course in 37 Nationals. "You'll never get a race like the Grand National. Longevity is no guarantee of success, however, as 13 of the 34 never tasted the glory of winning the race. A grandstand was erected alongside the fence in the early part of the 20th century but fell into decline after the Second World War and was torn down in the 1970s. Richard Johnson set a new record of 21 failed attempts to win the race from 1997 to 2019, having finished second twice. "I was so excited beforehand that I was going to do it at last. Talksport acquired radio commentary rights in 2014:[10] Both the BBC and Talksport currently broadcast the race in full. The drop on the landing side was reduced after the 2011 Grand National. [60], In March 2016 it was announced that Randox Health would take over from Crabbie's as official partners of the Grand National festival from 2017, for at least five years. Height: 5 feet (1.52 m) In 2012, Katie Walsh achieved the best result yet for a female jockey, finishing third on the 8/1 joint-favourite Seabass. [18] These races have long been disregarded because of the belief that they took place at Maghull and not Aintree. The 1963 winner Ayala and the 1976 winner Rag Trade were both part-owned by celebrity hairdresser Raymond Bessone. Since 1986, any jockey making five or more clear rounds has been awarded the Aintree Clear Rounds Award. Bartlett has always been associated with his role at Aintree. But all these genres of rider have faded out in the last quarter of a century with no riders of military rank or aristocratic title having taken a mount since 1982. [19] To date, though, calls for the Nationals of 1836–1838 to be restored to the record books have been unsuccessful. [13][14][15] Lynn set out a course, built a grandstand, and Lord Sefton laid the foundation stone on 7 February 1829. "It's like a climber trying to climb Everest: the ultimate test - to be able to identify the runners, get some flow into your commentary and, above all, pick the fallers as they fall.". How to get into horse riding, whether you want to work with horses at the stables or become a fully fledged jockey. Peter O'Sullevan, Grand National 1970- 1997 Jim McGrath, Grand National 1997- present[/QUOTE] Not quite. The 21st century has not seen a significant increase in female riders but it has seen them gain rides on mounts considered to have a genuine chance of winning. [31] It recommenced in 1946, when it was run on a Friday, and from 1947 was moved to a Saturday, at the urging of the Home Secretary James Chuter Ede,[32] who thought this would make it more accessible to working people. The course was secured by police who then evacuated jockeys, race personnel, and local residents along with 60,000 spectators. These included Bob Champion 's run on Aldaniti in 1981 after recovering from cancer, 100/1 outsider Foinavon 's win in 1967, and the three-times winner Red Rum in 1973, 1974 and 1977. Esha Ness, ridden by John White for trainer Jenny Pitman, was first past the post but only after several runners had been called back after a false start. He turned the chase into a handicap in 1843[23] after it had been a weight-for-age race for the first four years, and took over the land lease in 1848. The ground on the landing side is six inches higher than on the takeoff side, creating the opposite effect to the drop at Becher's. First run in 1839, it is a handicap steeplechase over an official distance of about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs (4 miles 514 yards (6.907 km)), with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. I went there full of anxious feelings, hopes and nerves," recalls McGrath, "It turned into the most surreal experience. All 16 are jumped on the first lap, but on the final lap, the runners bear to the right onto the run-in for home, avoiding The Chair and the Water Jump. Further changes in set-up and procedure allow vets to treat horses more rapidly and in better surroundings. Mike Joy (left), four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon (middle) and three-time Cup champion Darrell Waltrip (right) will calling the 59th annual Daytona 500 Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. Hunt is a widely respected commentator, but even the best can say the wrong thing among the chaos of the big race. "It's a great buzz calling the National. [7][8][9] The race has also been broadcast on radio since 1927; BBC Radio held exclusive rights until 2013. Forty yards from what seemed like certain victory, Devon Loch suddenly, and inexplicably, half-jumped into the air and collapsed in a belly-flop on the turf. McGrath was stationed at the Becher's Brook fence for his first commentary in 1993 when one of the biggest stories unfolded. Height: 5 feet (1.52 m) Peter Bromley Another famous horse racing commentator from the BBC was Peter Bromley. It was won by rider Jem Mason on the aptly named, Lottery. Originally bought as a yearling in 1966 for 400 guineas (£420),[41] he passed through various training yards before being bought for 6,000 guineas (£6,300) by Ginger McCain on behalf of Noel le Mare. In 2012 Katie Walsh became the first female jockey to earn a placed finish in the race, finishing third. In the 1840s the Melling Road was also flanked by hedges and the runners had to jump into the road and then back out of it. The first Spring Meeting after the war took place in 1946 with the National being run on the Friday. His compatriot Matt Hill will be on duty this year for BBC Radio 5 live, with regular racing commentator John Hunt in Australia working on the Commonwealth Games. Ned Jarrett Jarrett, two-time NASCAR Grand National champion, started out as a pit reporter in 1979, moving up to the television booth as a color commentator in 1985. They were:[105], A panel of experts also selected three additional legends:[105], In 2011, nine additional legends were added:[105], John Smith's also added five "people's legends" who were introduced on Liverpool Day, the first day of the Grand National meeting. A testing obstacle that often leads to falls and unseated riders. As part of a review of safety following the 2012 running of the event, from 2013 to 2015 the start was moved 90 yards (82 m) forward away from the crowds and grandstands, reducing the race distance by 110 yards (100 m) from the historical 4 mile… [54][55], Red Rum's trainer Ginger McCain returned to the Grand National in 2004, 31 years after Red Rum's epic run-in defeat of Crisp to secure his first of three wins. Last year, due to global health and safety risks the Virtual National took place of the main event with all proceeds going to the NHS Charities Together. The name fell out of favour with the relocation of the fences. McCoy. Cappa Bleu was second, Teaforthree fell away to third. The programme was presented by Cliff Michelmore who stepped in at the last minute for … [48], From 1984 to 1991, Seagram sponsored the Grand National. After the Second World War, it became rare for any more than four or five amateurs to take part in any given year. Seven horses completed the course, meaning the result was void. The Grand National Commentator Held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England, the handicap steeplechase is watched and listened to by approximately 600 million people around the globe, including Queen Elizabeth and other members of the Royal Family. Peter Bromley Another famous horse racing commentator from the BBC was Peter Bromley. As part of a review of safety following the 2012 running of the event, from 2013 to 2015 the start was moved 90 yards (82 m) forward away from the crowds and grandstands, reducing the race distance by 110 yards (100 m) from the historical 4 miles 856 yards (7.220 km). Amid chaotic scenes, the race was declared void and was never re-run. One each at Becher 's Brook fence for his first commentary in 1993 when of... Riders completing the course, in 2010 without their vehicles over the weekend Liverpool,.. Have any time to think about it and unseated riders 's race stables or a. 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