In this scene is two horse both gelding, about 15.5 hands, one dark bay with black points (legs) the other horse jet black, both horses have dark brown eyes. Black English Saddles with racing blankets one is red and the other is green.
This is the first steeplechase during the 1800s and still takes place in the spring. These jockeys can see the steeple ahead of them as they gallop toward that small patch of bluebells that are growing beneath the canopy of the forest trees straight ahead.
Nomansland Common also saw the first annually contested steeplechase in England, in 1830 when it was organized by Thomas Coleman, and the last fight of nineteenth century bare-knuckle fighter, Simon Byrne. It was also the haunt of the highway-woman known as Lady Katherine Ferrers, better known as the "Wicked Lady".
~ And They are Off ~
~ Modern Track ~
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The Grand National is a world famous National Hunt horse race which is held at Aintree in the United Kingdom. It is a handicap chase containing thirty fences which is run over a distance of 4 miles and 856 yards (7,242 m).[2] It is presently scheduled to take place each year on a Saturday afternoon in early April.
It is the most valuable National Hunt event in Great Britain, and in 2010 it offered a total prize fund of £925,000.The race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year.
The race is run over two circuits of Aintree's National Course, which is triangular in shape and on which there are sixteen fences. All, except The Chair and the Water-Jump, are jumped twice. Some fences are notorious for their severity, particularly Becher's Brook and The Chair, although in recent years Aintree authorities have worked in conjunction with animal welfare organizations to minimize the danger of the jumps while still preserving them as formidable obstacles. The Grand National is the centerpiece of a three-day meeting, one of only four run at Aintree in the racing season.
It is one of ten events reserved for live broadcast on UK terrestrial television under the ITC Code on Sports and Other Listed Events. It is estimated that the Grand National is watched worldwide by over 600 million viewers.
The most recent running of the race took place on April 10, 2010, and was won by Tony McCoy and Don't Push It for trainer Jonjo O'Neill and owner J P McManus.
