The Irish Grand National is a horse race run each year on Easter Monday at Fairyhouse Racecourse. Fairyhouse Racecourse is located in Ratoath County Meath about 26km to the Northwest of Dublin city. The Grand National is a National Hunt chase over a distance of 5.8km
Though racing began at Fairyhouse in 1848 the first Grand National did not take place until 1870. In that year the race was won by a horse called Sir Robert Peel owned by L. Dunne and ridden by John Boylan. Very quickly the race became Irelands most valuable and prestigious steeplechase. With the exception of 1919 due to World War 1 and 1941 due to World War II the race has been held every year since its inception.
The race, over twenty four fences, is 3 miles and 5 furlongs (5.8km) long. It is open to horses of five years and older. It has a prize fund of €250,000. Horses such as Rhyme ‘n’ Reason, Bobbyjo and Numbersixvalverde who were winners of the Irish Grand National also won the English Grand National at Aintree in Liverpool.
A horse called Brown Lad is the only horse to have won the Irish Grand National on three occasions. Other famous winners of the Irish Grand National are Arkle (1964), Desert Orchid (1990) and Commanche Court (2000). In 1929 sixty six horses competed in the Irish Grand National. The race was won by a six year old mare called Alike. The jockey, Frank Wise who was also the owner, was 5’4” (1.6m) tall.
The Irish Grand National was won by a horse called Alike, whose jockey Frank Wise was missing three fingers and had a wooden leg, in the year 1929 On This Day.
Very Grand Stands by National Library of Ireland on The Commons on 1868-01-01 00:00:00
Photo by France1978 
Irish Hospital’s Sweepstake on the 1963 Grand National Booklet by France1978 on 2013-03-03 01:06:06