2005 - Historical Events - On This Day On This Day Events 1 - 200 of 291 Jan 1 91st Rose Bowl: #6 Texas beats #13 Michigan, 38-37 Jan 1 34th Fiesta Bowl: #5 Utah beats #19 Pittsburgh, 35-7 Event of Interest Jan 3 Craig Ferguson becomes the host of "The Late Late Show" on CBS Actor & Comedian Craig Ferguson Jan 3 71st Sugar Bowl: #3 Auburn beats #8 Virginia Tech, 16-13 Jan 4 7th BCS National Championship: #1 Southern California beats #2 Oklahoma, 55-19, at 71st Orange Bowl (USC would later vacate Championship) Jan 5 Eris, the largest known dwarf planet in the solar system, is discovered by the team of Michael E. Brown, Chad Trujillo, and David L. Rabinowitz using images originally taken on October 21, 2003, at the Palomar Observatory.

Jan 6 Mississippi Civil Rights Workers Murders: Edgar Ray Killen is arrested as a suspect for the 1964 murders of three Civil Rights workers. Jan 9 The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, commonly known as the Naivasha Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement rebel group in Naivasha, Kenya. Election of Interest Jan 9 Elections are held to replace Yasser Arafat as head of the Palestine Liberation Organization. He is succeeded by Rawhi Fattouh. Palestinian Leader Jan 10 A mudslide occurs in La Conchita, California, killing 10 people, injuring many more and closing the Highway 101, the main coastal corridor between San Francisco and Los Angeles, for 10 days. Jan 10 10th Critics' Choice Movie Awards: Sideways wins Best Film Jan 12 Deep Impact (space mission) launches from Cape Canaveral on a Delta 2 rocket. Jan 14 Landing of the Huygens probe on Saturn's moon Titan. Jan 15 ESA's SMART-1 lunar orbiter discovers elements such as calcium, aluminum, silicon, iron, and other surface elements on the moon.

Jan 15 An intense solar flare blasts X-rays across the solar system. Film and TV Awards Jan 23 AFC Championship Game: New England Patriots beat Pittsburgh Steelers 41-27 Jan 23 NFC Championship Game: Philadelphia Eagles beat Atlanta Falcons 27-10 Jan 25 A stampede at the Mandher Devi temple in Mandhradevi in India kills at least 258. Event of Interest Jan 26 Condoleezza Rice is sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State, becoming the first African American woman to hold the post. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Jan 26 Glendale train crash: Two trains derail killing 11 and injuring 200 in Glendale, California, near Los Angeles. Jan 29 The first direct commercial flights from the mainland China (from Guangzhou) to Taiwan since 1949 arrived in Taipei. Shortly afterwards, a China Airlines carrier landed in Beijing.

Jan 30 93rd Men's Australian Open: Marat Safin beats Lleyton Hewitt (1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4) Tennis Open Feb 10 55th Berlin International Film Festival: "U-Carmen" wins the Golden Bear Feb 12 58th British Film and Television Awards (BAFTAS): "The Aviator" Best Film, Mike Leigh Best Director Feb 13 47th Grammy Awards: Here We Go Again, Maroon 5 wins Feb 13 NFL Pro Bowl: AFC beats NFC 38-27 Feb 14 Lebanon's former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, is assassinated, prompting the country to fall into chaos. Feb 14 Seven people are killed and 151 wounded in a series of bombings by suspected Al-Qaeda-linked militants that hit the Philippines' Makati financial district in Metro Manila, Davao City, and General Santos City. Feb 15 YouTube, the popular Internet site on which videos may be shared and viewed by others, is launched in the United States.

Feb 16 2004-05 NHL season is canceled by league commissioner Gary Bettman. This was the first time that a North American professional sports league had to cancel a season due to a labor dispute Feb 16 The Kyoto Protocol comes into force following its ratification by Russia. Event of Interest Feb 16 The UK version of "The Apprentice" with British business magnate Alan Sugar premieres on the BBC Computer Entrepreneur Feb 20 Spain becomes the first country to vote in a referendum on ratification of the proposed Constitution of the European Union, passing it by a substantial margin, but on a low turnout. Feb 20 54th NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 125-115 at Denver Feb 20 47th Daytona 500: Jeff Gordon wins (135.173 MPH) Feb 22 19th Soap Opera Digest Awards - General Hospital wins Event of Interest Feb 23 Slovakia Summit 2005 begins, marking the first occasion when a sitting American President visits Slovakia; George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin are in attendance.

