'This is one of the greatest disasters in the history of the National'

The Grand National has always been a race that thrives on momentous events, but Caughoo's mysterious fog-shrouded win of 1947, Devon Loch's sensational collapse in 1956 and Foinavon's 1967 mayhem were nothing compared to the dark hour of 1993.

The events that conspired against the great race that day brought condemnation on a nationwide basis. That year's running quickly became known as 'the race that never was', with John White's victory on 50-1 shot Esha Ness never becoming even wet ink on the Aintree roll of honour, let alone a permanent part of glorious history.

But it wasn't only White who was left dumbstruck by the 1993 National. Across the industry and across the country, the two false starts, the phantom horserace and the huge ramifications resonated for months before being grudgingly accepted into folklore. Here we review the event in the words of those who were involved.