Fairyhouse was the site of the first Irish Grand National in 1870. The race paid out 167 sovereigns to a horse named Sir Robert Peele. The race has been run faithfully every year since with two exceptions. The race was canceled in 1941 because of the Second World War and was canceled in 1919 because of the First World War.

The Irish Grand National is an offshoot of steeplechasing which gained popularity in the late 1700s in Ireland and England. The Irish firmly embraced steeplechasing in the mid-1800s. 

Steeplechasing engaged riders and horses over rough terrain in what was known then as pounding races. Riders picked whatever route that suited them. 

The winner was usually the rider who pounded his animal the hardest over the course and outlasted the other riders. The horse that could maneuver the uneven terrain and make jumps over all manner of obstacles usually won these pounding races. 

To cut back on injuries to both riders and horses, race participants agreed to a finishing-point for these races. The finishing mark was usually a church steeple. This implementation of a racing regimen appealed to the country gentlemen of that day who began attending the races and making wagers. Besides collecting successful bets, winners also were showered with prizes of fine port, claret and, of course, rum. 

The earliest use and official recording of the word steeplechase appeared in The Irish Racing Calendar in 1807.

Race marshals in Bedford, England, organized and set out a measured and precise steeplechase course in 1810. This course spanned three miles. It boasted eight fences to jump with a height of four to six-feet. 

This organization of steeplechase courses swept both England and Ireland for the coming decades and attracted large crowds of spectators and gamblers. 

In the 1860s, race organizers started regulating these races, setting rules for courses, riders and horses. The National Hunt Committee is now the chief arbiter and regulator for steeplechase races.

The steeplechase race hit its peak in 1870 with the start of the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. The contest at Fairyhouse is now the most exciting and prestigious steeplechase race in the world.

The race has come a long way from its 167 sovereigns pay-out in 1870 to the horse Sir Robert Peele, compared to €250,000 on offer today.

The race has had its remarkable moments from the beginning. 

Scots Grey became the first horse to win the Irish Grand National twice, winning the second time in 1875. The Gift had two consecutive wins in 1883 and 1884. 

The incredible win at the Irish Grand National by the six-year-old mare Alike is still talked of today. Ridden by five-foot four-inch owner Frank Wise, he rode Alike to a win in 1929. Wise also rode with a wooden leg and with three fingers missing. 

The first horse to win both the Irish Grand National and the Aintree Grand National in the same year was Ascetic’s Silver in 1906. 

Other notable horses that have equaled this feat are Bobbyjo, Rhyme ‘n’ Reason and Numbersixvalverde.

It’s the horse Brown Lad, though, that has been immortalized as the only one to win the Irish Grand National three times, in 1975, 1976 and 1978. In the last 50 years, Brown Lad is the only horse to have won this race more than once.

Legendary trainer Tom Dreaper has won the Irish Grand National 10 times. To make this feat even more amazing, he won these races with 10 different horses.

In 2011 the Irish Grand National was won by a female jockey - Nina Carberry (see photo above)

“Another year, another Grand National horse race.” That is what many are thinking as the next race draws near. The 2011 horse races were extremely exciting with Ballabriggs taking home the national win. The winning horse, with a 14-1 shot, was left dehydrated less than 24 hours of the most important race. Luckily, Ballabriggs was able to pull it together and come out on top. His jockey, Jason Maguire was very happy to win after he came very close in 2007 at Silver Birch. The trainer of the winning horse couldn’t contain his excitement, for this was the fifth victory for the McCain Family. As the 2011 Grand National races ended, many were left pondering what was to come in 2012.