43rd US President Feb 23 Vote of the controversial French law on colonialism, repealed start of 2006. Event of Interest Feb 26 Hosni Mubarak , President of Egypt, orders the constitution changed to allow multi-candidate presidential elections, asking Egyptian parliament to amend Article 76 Egyptian President Feb 26 25th Golden Raspberry Awards: Catwoman wins Feb 27 77th Academy Awards: "Million Dollar Baby", Jamie Foxx & Hilary Swank win Feb 28 Lebanon's pro-Syrian prime minister, Omar Karami, resigns amid large anti-Syria street demonstrations in Beirut. Feb 28 A suicide bombing at a police recruiting centre in Al Hillah, Iraq kills 127. Music Awards Ice Cube Mar 3 Mayerthorpe Incident: James Roszko murders four Royal Canadian Mounted Police constables during a drug bust in Rochfort Bridge, Alberta, then commits suicide. Deadliest peace-time incident for the RCMP since 1885 North-West Rebellion.

Mar 3 Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane around the world solo without any stops without refueling - a journey of 40,234 km/25,000 mi completed in 67 hours and 2 minutes. Mar 4 The car of released Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena is fired on by US soldiers in Iraq, causing the death of an Italian Secret Service Agent and injuring two passengers. Mar 4 United Nations warns that about 90 million Africans could be infected by HIV in the future without further action against the spread of the disease. Mar 5 The Burkinabé Party for Democracy and Socialism holds its first National Convention. Mar 7 Mass protest outside the National Assembly of Kuwait building for women's voting rights in Kuwait. Mar 12 Tung Chee Hwa, the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong, steps down from his post after his resignation is approved by the Chinese central government.

Mar 12 26th Big East Men's Basketball Tournament: Syracuse beats West Virginia, 68-59 Mar 13 Terry Ratzmann shoots and kills six members of the Living Church of God and the minister at Sheraton Inn in Brookfield, Wisconsin before killing himself. Mar 13 52nd ACC Men's Basketball Tournament: #3 Duke beats Georgia Tech, 69-64 Mar 13 46th SEC Men's Basketball Tournament: Florida beats Kentucky, 70-53 Mar 14 Cedar Revolution, where over one and a million Lebanese went into the streets of Beirut to demonstrate against the Syrian military presence in Lebanon, and against the government, following the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Mar 16 Israel officially hands over Jericho to Palestinian control. Mar 18 Terri Schiavo's feeding tube is removed at the request of her husband. Mar 20 A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hits Fukuoka, Japan, its first major quake in over 100 years. One person is killed, hundreds are injured and evacuated.

Mar 23 The United States 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, refuses to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. Mar 23 A major explosion at the Texas City Refinery kills 15 workers. Mar 25 36th NAACP Image Awards: "Ray" wins Outstanding Motion Picture Mar 26 The Taiwanese government calls on 1 million Taiwanese to demonstrate in Taipei, in opposition to the Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China. Around 200,000 to 300,000 attend the walk. Mar 28 The 2005 Sumatran earthquake rocks Indonesia, and at magnitude 8.7 is the second strongest earthquake since 1960. Apr 2 James Stewart Jr. becomes first African American to win a major motor sports event.

Apr 4 67th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: North Carolina beats Illinois 75-70 Apr 5 24th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Baylor beats Michigan State 84-62 Apr 6 Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani becomes the Iraqi president; Shiite Arab Ibrahim al-Jaafari is named premier the next day. Apr 7 The Head of government of the Federal District, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, faces an impeachment process at the Mexican Congress. Apr 9 158th Grand National: Ruby Walsh aboard Hedgehunter wins Golf Major Apr 10 Cricket Women's World Cup: Australia defeats India by 98 runs Apr 11 39th CMT Music Awards: Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson & Kenny Chesney wins Apr 14 The Oregon Supreme Court nullifies marriage licenses issued to gay couples a year earlier by Multnomah County.

