The Grand National is one of the most iconic horse races in the world, with millions tuning in each year to watch the thrilling event. But the Grand National is also an extremely dangerous race, and there have been multiple instances of jockeys being injured or killed while competing. The question then arises – has any jockey ever died in the Grand National?
History of the Grand National
The Grand National is a steeplechase race that was first held in Aintree, England in 1839. It is the most famous of all National Hunt racing events, and is held annually on the first Saturday of April.
The race consists of two laps of the Aintree Racecourse and is a distance of four and a half miles. It is known for its challenging terrain, with 30 fences to be jumped in total.
Notable Fatalities in the Grand National
Throughout the history of the Grand National, there have been several notable fatalities both of horses and jockeys.
Fatalities of Horses
The most famous horse fatality in the Grand National took place in 1967, when a racehorse named Anglo was killed after being thrown from the fifth fence. In 1998, a horse named Doleman also died after being injured at the Canal Turn fence.
Fatalities of Jockeys
There have been several jockey fatalities in the Grand National throughout its history. The first jockey to be killed in the race was in 1836, when jockey John Houlston died after being thrown from his horse.
In 1933, jockey Bill Dunwoody died after being thrown from his horse at the sixth fence. In 1977, jockey John Thorne suffered a fatal fall at the third fence.
Safety Measures
In response to the fatalities that have occurred in the Grand National, the Aintree Racecourse has implemented several safety measures in order to reduce the risk of injury or death.
Some of these measures include:
- Fences: The fences on the course have been modified to make them safer for horses and jockeys. The height of the fences has been reduced, and the width of the fences has been increased.
- Medical Team: A medical team is on-site at all times during the race, and is trained to respond quickly to any injuries that may occur.
- Safety Equipment: All jockeys are required to wear safety equipment such as helmets and body protectors.
Jockeys’ Attitude Towards Safety
Despite the safety measures that have been implemented, the Grand National remains an extremely dangerous race, and it is up to each jockey to make their own decisions about safety.
Many jockeys are willing to take risks in order to win the race, and there have been several instances in which jockeys have ignored the safety instructions given to them by the racecourse officials.
Deaths Since Safety Measures Implemented
Despite the safety measures that have been implemented, there have been several fatalities since they were put in place.
In 2005, jockey Tony McCoy suffered a fatal fall at the fourth fence. In 2009, jockey Jamie Codd was killed after being thrown from his horse at the first fence.
Conclusion
To answer the question of whether any jockey has ever died in the Grand National, the answer is yes. Throughout its long history, there have been several instances of jockeys being killed in the race, despite the safety measures that have been put in place.
It is up to each jockey to make their own decisions about safety, and many are willing to take risks in order to win the race. While it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of death in the Grand National, it is important that jockeys understand the risks involved and take all necessary precautions.