As one of the world’s most prestigious races, the Grand National has 40 horses

The Grand National has a free bet offer in 2012 from Paddy Power. Since the race is quickly approaching, horse race enthusiasts are eager to place their bets. As with every year, the 2012 Grand National will consist of a variety of events. The first day will consists of an event called “Liverpool Day.” “Liverpool Day” is an entertainment filled event that is in its third year. Bands from all over Great Britain come to Aintree to perform for the spectators. The second event is “Ladies Day,” where ladies come in their best fashion straight from the catwalks. Many have regarded “Ladies Day” as the biggest style and social event in the North West. Hats are always in style on “Ladies Day.” Women wear all types of hats and fascinators in all colours. Last but certainly not least, the Grand National horse races takes place on the third day to round off the week’s events.

Spectators all over Great Britain are looking forward to the Grand National, which will take place on April 14th, 2012. It is sure to be a great and exciting event for anyone who loves horse races. 

Unbelieveably it is now thirty years since Bob Champion won the Grand National on Aldaniti.  In 1979 Bob was riding high in his career as a jockey, when he was given the news that he had cancer in two parts of his body and possibly only a few months to live.  The dream that he might one day win the Grand National on Aldaniti, who had suffered serious leg inuries and had almost been put down at one stage, kept him going through the long, arduous months of chemotherapy and in 1981 Bob's dream was realised when he rode Aldaniti to victory at Aintree.  His personal victory against cancer and Aldaniti's triumph over adversity captured the public's attention and the support he received led to the foundation of The Bob Champion Cancer Trust in 1983.

In 1986 The Bob Champion Research Unit within the Royal Marsden Hospital in Surrey was opened and has supported research in to many aspects of cancer and it's treatment.  1992 saw the opening of the Bob Champion Lounge, a leisure area for patients requiring long term in patient treatment, in 2000, in conjunction with the Institute of Cancer Research, the first male dedicated cancer research facility in Europe, The Bob Champion Research Centre for Urological Cancers was opened.  The number of men with testicular cancer has doubled in twenty years and without the help of many fundraisers the invaluable work done by the Trust would not be possible.

In 2010 Alex Embiricos, the daughter of Aldaniti's owners, cycled 993 miles from Land's End to John O' Groats on her bike 'Ruby Walsh' and raised a fabulous 18K for Bob's Trust.  In May 2012, Alex will be repeating the gruelling journey and is inviting 35 members of the public to join her.  The bikes will be jockey themed and Alex said " I had an amazing time last year and this year would love to get an 'AP', a 'Lester' and a 'Frankie' to join me, all again in the name of raising money for The Bob Champion Cancer Trust."  The trip will take an amazingly scenic route but will be at least as challenging as the thirty fence Grand National course !.  Bicycle names will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so if you have a a 'favourite' you need to get in quickly.  Bob Champion will be the starter and will join the riders on, of course, Aldaniti!.  Each cycle 'Jockey' will need to raise a minimum £1000, in addition to the trip's cost of £1500, every rider will be entered into a raffle with a prize of a week's R & R at a Portugese villa. The cycle ride will take place from 14th - 25th May 2012 and it is hoped other famous names will also do a few miles.  If you can help in any way, find further details at www.bobchampion.org.uk or call 0207 924 3553

Being a female jockey is sadly still fairly unusual. When you consider how many women are involved in the training of horses it's a strange state of affairs that so few are currently working as professional jockeys.

One woman who is blazing a trail for female jockeys it Hayley Turner. Hayley is one of only four women to 'ride out her claim' in the United Kingdom - which basically means she worked out her Jockey Apprenticeship.

At 28 years old Hayley has already ridden 100 winners! and will no doubt go on to ride 100s more. Hayley has a great website that allows you to keep up to date with all her rides. You can also follow her on twitter.

As a jockey she is well worth following, but also she is very attractive! which is sexist, I know! But if you're going to lose money on the horses, you might aswell lose it on an attractive blonde.

The next few months will see some of the countries most exciting race meetings held, our T.V. screens will be filled with The Grand National at Aintree, The Cheltenham festival and Royal Ascot and the racegoers will be a pretty even mix of the sexes, however the same even mix of the sexes won't be seen amongst the jockeys on the track.