Apr 17 51st British Academy Television Awards: "Little Britain" Best Comedy, "Sex Traffic" Best Drama Apr 18 109th Boston Marathon: Hailu Negussie of Ethiopia 1st man in 2:11:44 and Catherine Ndereba of Kenya 1st woman in 2:25:12 Election of Interest Apr 19 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger elected Pope Benedict XVI on the second day of the Papal conclave. 265th Pope Benedict XVI Apr 23 2005 NFL Draft: Alex Smith from University of Utah first pick from San Francisco 49ers Apr 24 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church taking the name Pope Benedict XVI . Apr 25 The final piece of the Obelisk of Axum is returned to Ethiopia after being stolen by the invading Italian army in 1937. Apr 25 Bulgaria and Romania sign accession treaties to join the European Union. Apr 25 107 die in Amagasaki rail crash in Japan.

Apr 26 Under international pressure, Syria withdraws the last of its 14,000 troop military garrison in Lebanon, ending its 29-year military domination of that country. Apr 27 The Superjumbo jet aircraft Airbus A380 makes its first flight from Toulouse, France Apr 28 The Patent Law Treaty goes into effect. Apr 29 Syria completes withdrawal from Lebanon, ending 29 years of occupation. Apr 29 New Zealand's first civil union takes place. May 5 Tony Blair 's Labour Party is re-elected for a third consecutive term in UK general election May 7 131st Kentucky Derby: Mike Smith aboard Giacomo wins in 2:02.75 May 8 The new Canadian War Museum opens, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of V-E Day. Event of Interest Arianna Huffington May 10 A hand grenade which was thrown by Vladimir Arutyunian lands about 65 feet (20 metres) from U.S. President George W. Bush while he was giving a speech to a crowd in Tbilisi, Georgia, but it malfunctions and does not detonate.

May 13 The Andijan Massacre occurs in Uzbekistan. May 14 Pope Benedict XVI observes his first beatification, elevating Blessed Marianne of Molokai on the road to canonization into sainthood. May 14 Former USS America (CV-66), a decommissioned supercarrier of the US Navy, deliberately sunk in the Atlantic Ocean after four weeks of live-fire exercises. Largest ship ever to be disposed of as a target in a military exercise. Film Premier May 15 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith directed by George Lucas , starring Ewan McGregor , Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman premieres at the Cannes Film Festival Actor May 16 Kuwait permits women's suffrage in a 35-23 National Assembly vote.

May 17 40th Academy of Country Music Awards: Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson & Keith Urban win May 21 130th Preakness: Jeremy Rose aboard Afleet Alex wins in 1:55.04 May 21 50th Eurovision Song Contest: Helena Paparizou for Greece wins singing "My Number One" in Kiev May 22 58th Cannes Film Festival: "The Child" directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne wins the Palme d'Or May 25 13th UEFA Champions League Final: Liverpool beats Milan (3-3, 3-2 on penalties) May 29 France resoundingly rejects the European Constitution. May 29 Indianapolis 500: Dan Wheldon wins in 3:10:21.0769 (253.637 km/h) May 31 Mark Felt, former FBI high ranking official revealed as "Deep Throat" source during Watergate investigations in "Vanity Fair" article Jun 1 The Dutch referendum on the European Constitution results in its rejection.

Jun 1 The longest oil/natural gas explosion in the Houston, Texas area occurs in Crosby, Texas. The drill was owned by the Louisiana Oil and Gas Company. Event of Interest Jun 3 'The Knight of Sainte-Hermine' by Alexandre Dumas is published in France by Editions Phébus, completed by Claude Schopp, 135 years after the author's death. Author Jun 5 59th Tony Awards: Monty Python's Spamalot & Doubt win Tennis Open Jun 6 The United States Supreme Court votes to ban medical marijuana in Gonzales v. Raich. Jun 11 137th Belmont: Jeremy Rose aboard Afleet Alex wins in 2:28.75 Jun 12 51st LPGA Championship won by Annika Sörenstam Event of Interest Jun 13 A jury in Santa Maria, California acquits pop singer Michael Jackson of molesting 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo at his Neverland Ranch.

