Spring at last! With an early Easter out of the way, we can cut out all those winter warmer recipes and chocolate goodies and concentrate on getting back into shape for the season! Two months should be enough time to slim my waist down so that I can get back into my morning dress for Ascot in June (moved this year to York while they upgrade the Ascot course).
Right now I am looking at the potential card for the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree which will be run this year on Saturday 9 April; culmination of three days racing at this historic Liverpool venue and the annual end to the National Hunt racing season. I wonder what the equine fatality rate will be this year.
The world's greatest annual steeplechase is now 166 years old and worth a rich purse of £700,000 to the owner of the winning horse. Little wonder that this most arduous race attracts capacity entries from Ireland, France, Britain and USA. As at the end of February, a record 107 horses were still left after the first forfeit stage. Sixty-eight of the entries, including last year's winner Amberleigh House and most of the favourites, are still in the handicap with the cut-off point for the maximum field of 40 currently on 10th 4lb.
The Grand National, now under new sponsorship of brewers John Smith, is a gruelling race over 4 miles 4 furlongs and a combination of 16 unique fences, 14 of which are jumped twice. This makes a total of 30 fences, (including the famous Bechers Brook), and a long run in from the last jump to the finishing post of 494 yards.
Most races over the sticks are less than 3 miles 2 furlongs in length and over not more than 20 identical fences, so it is little wonder that with 40 horses at the 'Off' in what has been described as "like the Charge of the Light Brigade", there are a number of equine fatalities each year which are directly attributable to this race.
In fact, this race has an unparalleled record over the years for killing horses. Virtually every year, the three-day Aintree meet, run on racing's most punishing courses, results in horses breaking their necks, backs, legs or suffering heart attacks following a race.
