Irish Grand National Trivia
- The first Irish Grand National was run in 1870; the 2008 Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National marks the 137th staging of the race. For more about the history of the race, visit our Irish Grand National history page.
- The winner of the 1929 Irish Grand National was Alike, a six-year-old mare owned and ridden by Frank Wise. Probably the best of all Irish Grand National trivia – Frank Wise was missing three fingers and had a WOODEN LEG!
- From 1960 to 1966, the Irish Grand National was won seven times in a row by horses trained by Tom Dreaper. The now legendary Tom Dreaper trained Olympia (1960 winner), Fortria (1961), Kerforo (1962), Last Link (1963), the all-time favourite Arkle (1964), Splash (1965), and Flyingbolt (1966).
- Often referred to simply as “Himself”, Arkle has consistently been rated as the best steeplechase racer of all time, as well as the people’s favourite. He appeared on a postage stamp in Ireland in 1981. Former Nottinghamshire and England cricketer Derek Randall has been nicknamed “Arkle” – quite a compliment.
- Fortina – one Irish stallion – sired Olympia, Fortria, Last Link, and Splash.
- Racing champion Desert Orchid won the 1990 Irish Grand National, at the grand old age of 11 years. Desert Orchid was ridden by Richard Dunwoody and trained by David Elsworth.
- The 2000 Irish Grand National was won by Commanche Court, jockeyed by legendary Ruby Walsh and owned by his father, Ted Walsh.
- Another father and son affair – the 1998 Irish Grand National was won by Bobbyjo, ridden by Paul Carberry and trained by his father, Tommy Carberry.
- Irish horses continue to dominate at the Irish Grand National and at the Grand National at Aintree.
- The Irish Grand National was cancelled in 1919 because of World War I and again in 1941, because of World War II. These two years are the ONLY years in which the race has not been run since 1870.
- Only two horses have ever taken the Irish Grand National in two consecutive years. The Gift won the race in 1883 and again in 1884, and Brown Lad won in 1975 and again in 1976. Brown Lad went on to win again in 1978, but was beaten in 1977 by Billycan.
Will 2008 see the birth of another Irish Grand National legend? For up-to-date odds and betting tips, and for the best live horse racing betting, we recommend William Hill.
