Wednesday, Mar. 04, 2009
False Start
The Grand National, the most famous horse race in the U.K., was abandoned in 1997 after two coded bomb threats were reportedly received from the IRA. 60,000 spectators (including Princess Anne), jockeys, race personnel and local residents were evacuated, and the course was secured by police. And while the race was eventually run two days later, some 20,000 people were left stranded over the weekend, as cars and buses were locked inside the course. With limited accommodation in the city and surrounding areas, local residents opened their doors and took in many of the stranded. A small crumb of comfort for those who had bet on a horse, not on the chances of a bomb threat.