Watched the replay on thejockeyclub-uk.
Have to remember not to eat just beforehand. My heart is always in my mouth watching that race. 
So glad all home safe.
And good on the winner. Thrilling to watch.
Now to replay one.more.time.
And now I understand my friend in England’s FB post: "Well. tears up form book.
I felt a little bad for Aachen and his rider. A nice start to the race but I think the loose-horse dodging too its toll.
Also, some commendable solo horse performances today. You could see them working hard to stay in the race.
Question: It seemed to have more wipe-outs than the regular, every day steeplechase? (Or did it?). Why? Thanks. (Do not get all crazy, please.)
[QUOTE=danceronice;8614001]
And now I understand my friend in England’s FB post: "Well. tears up form book.[/QUOTE]
Form book? :lol:
It’s the National, there’s 40 runners, a handicap with 24lb weight spread, 30 fences, loads of loose horses. It’s an absolute lottery.
[QUOTE=sonomacounty;8614021]
Question: It seemed to have more wipe-outs than the regular, every day steeplechase? (Or did it?). Why? Thanks. (Do not get all crazy, please.)[/QUOTE]
It’s a 40 runner race over 4-1/2 miles over unusually high and wide fences.
After replaying again - yikes - yes - the winner did almost lose the rider at the 4th to last fence - he lost a rein and landed on the horse’s neck - with a quick recovery - and great riding at the end - good choices avoiding being shutoff and choosing to go 'round.
[QUOTE=sonomacounty;8614021]
Question: It seemed to have more wipe-outs than the regular, every day steeplechase? (Or did it?). Why? Thanks. (Do not get all crazy, please.)[/QUOTE]
It’s the National. It’s unique. There’s no other race like it. It’s not your everyday steeplechase.
Related, sort of: I always wondered why Dick Francis never wrote a novel about the Grand National. His big races seemed to always be at Cheltenham. I thought I understood, considering his experience with Devon Loch, but still … I would have liked to have something of his to compare with National Velvet. Told from the jockey’s viewpoint. As it is, all I know of is Peyton’s Free Rein.
“unusually high and wide fences”
Thanks, I didn’t realize. It’s a beautiful event.
Just wondering, about how high/wide are those fences, about? And how high/wide in a “regular” steeplechase?
Thanks so very much!
My favorite post from the Telegraph’s results page:
My Mum & Dad are drunk at the #GrandNational
They’ve just learnt how to do a selfie.
I’m getting sent selfies every ten mins
Gimme strength.
1:15 PM - 9 Apr 2016
–Rita Richards
sonomacounty,
I think one of Equibrit’s links in this thread is to a site that names the famous fences and gives their dimensions.
It’s this one: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2016/apr/08/grand-national-2016-a-drones-aerial-guide-to-aintree-racecourse-video
BTW, I just saw my dream house, one of those red-brick ones right beside the course. No idea what it would be like to live there, but I would sure like to find out.
Channel 4 did a cool segment in the pre-race coverage where ex-champion jockey Tony McCoy galloped around the National course with a helmet cam and a microphone and did a running commentary of the fences as he galloped. Very insightful.
Here is a picture of one the grand national fences (on the right) next to a standard chasing fence, there is also a hurdle on the far left… http://spikesaycheese.weebly.com/uploads/4/7/3/5/4735364/5832521.jpg?607
The National fences are unique and besides the Grand National are only used in two other races, the Topham Chase, FoxHunters Chase.
[QUOTE=RPM;8614127]
My favorite post from the Telegraph’s results page:
sonomacounty,
I think one of Equibrit’s links in this thread is to a site that names the famous fences and gives their dimensions.
It’s this one: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2016/apr/08/grand-national-2016-a-drones-aerial-guide-to-aintree-racecourse-video
BTW, I just saw my dream house, one of those red-brick ones right beside the course. No idea what it would be like to live there, but I would sure like to find out.[/QUOTE]
One of them is for sale!
[QUOTE=Sunflower;8614193]
http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/38931476?utm_source=nest&utm_medium=feeds#JwJHmlgtEEUDrYhE.97
One of them is for sale![/QUOTE]
The street that that house is on cuts right through the middle of the Grand National course… https://www.google.com/maps/@53.4736685,-2.947222,3a,75y,93.28h,78.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0zd1UyeWQDZBSueQQ8ZJbg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
They shut the street down for a week every year and put dirt over the road in the two spots where it crosses the course.
I was there in 1965 - we were able to walk the course and the jumps were huge - before some of them were ‘modified’.
I have a picture somewhere of me standing next to one and it dwarfs me.
The American horse Jay Trump won it - please, ye Gods, I hope just by posting this I’m not tempting the results of the-is year’s election.
Those horses have some longevity considering the work they do.
The winner apparently has had 2 previous pelvic fractures! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3531533/Let-s-hear-girls-Nina-Carberry-Katie-Walsh-battle-female-jockey-win-Grand-National.html
What a race - as usual I get all choked up seeing those brave horses.
That kid! He rode a very measured race, attempting to always give the horse a site line to the fence and staying out of trouble until that almost whoopsie.
Looked up the pedigrees of the top three as I always do. Saddlers Wells
represented in the second placed horse The Last Samuri and in the third placed horse Vic’s Canvas by Old Vic by Saddler’s Wells. Old vic can produce too.
[QUOTE=JER;8614007]
I felt a little bad for Aachen and his rider. A nice start to the race but I think the loose-horse dodging too its toll.
Also, some commendable solo horse performances today. You could see them working hard to stay in the race.[/QUOTE]
That is one of my favorite things about the Grand National. That spirit. And the sheer ruggedness of the race.
[QUOTE=Sunflower;8614193]
http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/38931476?utm_source=nest&utm_medium=feeds#JwJHmlgtEEUDrYhE.97
One of them is for sale![/QUOTE]
Cool, thanks! I will check it out. 
…
What a nice house! I would remove the wallpaper in the first bedroom. But I love that sign in the bathroom window!
But isn’t the wallpaper of the course at Aintree?
Then again, it is right outside the window.
Thanks for this info. Especially the news of the recovered pelvic fracture. I’m just starting a mare in basic training who broke her pelvis as a foal. Some people think I am wasting my time. I don’t think so, she sound and moves and free jumps great. My goal for her is a low level show hunter, I think this story lends credence to this goal.
