JENNY'S TEARS FOR THE NATIONAL

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Apr 6, 1997 | by David Barnes

The 150th Grand National was abandoned yesterday when the bombers brought terror and chaos to the world's greatest horserace.

Two coded bomb warnings forced police to evacuate a furious Aintree crowd and shortly afterwards the day's racing was abandoned.

For the second time in four years - after the false-start shambles of 1993 - the National was a non-event.

Then a "controlled explosion" on a suspect device followed just after 4pm - some 15 minutes after the world's greatest horse race had been due to start. More explosions were expected last night.

It brought tears of anger and fury from Jenny Pitman, the trainer synonymous with the race after Corbiere's great win, as she broke down in tears while speaking to the BBC's Des Lynam - himself uprooteed from his broadcasting pitch.

The 38 Grand National horses, the Princess Royal, catering staff, jockeys, trainers, owners, 60,000 spectators and the media were herded away, some clambering over course fences, some sauntering, others in tears as they lost their loved ones in the crush.

Trainer Jenny probably summed up the feelings of a nation when she broke down sobbing: "I'm afraid these people are very sick.

"If you could have just seen the scenes down the stable yard where we have had to leave our horses. I just find that anybody involved in such a disgusting act is unbelievable.

"Don't tell me these people are in any way human because they are not.

"We won't give into them. To be shifted out there and leave your horses at the mercy of these people..." she added, before breaking down.

"Patrick Hibbert Foy, Senior Stewards' Secretary at Aintree, said: "The whole thing is a complete disaster. This is a very sad day for British sport especially British racing."

He added there was a chance the race could now be staged on Monday afternoon.

Merseyside police said two calls were received yesterday - the first was at 2.49pm to Fazackerley hospital in Liverpool, and involved an IRA codeword.

Three minutes later a second call was made to the police control centre in Marsh Lane, Bootle.

The runners were parading when a fire alarm began to sound and police started to clear the stands.

Aintree press officer Nigel Payne told the nation's reeling telly audience: "Police have asked us to evacuate, we don't want people to panic."

Public address system alerts at 3.40pm told the crowds that there were 10 minutes left before the devices were due to detonate.

But there was no panic from the spectators, who filed away quietly.

The race was finally called off when Clerk of the Course Charlie Barnett said at 3.43, just two minutes before the scheduled start: "We are going to evacuate the whole course. There is no possibility of racing."

Irishman Brendan Powell, a former Grand National winner, said: "I could cry. How could they do that?"

Bets made on the National with the Tote have been declared null and void, with all stakes refunded.

William Hill and Ladbrokes bets stand if the race is re- scheduled. Otherwise money will be refunded. The pounds 100,000 Zetters/Sporting Life superbet will be carried forward.