King of Pop Jun 14 Asafa Powell of Jamaica sets a new Men's 100 meters world record of 9.77 at the Athens Olympic Stadium Film Release Jun 15 "Batman Begins", directed by Christopher Nolan , starring Christian Bale and Michael Caine first goes on wide release Actor Jun 19 105th US Golf Open: Michael Campbell shoots a 280 at Pinehurst GR NC Event of Interest Jun 23 San Antonio Spurs beat Detroit Pistons 4-3 in NBA finals MVP: Tim Duncan (his third), San Antonio NBA Power Forward Tim Duncan Jun 23 59th NBA Championship: San Antonio Spurs beat Detroit Pistons, 4 games to 3 Jun 27 AMD files broad antitrust complaints against Intel Corporation in U.S. Federal District Court, alleging abuse of monopoly powers and antitrust violations. Jun 28 A final design for Manhattan's Freedom Tower is formally unveiled. Jun 30 Spain legalizes same-sex marriage. Jul 2 South African tennis player Wesley Moodie and Australian Stephen Huss win the Wimbledon Men's double title Jul 3 The national law legalizing same-sex marriage takes effect in Spain.

Tennis Open Andy Roddick Jul 4 The Deep Impact collider hits the comet Tempel 1. Jul 7 Coordinated terrorist bomb blasts strike London's public transport system during the morning rush hour killing 52 and injuring 700 Jul 7 Influenced by Live 8, the G8 leaders pledge to double 2004 levels of aid to Africa from US$25 to US$50 billion by the year 2010. Jul 10 Hurricane Dennis slams into the Florida Panhandle causing billions of dollars in damage. Jul 12 76th All Star Baseball Game: AL wins 7-5 at Comerica Park, Detroit Jul 14 38th San Diego Comic-Con International opens at San Diego Convention Center Event of Interest Jul 15 After declining an offer to remain with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Mike Babcock is named head coach of the Detroit Red Wings NHL Coach Lance Armstrong Jul 20 Canada becomes the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, after the bill C-38 receives its Royal Assent.

Jul 21 Four terrorist bomber target London's public transportation system, exactly two weeks after the July 7 bombings, All four bombs fail to detonate and all four suspected suicide bombers are captured Jul 22 Jean Charles de Menezes is killed by police as the hunt begins for the London Bombers. See 7 July 2005 London bombings and 21 July 2005 London bombings Jul 23 Three bombs explode in the Naama Bay area of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, killing 88 people. Jul 24 92nd Tour de France: no winner; Lance Armstrong retires after winning a record seventh consecutive victory but disqualified in 2012 for doping Jul 26 Space Shuttle program: STS-114 Mission - Launch of Discovery, NASA's first scheduled flight mission after the Columbia Disaster in 2003. Jul 26 Mumbai, India receives 99.5cm of rain (39.17 inches) within 24 hours, bringing the city to a halt for over 2 days.

Jul 26 Samir Geagea, the Lebanese Forces (LF) leader, is released after spending 11 years in a solitary confinement. His release came after the end of the Syrian occupation to Lebanon. Jul 27 STS-114: NASA grounds the Space shuttle, pending an investigation of the external tank's continued foam-shedding problem Jul 28 The Provisional Irish Republican Army call an end to their thirty year long armed campaign in Northern Ireland Jul 28 A tornado touches down in a residential area in south Birmingham, England, causing £4,000,000 worth of damages and injuring 39 people. Jul 29 Astronomers announce their discovery of Eris. Aug 3 President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya of Mauritania is overthrown in a military coup while attending the funeral of King Fahd in Saudi Arabia. Event of Interest Aug 4 Prime Minister Paul Martin announces that Michaëlle Jean will be Canada's 27th and first black Governor General.

21st Prime Minister of Canada Aug 6 10th World Championships in Athletics open at Helsinki, Finland Aug 7 10th World Championships in Athletics: Justin Gatlin wins 100m Aug 11 10th World Championships in Athletics: Justin Gatlin wins 200m Aug 12 Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, is fatally shot by an LTTE (Tamil Tigers) sniper at his home. Aug 12 An F2 tornado strikes the coal mining town of Wright, Wyoming, destroying nearly 100 homes and killing two people. Aug 12 Civil unrest provoked in the Maldives Aug 12 An F1 tornado strikes Glen Cove, New York, a rare event on Long Island Aug 14 10th World Championships in Athletics close at Helsinki, Finland Golf Major Aug 16 West Caribbean Airways Flight 708 crashes near Machiques, Venezuela, killing all 160 aboard. Aug 17 The first forced evacuation of settlers, as part of the Israel unilateral disengagement plan, starts.

