World's most famous race
 

a heads up that it is taking place this Saturday - the Grand National. It should be a great race as usual. I'd love to see one of the previous winners Hedgehunter or Numbersixvalverde win it but Point Barrow looks like the ideal type!
Hopefully, all the horses and riders will arrive home safely!

I will disagree entirely with that... in the States the Derby obviously is more popular, but when taking the whole world into account it is certainly the Grand National.
Who name is more recognisable worldwide - Red Rum or Secretariat? Im sure its the former!

Are you including South America and Asia when you say worldwide?
I highly doubt that the Grand National is more famous if you include the whole world. First of all because I don't belive steeplechase is more popular than flat racing worldwide.

i dont think it matters that steeplechasing isnt as popular around the world -its the actual event. People are all very aware of the Superbowl without actually following American Football.

Ive been in the middle of absolute nowhere on Grand National day and still somehow, seen newspaper and television reports on it!

Can't wait for The Chair.

Had Innox who went down at the first last year. Shortest bet I ever made.

Too bad it won't be on TVG this year, I'll have to watch on the computer.

from the Grand National website the estimated TV audience worldwide for this years race is 600 million

http://www.grandnational.org.uk/

2004 Kentucky Derby was watched by 14.6 million viewers in the US. Do you think that there are 583.4 million viewers of the Kentucky Derby outside the US?

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/New...ws3monday.html

I have no clue. Where are the six hundred million people that watch this race? What countries? That number is to me impossible to believe. if its true fine, I don't really care.

I've watched this type of racing and don't find it very interesting. In fact, to be quite honest it seems cruel.

anyway, good luck with whomever you are backing.

I know its hard to beleive that the World doesnt being and end at the borders of the USA but that is actually the truth

This information is pretty accurate. The Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National are extremely famous and popular.

When I went to Australia, I didn't meet one person who knew too much about the Kentucky Derby or that it was even ran at Churchill Downs.

I think ArlJim is understimating the reach of the once mighty British Empire!!!

you're barking up the wrong tree buddy.

that is not my position whatsoever. i didn't doubt the number because of some belief that anything big or important has to be from the US perspective.
I doubted it just because I am sceptical by nature and the number seems too high. its not like I would be upset to find out that another race was more popular than the Kentucky Derby outside of the US. No big deal.

actually I follow international flat racing everywhere, in every country.

I have learned something new about the popularity of the Grand National. thank you.

The US was once part of this empire, no? :)


Other than Australia and Europe, what countries are making up the 600Million number?

Well its not only the old Empire countries...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_d...al/1235924.stm

WOW! its in China now. 200 million there alone.

I had no idea. I see that I can watch it on Bris Saturday morning. I will give it a look to see what its all about.

40 horses going 4 miles over some of the biggest jump fences anywhere. Oh yes and its a handicap with top weight Hedgehunter carrying 162 and bottom wieght carrying around 140

There is nothing like it.

well there certainly is Nothing like that over here that I know of.

I'm always up for something new so I will give it a look.

Take the class, a lot of them don't belong......

box 5 and pray they don't fall

I don't plan to wager, wouldn't know how to approach it. I will pray that the horses come through this. If it turns out that horses are falling left and right I will be checking out. Not my kind of entertainment.

Don't they also run the bulls this time of year at Pamplona?:)
When they start putting numbers on the sides of the bulls and taking wagers, I might start watching this one also.:D

Well they will be falling..... so you might take a raincheck.

http://www.attheraces.com/national/

good info here including replay of last years race...

thanks for the link, I will review it a bit tomorrow.

I did try to run the replay from last year, however it wouldn't run and I got the message "sorry, this video is for UK audiences only":eek:

As a proud former colony, I would think that we are entitled to at least have a look at the replay!

Sorry about that. I should have checked it before posting. I cant watch it either

just to clarify, Red Rum wouldnt be considered the best steeplechaser of all time, simply the most recognised for winning the Grand National 3 times and finishing 2nd twice. the greatest ever steeplechaser unarguably goes to Arkle!

Chris,

the only difference between steeplechases and hurdles is the size of the obstacles. I believe that when ye guys say steeplechasing, to us, it is actually racing over hurdles. Thats what i saw in Saratoga anyway.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most prestigious weight for age steeplechase. Its run over 3miles 2 and ahalf furlongs (i think, or thereabouts!). the most prestigious hurdle race is the champion hurdle run in Cheltenham over 2 miles. The only horse ever to win both was the best mare of all time - Dawn Run.

alot of horses start off with hurdles and progress onto fences as they get older, but some have mixed the two with success. Furthermore, plenty jumpers race on the flat as well.

I have to admit, unfortunately, that the Derby in Churchill is far more prestigious these days than the original Derby in Epsom!

and the TV audience quoted for the Grand National also doesnt take into account those in Betting Shops ( many many more than the number of OTB's in the US) or on race tracks in Brittain not to mention the rest of the world.

The shortcoming in the ratings calculations you mention is also applicable to ratings generated for the Grand National also.

Forgive me for being lazy..... I've not kept up on the news the past few days.

These are the horses i appreciate from afar..... too painful to watch yet i root for them and follow some.

Numbersix..... hope he can do it again. He was my pick last year.

I always end up rooting for Monk too..... is he likely?

I know, I know..... it's been a while since he's had a win, but still... I just like him.

My other question, and sorry for being lazy but i figure you guys will know... does Ruby have the Hedgehunter mount? Thanks.

For the love of God come home safe, ALL of you.

Declared runners.....

Hedgehunter, Eurotrek, L'Ami, Monkerhostin, Thisthatandtother, Billyvoddan, Numbersixvalverde, Idle Talk, Royal Auclair, Cloudy Bays, Knowhere, Kelami, Point Barrow, Celtic Son, Simon, Ballycassidy, Clan Royal, Gallant Approach, Livingstonebramble, Dun Doire, Kandjar D'Allier, Slim Pickings, Zabenz, Bewleys Berry, Longshanks, Bothar Na, Graphic Approach, Homer Wells, Liberthine, Silver Birch, Philson Run, Puntal, The Outlier, Tikram, McKelvey, Naunton Brook, Jack High, Sonevafushi, Joes Edge, Le Duc.

Come home safe.

Im off tomorrow to Aintree so will give my quick opinion. Ill take these 4 - Hedgehunter - laid out for the race. has bags of class.
Point Barrow - the right type. An Irish National winner
Zabenz - will love the ground and jumps well. trip might stretch him but could have some fun and
Jack High - feather weight, he can run well!

Yes he does.

Thanks.

i guess he was involved in an accident today..... hope the poor horse is okay. There was no mention.....

Here's free video form for anyone interested.....

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/free_video_form.sd

On Monk..... :)

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...al_101937.html

* * *

Monet's Garden won today!

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...al_152723.html

Backed Point Barrow who went down at the first this year. Next year I'll post who I am backing and everyone can stay away.

I am a Grand National Mush.

Is he alright?

Silver Birch..... not one I'm familiar with but congrats to him and anyone who picked him.

Hope everyone came home okay. On another board they're saying the fallers are all okay. This is why i can't watch it.....

Just reading through this. I'm with you brockguy....... this is probably the most famous race in the world.

Ask anyone in the world who has no connection with racing what won the Grand National and 8 times out of 10 they will know. Ask the same person who won the KY Derby and i doubt any would have a clue.

It is the people's race where everyone gets involved and has a bet.

Easily the most famous race in the world, no matter how much people like/dislike the event.