The 2009 Grand National racing meet took place on 4 April 2009 at Aintree Racecourse, England. The 2009 Grand National champion was a long-shot 100/1 outsider Mon Mome – ridden by jockey Liam Treadwell who won the race by a significant 12 lengths and in a time of 9 minutes and 34 seconds. Mon Mome was the very first 100/1 shot to win the race since Foinavon in 1967.
The gallant winner became the first French-bred mount to clinch a Grand National title in more than 100 years. Mon Mome was trained by Venetia Williams at her Herefordshire facility. The proud owner of the victorious horse was Vida Bingham, a little-known breeder from East Sussex.
Only 17 racers completed the course (that measured 4 miles and 4 furlongs) and unfortunately, an ill-fated runner dubbed Hear the Echo collapsed and subsequently died shortly during the Antree National. One of the few jockeys to maintain a good ‘track record’ in two consecutive Grand Nationals, Timmy Murphy’s Comply or Die, the 2008 winner, came second in the 2009 race.
Terrestrial Television aired the Grand National proceedings. The event was widely watched on the BBC, which is sommon especially when big sporing competitions are broadcast live.
Bookmakers were happy that a scarcely anticipated champion had grabbed the jackpot. In the words of Ladbroke’s spokesperson David Williams, a Ruby Walsh’s or Tony McCoy’s victory would have turned the tables way totally. It was a once-in-a-blue-moon boom for scores of betting entities; all thanks to Treadwell’s unlikely success.