Coral SGN Facts

16 April 2011

The Scottish Grand National was first run as the West of Scotland Grand National at a course near Houston, Renfrewshire from 1858 until 1866
The course in 1858 consisted of 32 jumps, mostly stone walls
In 1867 after objections from the minister of the Free Kirk of Houston the race moved to Bogside, Irvine and was still known as the West of Scotland Grand National
The first winner at Bogside was The Elk, owned by the Duke of Hamilton and ridden by John Page
In 1869 Hunstman become the first and only Irish trained winner of the race
In 1880 the race title was changed to The Scottish Grand National and was won by Peacock
Charlie Cunningham, known as Scotland's greatest jockey, won the race four times in 1881, 1885, 1887 and 1889
The winning horse in 1867 won £100, increasing to £440 by 1906, £1030 ion 1950, £5,436 in 1963 and this year's top prize is £102,618
The first television coverage of the Scottish National was in 1953 on BBC and it was also shown in 1954 but then wasn't screened again until 1969 on ITV and it has been shown live ever since and moved to Channel 4 in 1986
In 1966 the race moved to Ayr when Bogside closed and the first winner was African Patrol trained at Selkirk by Bobby Fairbairn and ridden by Johnny Leech
Red Rum won the Scottish Grand National in 1974 just a couple of weeks after landing his second Aintree success
Five horses have won the race twice the most recent being Androma in 1984 and 1985
Richard Johnson has ridden in the race 13 times but never won, he has finished third on four occasions and fourth twice
Merigo became the first Scottish trained horse to win the race since Cockle Strand in 1982