Aug 18 Dennis Rader is sentenced to 175 years in prison for the BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) serial killings in Sedgwick County, Kansas. Aug 18 Massive power blackout hits the Indonesian island of Java, affecting almost 100 million people. Aug 19 The first-ever joint military exercise between Russia and China, called Peace Mission 2005 begins Aug 19 A series of strong storms lashes Southern Ontario spawning several tornadoes as well as creating extreme flash flooding within the city of Toronto and its surrounding communities. In Toronto, it is also dubbed as the Toronto Supercell. Aug 23 Hurricane Katrina forms over the Bahamas, later becoming a category 5 hurricane Aug 23 TANS Peru Flight 204 crashes near Pucallpa, Peru, killing 41. Aug 29 Hurricane Katrina makes its 2nd landfall as a category 3 hurricane devastating much of the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida Panhandle. Kills more than 1,836, causes over $115 billion in damage.

Aug 31 A stampede on Al-Aaimmah bridge in Baghdad kills 1,199 people. Aug 31 62nd Venice Film Festival: "Brokeback Mountain" directed by Ang Lee wins Golden Lion Sep 1 Seven members and former members of the AFL-CIO form a new trade union organization, the Change to Win Federation. Music Awards Kanye West Sep 3 20th College Football Crab Bowl Classic: Maryland beats Navy 23-20 in Baltimore Sep 5 Mandala Airlines Flight 091 crashes into a heavily-populated residential of Sumatra, Indonesia, killing 104 people on board and at least 39 persons on ground. Sep 7 First presidential election was held in Egypt. Sep 8 Two EMERCOM Il-76 aircraft land at a disaster aid staging area at Little Rock Air Force Base; the first time Russia has flown such a mission to North America. Sep 11 The State of Israel completes its unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip.

Film Release Sep 11 "Pride & Prejudice", the film adaptation of Jane Austen 's novel of the same name, starring Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet, is released Actress Aintree delays Grand National for royal wedding | Media | The Guardian Aintree delays Grand National for royal wedding Tuesday 5 April 2005 11.34 EDT First published on Tuesday 5 April 2005 11.34 EDT Share on Messenger Close The organisers of the Grand National have delayed the horse race by 25 minutes to avoid a clash with the royal wedding and allow the BBC to cover both events in full. The corporation is to offer live coverage of both events on BBC1 as part of a compromise schedule hastily drawn up to make room for the marriage blessing in Windsor which was postponed from Friday to Saturday because of the Pope's funeral. Coverage of the Aintree meeting, hosted by Sue Barker and Clare Balding, was due to start at 1pm on BBC1 and take in three other races before the main event at 3.45pm.

But this afternoon the racecourse bosses announced they would put back the race - to 4.10pm - to allow the BBC cover Prince Charles's marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles at 2.30pm. The clash with the Grand National left the BBC in a quandary - the horse race is one of the most popular sporting events of the calendar - and last year attracted more than 10m viewers. Earlier the BBC had already re-arranged its schedule to try and cope with both events with coverage of the wedding blessing on Saturday to start at 1pm and finish at 3.30pm. This has now been changed again after the BBC was notified by Aintree of its separate plans for a delayed off. The wedding broadcast, including coverage of the blessing at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle - which is to be attended by 750 invited guests including the prime minister - will run until 3.30pm, when BBC1 will switch to Grand National Grandstand - just 15 minutes before the famous steeplechase begins. The horseracing coverage will be switched to BBC2 between 1pm and 3.30pm.

Sporting Index has wasted no time opening a book on whether the royal wedding or the Grand National will get the best ratings, predicting 18 million viewers for Charles and Camilla's nuptials and 13 million for the action from Aintree. The Grand National is normally broadcast on BBC1 and BBC bosses have been loth to squander the huge audiences it attracts. Last year ratings peaked at more than 10 million for the end of the race at around 4pm. Sophie Raworth and Huw Edwards were due to anchor the BBC's coverage of the royal wedding on Friday, which was to feature 40 cameras - including 25 on the route between Windsor Castle and the register office. James Naughtie was to have hosted BBC Radio 4's coverage, while Nicholas Owen and Katie Derham had been lined up by ITV. · To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 7239 9857 · If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication". Grand National - The Full Wiki The Full Wiki Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article!

