The famous Grand National meeting in the UK kicks off on Thursday and the three-day festival will have record prize money of more than £3m.The winning owner in Saturday’s big race over the gruelling Aintree fences will receive £561,000.The event marks an anniversary for a number of memorable events surrounding the race:Fifty years ago there was a sensational mid-race pile-up, with 200-1 outsider Foinavon evading the stricken horses and going on to notch a shock win;It is 40 years since the famous steeplechaser Red Rum scored the third of his three wins;It is 20 years since a bomb scare forced the race to be delayed 48 hours; it was run on the Monday.Rather like former South African champions Jeff Lloyd and Dougie Whyte, who have never won the Durban July, UK jumps champion Richard Johnson has never won the Grand National.He will be riding in the race for the 21st time on Saturday.Several of the winners at March’s Cheltenham Festival will be in action, including RSA Chase winner Migh...
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