Ben Nevis into racing Hall of Fame

Former Aintree Grand National winner Ben Nevis has been elected to the American National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame.

The chestnut gelding, trained by Tim Forster and ridden by American amateur Charlie Fenwick, landed the spoils on Merseyside in 1980.

The 40-1 shot was one of three American-based winners of the Grand National.

The 1980 winner was selected for induction to the Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Irish-born trainer Janet Elliot, who won the inaugural Breeders' Cup Chase in 1986 with Census, becomes the second woman elected to the Hall of Fame - and its first female handler.

In 1991 she became the first woman to win a national training title in the US.

American trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Eddie Maple were also elected.

Tiznow, who lowered the colours of Giant's Causeway and Sakhee in back-to-back renewals of the Breeders' Cup Classic, and the Baffert-trained Silverbulletday completed the class of 2009.

"That is awesome. That is really awesome," said Baffert, an eight-time Triple Crown winner and trainer of seven Breeders' Cup champions.

"I don't know what to say. I never expected this when I got in the business. I'm sort of at a loss for words.

"It's an honour, a very humbling feeling right now.

"I've always thought about it but I really wasn't mentally prepared for it when I heard about being on the ballot this year.

"I'm excited about Silverbulletday - she was a great mare."

The sextet is set to be inducted in August.