Rachael Blackmore wins Grand National.

[Chippy_Tea]

As the guy on 5 live just said she beat the male riders on a level playing field so an amazing achievement just a shame it wasn't packed.

Rachael Blackmore made sporting history by becoming the first female jockey to win the Grand National with victory on Minella Times at Aintree.

The Irish rider scored a thrilling triumph aboard the 11-1 chance, trained by Henry de Bromhead who also saddled runner-up Balko Des Flos.
"I don't feel male or female right now. I don't even feel human," said 31-year-old Blackmore.

Any Second Now was third, with Burrows Saint fourth.

The 173rd running of the famous race provided a story for the ages as Blackmore won in the colours of owner JP McManus.

Blackmore had already achieved a landmark success at last month's Cheltenham Festival when becoming the first woman to be the meeting's leading jockey.

She demonstrated perfect poise and timing to guide Minella Times expertly round the 30 fences over more than four and a quarter miles for victory by six and a half lengths.

There were no spectators at the Merseyside track because of Covid-19 protocols, but the historic moment was not lost on the jockeys, trainers and owners in attendance who cheered the pair back into the winner's enclosure.

The 1-2 for De Bromhead sealed his own remarkable story, having won the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

One of the 40 runners, The Long Mile, was euthanised after suffering an injury while running on the flat between fences. It was the second equine fatality in eight editions of the race since safety changes were introduced in 2013.

Jockey Bryony Frost was taken to hospital after a fall from her mount Yala Enki.

 

[StJayJay]

She’s a great jockey, rode well all the way through. She had a really good Cheltenham festival last month too. Plus, she’s just got me £128 to go into the home brew fund!

 

[Leon103]

Put money on 8 horses, four each for the kids. This was one of them. Four wins. Kids are happy, I don't think I made much as I had to pay them some of the winnings. Was 10 minutes of fun and taught my 6 year old son a little about women being equal to men

 

[Clint]

Shame about the dead horse...

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Was 10 minutes of fun and taught my 6 year old son a little about women being equal to men

That is something that never happened back when i was a kid, well done.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Shame about the dead horse...

I stopped betting on the national years ago after SWMBO's voiced her feelings about the size of the fences causing horses to be injured and usually put down having said that i can understand the pro horse racing fans view that they are bred to jump and like many sport there is always a risk or injury and death.

 

[Leon103]

Some of those jumps were massive. Only bet on it for fun.

The kids enjoyed. Tried showing them the women's rugby but the score wasn't flattering so they got bored.

Trotting racing is big up with us. They have an annual race on the farm behind us. Seen a few put down due to falling and I guess breaking a leg.

 

[Random Badger]

As the guy on 5 live just said she beat the male riders on a level playing field so an amazing achievement just a shame it wasn't packed.

It was nothing like a level playing field.

Did you not see the size of those fences?

 

[CD]

I remember vividly leaning over the rails just past the last fence of the Grand National the year that the Queen Mother’s horse was in the lead. As I waited for the next horses to appear I completely missed the drama that happened on the run to the finish, when Devon Loch slipped and almost fell, allowing ESB to win the race.

Viewing YouTube videos taken by Pathé News a couple of days ago to find out which year it was, I was amazed to see myself caught on camera, nipping from in front of the jump to behind it! It was 1956, so I’d have been 21.

 

[CD]