Only one rider will win the coveted Grand National No. 1 plate in 2010, just like in Springer's day.
In interviewing Chris Carr today he mentioned in passing about having an overall 21-race champion. I didn’t want to stop him mid-thought, but I came back and asked him if he said what I thought he said – that there would be an overall AMA Grand National Champion this season.
“That’s my understanding,” Carr said. “They’re still going to award a Singles and Twins title, but there will be an overall champion at the end of the year.”
Whoa! This was big news!
I immediately called Mike Kidd and he confirmed it. “We haven’t announced it yet,” he said. “We were sort of waiting for the dealer show, but I think a lot of the riders already know about it, so it’s out there.”
“So there’s going to be a No. 1 plate given to just one rider in 2010?” I asked.
“Yes the tradition and link to history is back,” Kidd said.
It was the best news I’d heard in a long time. What we’ll have this year is a full-on 21-race series to determine the overall champion, just like in the old days.
The new DMG management already seems to be producing positive results. I’m sure nearly all fans of Grand National Racing will be glad to hear the traditional Grand National Championship is back for the first time since 2005.
Long live the Grand Nationals.
