During the course of its 163-year history, the Grand National has never been short on drama and controversy.1839 The first winner was Lottery, the 5-1 favourite, but the race lives on through the exploits of Captain Becher, who fell at the sixth and ended up in the brook that still bears his name. The fences then were small country banks, but included a stone wall and much of Aintree remained unturfed.
1843 This was the year that the race became a handicap. 1897 The "Red Rum" of his day was Manifesto, who won in 1897 and 1899 and ran a record eight times in the race, making the frame on no fewer than six occasions. 1904 New Zealand horse Moiffa was shipwrecked en-route to Liverpool and presumed lost at sea. He was eventually found stranded on a small outcrop off the coast of Ireland where he was rescued before winning the National the same year.
1928 After a pile up at the Canal Turn, just two horses completed the course. Tipperary Tim was the 100-1 winner. 1934 Five-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Golden Miller added the National to his list of credits. He remains the only horse to have won both races in the same season.  Red Rum won an unprecedented third Grand National in 1977
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1956 Devon Loch was well clear after the last when he famously flopped onto his belly and ESB ran past him to win. 1967 Fittingly, Red Rum made his racecourse debut at Aintree as a two-year old the day before the National. He dead-heated for first. In the same year only Foinavon managed to avoid a pile-up at the fence after Bechers. He went on to win at 100-1.
1973 When Crisp was caught in the last stride by Red Rum his jockey was Richard Pitman. Ten years later, his ex-wife Jenny became the first woman to train a winner with Corbiere. 1977 The legendary Red Rum came back for an incredible third victory - a feat unparalleled in racing history. 1982 Geraldine Rees became the first female jockey to complete the course riding Cheers. 1990 Mr Frisk recorded the fastest time ever. 1993 The National goes down in history as the "race that never was" when it is declared void despite half the field not being recalled after a false start. 1997 A bomb scare causes the great race to be delayed by two days, with Lord Gyllene eventually triumphing. 2001 Atrocious conditions play their part as the winner, Red Marauder, is one of only four finishers - two of those having been remounted. 
Thursday, 28 March, 2002, 13:29 GMT 
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