This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . Related top topics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about the British horse race. For other uses, see Grand National (disambiguation) . Grade 3 race A Grand National Impression (1926) Location Maximum: 11 st 10 lb Purse £ 900,000 (2009) 1st: £506,970 The Grand National is a famous National Hunt horse race which is held at Aintree in England . It is a handicap chase run over a distance of about 4 miles and 856 yards [1] (approximately 7¼ km), and during its running there are thirty fences to be jumped. 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 2009 it offered a total prize fund of £900,000. The race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year.

It is also one of the most controversial, due to the injuries and fatalities suffered by participating horses. This makes it a target for animal rights groups, which have campaigned to have it banned. [2] [3] In one hundred and sixty-two runnings of the race there have been fifty-eight equine fatalities, four of which came in one year, 1954. Contents 9 External links Event The race is run over two circuits of Aintree's National Course, which is triangular in shape and on which there are sixteen fences. [1] All, except The Chair and the Water-Jump, are jumped twice. Some fences are notorious for their severity, particularly Becher's Brook [4] and The Chair, although in recent years this severity has been much reduced due to pressure from various animal rights groups. The Grand National is the centrepiece 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.

[5] In 2006 the Grand National sponsors John Smith's Brewery launched the John Smith's People's Race which gives 10 members of the public the chance to ride in a flat race at Aintree on Grand National day. [6] From a betting perspective, the Grand National forms the second leg of the Spring Double – the first leg is the Lincoln Handicap . A fictional account of a young girl training the winner of the Grand National by Enid Bagnold was made into a film, National Velvet , starring the young Elizabeth Taylor as the heroine, Velvet Brown. The events surrounding the 1981 National, and the winning jockey, Bob Champion , were also dramatised in the film Champions . History Becher's Brook , 1890, engraving of horses jumping the famous fence in the Grand National steeplechase at Aintree The Big Raspers At Aintree , 1927 painting of an incident at the Grand National The event was founded by William Philip Molyneux, 2nd Earl of Sefton , on land he owned at Aintree.

There is much debate among historians regarding the first official race held and the majority of leading published historians such as John Pinfold, for example now prefer the idea that the first running was in 1836 and was won by The Duke . [7] This same horse triumphed again in 1837, [8] while Sir William was the winner in 1838. These races have long been disregarded because of the belief that the 1837 and 1838 runnings took place at Maghull and not Aintree . In the last twenty years, several race historians have unearthed evidence that these three races were all run over the same course at Aintree and were regarded as having been Grand Nationals up until the mid 1860s. [7] To date though, their calls for the Nationals of 1836–38 to be restored to the record books have been unsuccessful. Between the 1838 and 1839 runnings three major events occurred to catapult the Liverpool race from a small local affair to a national event.

The Great St Albans chase, which had clashed with the Liverpool, was not renewed after 1838, which left a major hole in the chasing calendar, The railway arrived in Liverpool, which made transportation to the course by rail a possibility for the first time and a committee was formed to better organise the event. These three factors led to a much more highly publicised race in 1839 which attracted a larger field of top quality horses and riders, greater press coverage and an increased attendance on the day. Over time the first three runnings of the event were quickly forgotten to secure the 1839 race its place in history as the first official running of the race. It was won by the aptly named horse, Lottery , ridden by Jem Mason . For three years during World War I , while Aintree racecourse was closed, an alternative race was run at Gatwick Racecourse, on the site of the present Gatwick Airport . The first of these races, in 1916, was called the Racecourse Association Steeplechase, and in the following two years the race was known as the War National Steeplechase.

The races at Gatwick are not always recognised as "Grand Nationals," however, and their results are often omitted from winners' lists. During the 1950s the Grand National was dominated by Vincent O'Brien who trained the winner of the race for three consecutive years between 1953 and 1955. Early Mist won the race in 1953 with Royal Tan winning in 1954 and the hat-trick of victories for the Irish trainer was completed by Quare Times in 1955. The 1967 running was won by rank outsider Foinavon , ridden by Johnny Buckingham, after a melee at the 23rd fence when two loose horses pulled up in front of the field, caused the many others to stop or refuse. Foinavon was running so far behind that Buckingham managed to avoid the incident and scrape round ahead of 17 remounted horses, coming home at odds of 100/1. The 23rd fence has since been named The Foinavon Fence.

