Becher's Brook

Becher's Brook

Becher's Brook is a fence jumped during the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England.

It is negotiated twice during the race - as the sixth fence, and the twenty-second fence.

The fence took its name from Captain Becher, who fell there from his mount Conrad in the first Aintree Grand National in 1839, and who sheltered in the small brook running along the landing side of the fence while the remainder of the field thundered over.

It has always been a notorious and controversial obstacle during this most severe of sporting events. Following the deaths of two horses, Brown Trix and Seeandem, at the fence during the 1989 Grand National won by Little Polveir, the course executive bowed to pressure from animal rights groups and levelled off a tricky backward slope on the landing side of the fence to remove a hidden trap that had caused many horses to fall. At the same time they also removed the water from the brook as there was a risk that a fallen horse could drown.


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  • Becher's Brook — /bēˈcherz brŭk/ noun 1. A notoriously difficult jump in the Grand National steeplechase 2. A particularly difficult or critical obstacle, problem or possible stumbling block * * * Becher’s Brook [Bechers Brook] the most famous and one of the most …   Useful english dictionary

  • Becher’s Brook — the most famous and one of the most difficult jumps on the Grand National course, where many horses fall. * * * …   Universalium

  • Becher’s Brook —  Celebrated jump on English Grand National horse racing course …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • Becher — is a surname, and may refer to: * Bernd and Hilla Becher * J. J. Becher * Johannes R. Becher * Kurt Becher * Rabbi Mordechai Becher, lecturer at Gateways speaker and author on Jewish theology. * Ulrich Becher See also * * Becher s Brook,… …   Wikipedia

  • Martin Becher — Martin William Becher (1797 – 12 October 1864) was a former soldier and steeplechase jockey in whose memory the infamous Becher s Brook obstacle at Aintree Racecourse is named.[1] Contents 1 Military career 2 Racing career …   Wikipedia

  • 1839 Grand National — The 1839 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase was the first official annual running of a Handicap Steeple chase, later to become known as the Grand National Steeplechase Horse race which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on February 26th… …   Wikipedia

  • 2008 Grand National — The 2008 Grand National Steeplechase, sponsored by John Smiths was the one hundred and sixty first official annual running of a Handicap Steeple chase Horse race which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on Saturday April 5th 2008 and …   Wikipedia

  • 1842 Grand National — The 1842 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase was the fourth official annual running of a Steeple chase, later to become known as the Grand National Steeplechase handicap Horse race which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on March 2nd 1842… …   Wikipedia

  • 1840 Grand National — The 1840 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase was the second official annual running of a steeplechase, later to become known as the Grand National Steeplechase handicap horse race which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on March 5th 1840… …   Wikipedia

  • Aintree Racecourse — Infobox UK Racecourse Name = Aintree Caption = Aintree Racecourse Logo Website = http://www.aintree.co.uk Location = Aintree, Merseyside, England Owner = Jockey Club Racecourses Opened = July 7, 1829 CourseType = National Hunt Channel = Racing UK …   Wikipedia

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