Race Goes On as Fans Defy IRA Threats

An angry Britain went to the races Monday in a national show of defiance against the Irish Republican Army.

“We beat them. It was fantastic,” said a fan as he left Aintree racetrack in Liverpool after the belated running of the Grand National, the world’s premier steeplechase.

Prime Minister John Major and Princess Anne, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, joined more than 20,000 fans who came for a single race Monday and were cheered on by millions across the country watching on television.

On Saturday, the 150th running of the Grand National was canceled at the last minute by bomb threats allegedly from the IRA, which has repeatedly disrupted Britain’s transportation network over the past two weeks in its own editorial comment on a national election campaign.

Saturday’s threat triggered the evacuation of about 70,000 people from Aintree.

“The message to the IRA is that you cannot bomb the British out of their national institutions,” Major said after Monday’s race. “You cannot bomb the British out of Northern Ireland, and you cannot bomb Northern Ireland out of the UK. The message is very plain.”

Given the circumstances, bettors made Go Ballistic the favorite, but it finished out of the money. The race went instead to Lord Gyllene, a bay from New Zealand, which carried odds of 14-1 and became the first horse to lead a Grand National from pillar to post since 1920.

Tony Dobbin, a 24-year-old jockey from Northern Ireland, had last been seen publicly Saturday among the evacuees, sitting in his green and white racing silks waiting for a bus. On Monday, after four miles and four furlongs and 30 fences that stopped half of the 36 starters, there was Dobbin in the winner’s circle hugging Lord Gyllene in what he called “the best moment of my life so far.”

In 48 hours, Dobbin had gone full circle emotionally. “It was shameful,” he said of the bomb scare. “I’m from Northern Ireland, and you’re ashamed when you say you are from there when something like this happens.”

Security measures Monday were extreme. Even security officers were searched by police.

A telephoned threat and two small bombs brought mayhem to Britain’s main north-south rail links March 26. Then, Thursday, threats on two of Britain’s main north-south highways forced their closure for more than 24 hours, creating colossal traffic jams.

On Friday, four of London’s main rail stations were closed after threats, bringing gridlock to much of the city. The next day brought the threats against the Grand National.

The effect of a few phone calls has been to disrupt the lives of millions and damage the economy in what many analysts call the IRA’s strategy to interject itself into the campaign for May 1 elections.

Sinn Fein, the IRA’s political arm, is contesting the elections in Northern Ireland, and party leader Gerry Adams is expected to win a seat in the British Parliament. The key unresolved issue is Sinn Fein’s participation in peace talks scheduled to resume in June. Britain has said Sinn Fein cannot participate unless there is an IRA cease-fire.