It seems rather strange that there are still so few women jockeys especially when you consider the number of teenage girls to be found working long hours for poor pay because they love working with horses. Surely some of these girls aspire to be jockeys?. The rules of racing are equally applied to both sexes and there is some small advantage to women, whose natural weight is lower than mens. Last year according to the Racing Post only two of the Top 50 jockeys were women,Hayley Turner[no30] and [Cathy Gannon[no36]. Successful women are few and far between and even then the likes of Nina Carberry and Katie Walsh have chosen to remain amateurs.

Within racing circles as in some others there are still the 'dinosaurs', who will argue racing and particularly steeplechasing is to dangerous for women and that they don't take the falls very well. Considering the range of sports and employment women now undertake this seems completely irrelevent to me. Some trainers seem very reluctant to use women jockeys and of course it's true the choice is very limited but until more are given the opportunity to ride nothing will change.

Is'nt it time the Racing Authorities stepped in and imposed some positive discrimination, I think so. The Best Dressed Lady competition is all well and good but I find it hard to believe that todays women will be content to be so under represented on the racetrack for very much longer.

Saturday's 2011 Grand National is nearly here! At 4.15pm the Aintree roar will be hear around the United Kingdom as 40 horses set off on the worlds toughest race. On National day, people with no interest in racing get in touch with me for the only time in a whole year to ask for a tip. I punish them by giving one!

This years race is set up to be a good'un, with plenty of decent long shots in with a chance (remember the 100/1 winner in 2009). Picking a winner is not nearly as hard as it looks, you can discount half of the runners easily. Either too young, too olds, no experience around the course. Follow the simple guide below to find your winner in the National.

1. Weight is critical to Grand National Success

Hedgehunter became the first winner since Corbiere to carry over 11st to victory. A pound here or there over 11st should not be a major worry but do not bet on a horse to win if it carries over 11st 3lbs. The simple fact is only one other horse in history has managed to win with that kind of weight and that was Red Rum! The 2008 Grand National winner, Comply or Die, weighed 10-09 and the 2009 winner, Mon Mome, weighed 11-00!

2. Stamina is a major factor

The Grand National is a grueling race for any horse but only those with experience winning at over 3 miles can be expected to be in the running at the end of this race. Not all horses entered will actually have won in previous races over long distances but try to pick one that has at least finished and placed in one. Don't rule out horses that have previously entered and completed the Grand National, even if they finished nowhere.

3. The age of the horse is very important

Experience counts for much in the National. Eleven out of the last 17 winners were aged ten or above but nine is the new ten and horses are so well trained now that nine year olds are very much in favour. First, second and third place in both the 2008 and 2009 Grand Nationals were all nine years old. Eight is a little on the young side and don't back any seven year olds as it's been 67 years since one won and few even finish the course!

4. Nationality of the horse

Previously I would have suggested that you forget the French bred horses and despite the tremendous win from Mon Mome in 2009, I still stand by that because regardless of what people may say, they just can't go the distance in this race. Irish and British horses are specifically trained day in and day out, all year around, for this kind of steeplechase so go with one of them!

Summary

Every now and then a major upset happens at the Grand National and the rule book goes out the window but if you want to give yourself the best chance of picking a winner then consider our tips...

Go for a nine/ten year old horse that weighs approx. 10-07 to 11 stone, who has run and finished at least one previous race of at least three miles, entered with an experienced jockey and, if possible, make it Irish or British!

And finally... sign up with an online bookmaker to avoid the queues at the local bookies on saturday morning. Paddy Power are giving new customers a free bet if you sign-up today.

One of horseracings most exciting events is now just a few weeks away. This is the centenary year of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and promises to be the most exciting jump race meeting yet. The Gold Cup race is scheduled for Friday 18th March and if you're not able to be there in person you will still be able to follow the action as the race is broadcast live on channel4.First run as a jump race in1924 and run on the New course at Cheltenham since 1959 the course is 3miles 2and half furlongs and has 22 fences to negotiate.THe most successful horse was Golden Miller who won the race 5 times between 1932-1936.