By far the most successful horse in Grand National history was Red Rum , the only horse to win three times, in 1973, 1974, and in 1977. He also came in second in the two intervening years, 1975 and 1976. In 1973, he beat the champion Crisp who had to carry 12 stone, in what is arguably the most memorable Grand National of all time. [9] In 1993, the result of the race was declared void after a series of incidents at the start meant the starting tape failed to rise correctly, causing several horses and jockeys to be caught up in it. A false start was declared, but lack of communication between course officials meant that 30 out of the 39 jockeys did not realise this and started to race. Course officials tried to stop the horses by waving red flags next to The Chair at the end of the first circuit. However, many jockeys thought that these people were protesters and so continued to race. Peter Scudamore stopped only because he saw his usual trainer Martin Pipe waving frantically at him.

Seven horses ran the course in its entirety, forcing a void result. The first past the post of the horses that ran was Esha Ness , ridden by John White and trained by Jenny Pitman . In 1997, the Saturday meeting was abandoned after two coded bomb threats were received, reportedly from the IRA . 60,000 spectators, jockeys, race personnel and local residents were evacuated, and the course was secured by police. The race was eventually run on the Monday, with the meeting organisers offering free admission. Some 20,000 people were left stranded over the weekend, with cars and coaches locked in the course. With limited accommodation in the city and surrounding areas, local residents opened their doors and took in many of those stranded. Many well known jockeys have failed to win the Grand National. These include champion jockeys such as Terry Biddlecombe , John Francome , Josh Gifford , Stan Mellor, Jonjo O'Neill (who never finished the race), Fred Rimell and Peter Scudamore . More recently, multiple champion and record holder Tony McCoy has failed to win the race along with contemporaries Richard Johnson , and Adrian Maguire .

Three jockeys who led over the last fence in the National and just lost the race on the run-in ended up as TV racing pundits. These were Lord Oaksey on Carrickbeg in 1963, Norman Williamson on Mely Moss in 2000, and Richard Pitman on Crisp in 1973. The same fate occurred to Pitman's son Mark on Garrison Savannah in 1991. Twelve mares have won the race: Miss Mowbray (1852), Anatis (1860), Jealousy (1861), Emblem (1863), Emblematic (1864), Casse Tete (1872), Empress (1880), Zoedone (1883), Frigate (1889), Shannon Lass (1902), Sheila's Cottage (1948) and Nickel Coin (1951).

Records Most successful horse (3 wins): Red Rum – 1973, 1974, 1977 (also finished second in 1975 and 1976) Leading jockey (5 wins): George Stevens – Freetrader (1856), Emblem (1863), Emblematic (1864), The Colonel (1869, 1870) Leading trainer (4 wins): Fred Rimell – E.S.B.

(1956), Nicolaus Silver (1961), Gay Trip (1970), Rag Trade (1976) Ginger McCain – Red Rum (1973, 1974, 1977), Amberleigh House (2004) Leading owner (3 wins): James Machell – Disturbance (1873), Reugny (1874), Regal (1876) Noel Le Mare – Red Rum (1973, 1974, 1977) Fastest winning time – 8m 47.8s, Mr Frisk (1990) [10] Oldest winning horse – Peter Simple , aged 15 (1853) Youngest winning horse – Alcibiade (1865), Regal (1876), Austerlitz (1877), Empress (1880), Lutteur III (1909), all aged 5 Oldest winning jockey – Dick Saunders, aged 48 (1982) Youngest winning jockey – Bruce Hobbs , aged 

17 (1938) Longest odds winner – Tipperary Tim (1928), Gregalach (1929), Caughoo (1947), Foinavon (1967), Mon Mome (2009), all 100/1 Shortest odds winner – Poethlyn (1919), 11/4 Largest field – 66 runners (1929) Smallest field – 10 runners (1883) Most horses to finish – 23 (1984) Fewest horses to finish – 2 (1928) Winners Aintree publish a roll of honour in their race cards each year and is based on a list complied largely from the fading memories of aging racing enthusiasts sometime around 1880-1890.

