Card for Grand National race that never was

As the world's favourite horse race – the Grand National at Aintree, Liverpool – takes place this afternoon, an unusual memento of the annual event has turned up at Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. A race card for the "Martell" Grand National on April 3rd, 1993, signed by all the jockeys, is a reminder of the race that officially never was. After two false starts, 30 of the 39 runners continued racing despite frantic efforts to halt them and the result was ultimately declared void.

The BBC's commentator Peter O'Sullevan famously described the final moments: "So as they race up to the line, in the National that surely isn't, Esha Ness is the winner, second is Cahervillahow, third is Romany King, four The Committee, five is Givus A Buck. Then comes On The Other Hand and Laura's Beau and they are the only ones to have completed in the race that surely never was."

Bookmakers refunded an estimated £75 million (€103.3m) that had been wagered on the race. The race card, originally priced at £1 (€1.40), will go under the hammer on May 19th with an estimate of €300-€500 and might, like any of the runners in today’s race, be worth a punt.