More recently many of the winners have become household names, Desert Orchid, Arkle,who had 3 consecutive wins in the 60s and triumphed over Mill House in 1964 in what is considered one of the best and most exciting Gold Cup races ever.Best Mate has won 3 times and in 2010 the winner was Imperial Commander. The 2011 race will have a good mix of experienced horses who know the course and newcomers ready to challenge them for one of racings most coveted prizes, the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup. If you fancy a flutter on this exciting race check out the odds being offered and the great £25 free bet offer at Will Hill.

If you’ve ever felt crushed at losing £50 on the gee gees or blowing a tenner on the fruit machines then spare a thought for those gamblers who took it to the max! Below you can view our very first gambling infographic, it shows the biggest losers in the history of gambling,

infographic kindly provided by Fruit Machines

The Scottish Grand National is held annually and this year will take place on the 17^th of April.  It is a Grade Three National Hunt race for horses five years and above and is run over a distance of four miles one furlong at the Ayr Racecourse. As a handicap chase it is often contested by horses who have run in the Aintree Grand National. There are three less fences than the Aintree racecourse, with a total of twenty seven. 

The race was first held 127 years ago and has been held at Ayr since 1966 after the closure of the original Bogside Racecourse, where the race had originally been over a distance of three miles seven furlongs.  It is now considered to be the premier long-distance chase north of the border.  There are records of racing at Bogside from 1636 but it seems to have disappeared for fifteen years before being restarted in 1867, under the title of the Eglington Hunt.  The first race was won by The Elk who won the race by four lengths and his owner the Duke of Hamilton and jockey John Page had won the Grand National a few weeks previously with Cortolvin.

In 1880 the race was re-named the Scottish Grand National and was won by Peacock. Solicitor became the first double winner, winning the race in both 1875 and 1877, with Coubrefeu II quickly taking the lead by winning three Scottish Nationals from 1911 to 1913.  In 1924 Lord Eglington sold the racecourse and it reverted back to its old name Bogside, and the race remained there until the closure of Bogside due to the Levy Board Cull in 1965, the last race being won by Jimmy Fitzgerald riding Brasher. With the new opening at Ayr, the first race was won by African Patrol ridden by Johnnie Bradburne.  Barona became the first double winner, winning in 1975 and 1976.

Music Hall (1920), Sergeant Murphy (1922), Little Polveir (1987) and Earth Summit (1994) all won the Scottish Grand National before going on to win the Grand National at Aintree, but only the great Red Rum could pull off such a feat as to win both the Scottish and Grand National in the same season (1974).

The only years the race hasn’t been run have been 1878, 1890, 1916 – 1918 and 1940 - 1946 while 1891 could be considered to have been the worst ever Scottish Grand National when there was no winner due to the fact neither of the two runners got past the second fence!

Despite the length of the race and the stamina needed, there is often a close finish which makes for an exciting and unpredictable race. The usual big trainers of the Aintree Grand National are usually present and previous winners include: Hello Bud 2009 (Nigel Twiston-Davies), Take Control 2002 (Martin Pipe), Belmont King 1997 (Paul Nicholls), Willsford 1995 (Jenny Pitman), Earth Summit 1994 (Nigel Twiston-Davies), Run For Free 1993 (Martin Pipe), while jockeys Paddy Brennan, Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy have also added the race to their CV over the years. Trainer Ferdy Murphy has won the race twice over the past five years with Hot Weld and Joes Edge, in 2007 and 2005 respectively.

Other races of note in the UK steeplechasing season are the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the Derby. You can get free bets on all these races so check it out.

I know you Yanks call them Slot Machines but here in the UK they will always be called Fruit Machines. Anyway, if you like playing these devilishly addictive games then here are a couple of totally free fruit machines you can enjoy online. No risk it's just for fun!