Aintree Grand National

The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase over a distance of four miles and 856 yards (7,242 m), with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course. It is currently scheduled to take place each year on a Saturday afternoon in early April. The next Grand National will be held on 9 April 2011.

The steeplechase is the centrepiece of a three-day meeting, one of only four run at Aintree in the racing season. It is the most valuable National Hunt event in Britain, offering a total prize fund of £950,000 in 2011. The race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year.

The racecourse is triangular in shape and contains sixteen fences, all except The Chair and the Water Jump are jumped twice. Some fences are notorious for their severity, particularly Becher's Brook and The Chair. In recent years, Aintree authorities have worked in conjunction with animal welfare organisations to improve veterinary facilities and minimise the danger of the jumps while still preserving them as formidable obstacles.

The National is listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, ensuring it is broadcast live on free-to-air terrestrial television in the United Kingdom. The first radio commentary of the race was broadcast by Meyrick Good and George Allison on the BBC in 1927 the first televised coverage was in 1960 and the BBC has retained the rights ever since. An estimated 500 to 600 million viewers watch the Grand National worldwide.

The most recent Grand National took place on 10 April 2010 and was won by Tony McCoy on Don't Push It for trainer Jonjo O'Neill and owner J. P. McManus.

The Grand National was founded by William Lynn, a syndicate head and proprietor of the Waterloo Hotel, on land he leased in Aintree from William Molyneux, 2nd Earl of Sefton. Lynn set out a course, built a grandstand, and Molyneux laid the foundation stone on 7 February 1829. There is much debate regarding the first official Grand National most leading published historians, including John Pinfold, now prefer the idea that the first running was in 1836 and was won by The Duke. This same horse won again in 1837, while Sir William was the winner in 1838. These races have long been disregarded because of the belief that they took place at Maghull and not Aintree. However, some historians have unearthed evidence in recent years that suggest those three races were run over the same course at Aintree and were regarded as having been Grand Nationals up until the mid-1860s. To date, though, calls for the Nationals of 1836–1838 to be restored to the record books have been unsuccessful.

Stableexpress race horse database find information on horses past and present who have competed in the Grand National over the decades, with pictures, videos and results :- Grand National Database


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