13 winning mares and 16 other Grand National records you need to know about this historic race
This weekend sees the return of one of the world’s most famous horse races, the Grand National. And before the tapes go up on Saturday 10 April at 5.15pm, we thought we’d share with you some of the greatest Grand National records…
Grand National records
Longest odds winners
Mon Mome (2009), Foinavon (1967), Caughoo (1947), Gregalach (1929) and Tipperary Tim (1928) hold this Grand National record, with all of them sent off at odds of 100/1.
Shortest odds winner
Poethlyn was 11/4 when winning back in 1919.
Shortest winning distance
Neptune Collonges (pictured) won by a nose from Sunnyhillboy in 2012.
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Furthest winning distance
The following horses have won the Grand National by a distance – Cloister (1893), Covertcoat (1913), Shaun Splash (1921), Tipperary Tim (1928), Mr What (1958) and Red Marauder (2001).
Fastest time the Grand National has been completed in
Mr Frisk completed the four-and-a-half-mile race in 8 minutes 47.8s.
Slowest time the Grand National has been completed in
Lottery holds this particular record when he completed the race in 14 minutes 53s in 1839.
Most runners to start the Grand National
Sixty-six horses started the race in 1929, while 57 lined up in 1947. The maximum field size is now 40.
Least runners to start
10 in 1883
Smallest number of finishers in the Grand National
There were just two finishers in 1928 when 42 horses started the race.
Most number of finishers
There were 23 finishers in 1984 from 40 starters.
Most weight carried to Grand National victory
12st 7lb has been carried by four winners: Poethlyn (1919), Jerry M (1912), Manifesto (1899) and Cloister (1893). The maximum weight permitted for a horse to carry in the Grand National was lowered to 11st 10lb in 2009.
Lowest weight carried to Grand National victory
Freetrader carried just 9st 6lb in 1856. The minimum weight horses can now carry in the race is 10st.
Mares to win the race
A total of 13 mares have won the Grand National so far. They are Charity (1841), Miss Mowbray (1852), Anatis (1860), Jealousy (1861), Emblem (1863), Emblematic (1864), Casse Tete (1872), Empress (1880), Zoedone (1883), Frigate (1889), Shannon Lass (1902), Sheila’s Cottage (1948) and Nickel Coin (1951).
Oldest winner of the Grand National
Peter Simple was the grand old age of 15 when he won in 1853.
Youngest winner of the Grand National
Alcibiade (1865), Regal (1876), Austerlitz (1877), Empress (1880) and Lutteur III (1909) were all aged five when they won the race. In 2012 the minimum age horses were allowed to take part in the race was raised to seven.
Most common winning age of the race
Nine-year-olds have won 45 of the 169 runnings of the Grand National where the winner’s age was recorded.
Greys that have won the Grand National
The Lamb (1868 and 1871), Nicolaus Silver (1961) and Neptune Collonges (2012) are the three greys to have been victorious so far.
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Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.