The 1956 Grand National was the 110th renewal of the world-famous Grand National

Grand National

The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...

 horse race

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

 that took place at Aintree Racecourse

Aintree Racecourse

Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....

 near Liverpool

Liverpool

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, in 1956.

It is probably best remembered for Devon Loch

Devon Loch

Devon Loch was a famous racehorse that is probably best remembered for its involvement in the 1956 Grand National steeplechase, when owned by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother....

's sudden and inexplicable fall on the final straight, just 40 yards from a certain victory.

Owned by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and ridden by Dick Francis

Dick Francis

Richard Stanley "Dick" Francis CBE was an English jockey and crime writer, many of whose novels centre around horse racing.- Personal life :...

, Devon Loch held a five-length leader over his nearest challenger, E.S.B.

E.S.B. (horse)

E.S.B. was a racehorse that is best known for his victory in the 1956 Grand National, when aged ten.Trained by Fred Rimell, E.S.B. was ridden by jockey Dave Dick in the 1956 running of the famous steeplechase at Aintree Racecourse when the race seemed certain to be won by Devon Loch, who held a...

, on the run-in to the finishing post, when he half-jumped into the air and landed in a bellyflop on his stomach, allowing E.S.B. to overtake and win. Although Francis tried to cajole the horse, it was unable to continue. Afterwards, the Queen Mother famously said, "Oh, that's racing!"

Finishing order

Position	Horse	Jockey Jockey A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...	Age	Weight (st-lb)	SP	Distance
1st	E.S.B. E.S.B. (horse) E.S.B. was a racehorse that is best known for his victory in the 1956 Grand National, when aged ten.Trained by Fred Rimell, E.S.B. was ridden by jockey Dave Dick in the 1956 running of the famous steeplechase at Aintree Racecourse when the race seemed certain to be won by Devon Loch, who held a...	David Dick	10
2nd	Gentle Moya
3rd	Royal Tan
4th	Eagle Lodge
5th	Key Royal
6th	Martinique
7th	Carey's Cortage
8th	Clearing
9th	Wild Wisdom

Non-finishers

Fence	Name	Rider	Age	Weight	Starting price	Fate
Run in	Devon Loch Devon Loch Devon Loch was a famous racehorse that is probably best remembered for its involvement in the 1956 Grand National steeplechase, when owned by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother....	Dick Francis Dick Francis Richard Stanley "Dick" Francis CBE was an English jockey and crime writer, many of whose novels centre around horse racing.- Personal life :...				Fell
	M'as-Tu-Vu