By their own admission Aintree agree that their honours record prior to 1860 is notoriously inaccurate therefore the British Horseracing Board's records taken from the press accounts of the time have been used as a more reliable source for the connections of winners prior to 1860. a The 1843 winner Vanguard was trained at Lord Chesterfield's private stables at Bretby Hall . b The race was abandoned from 1941 to 1945 because of World War II . c The 1993 running was declared void because some of the horses failed to be called back after a false start. Unofficial winners Pre-1839 The first official running of the "Grand National" is now considered to be the 1839 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase. There had been a similar race for several years prior to this, but its status as an official Grand National was revoked some time between 1862 and 1873. Year Gwladys Peel Notes 1836 – The Duke won the inaugural Great Liverpool Steeplechase, which would be later renamed the Grand National.

1905 – Kirkland, based in Pembrokeshire , is the only winner to be trained in Wales . 1923 – Sergeant Murphy became the first American -bred horse to win the Grand National. 1926 – William Watkinson recorded the first riding success for Australia . The Tasmanian-born rider was killed at Bogside in Scotland less than three weeks later. 1927 – The first BBC radio commentary of the race, by Meyrick Good and George Allison . 1934 – The only horse to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season – Golden Miller . 1938 – The American-bred Battleship , son of the famous Man o' War , became the first (and so far only) horse to have won both the Grand National and the American Grand National (won four years earlier). 1951 - Nickel Coin is the 13th and last mare to win the race.

1956 – Devon Loch , owned by the Queen Mother and ridden by Dick Francis , was in the lead and certain to win when he inexplicably leapt and unseated the jockey on the run-in, 50 yards (45 m) from the finish, giving victory to E.S.B. 1960 – The race was televised for the first time. Since then it has always been shown by the BBC. 1961 – The most recent grey horse to win the race – Nicolaus Silver. The only previous grey to win was The Lamb (1868 and 1871). 1962 – Wyndburgh finished runner-up for the third time, but was never to win the race. 1967 – A pile up at the 23rd fence held up many horses in the race, allowing 100/1 outsider, Foinavon , to win. 1968 – The favourite for the race, Different Class, was owned by actor Gregory Peck . 1975 – The second Cheltenham Gold Cup winner to win the Grand National – L'Escargot.

1977 – Red Rum 's third victory in the Grand National. 1977 – The first female jockey rode in the race. Charlotte Brew rode 200/1 shot Barony Fort, who refused at the fourth fence from home. 1979 – Rubstic, based in Roxburghshire , was the first winner to be trained in Scotland . 1981 – Bob Champion , who had been diagnosed with cancer and told he only had months to live in 1979, was the winning jockey on Aldaniti , who had almost been retired because of leg trouble. A film was made of their story entitled Champions . 1982 – The first female jockey to complete the race – Geraldine Rees, finished 8th (last) on 66/1 outsider Cheers. 1983 – The first woman to train the winner – Jenny Pitman , with Corbiere . 1990 – Jockey Chris Grant came second in the race for the third time (previous years were 1986 and 1988).

1991 – The race was won by a horse called Seagram – coincidentally the race was sponsored at the time by the company Seagram . The company had previous chances to buy the horse. 1992 – Party Politics won the race just five days before the 1992 UK General Election . Carl Llewellyn got his winning ride only because the horse's regular jockey Andrew Adams was injured. In 1998 he got another winning ride, this time because of an injury to that horse's regular jockey, Tom Jenks. 1993 – The race was declared void after many of the riders did not hear the starter's recall. The first horse past the post was Esha Ness , ridden by John White. 1997 – The delayed race (rescheduled 48 hours later after a suspected IRA bomb threat) was the last of 50 Nationals (including the void race of 1993) to be commentated on by Peter O'Sullevan . 2001 – Richard Guest's winning ride on Red Marauder subsequently won the Lester Award for "Jump Ride of the Year".

2005 – The race was moved back by 25 minutes owing to the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles . 2009 - Mon Mome, trained by Venetia Williams, became the longest price winner since Foinavon in 1967. See also

Question: In 2005, what major sporting event was delayed 25 minutes due to the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles?
Answer: Grand National