Aintree Racecourse hosts the world?s most famous race, the Grand National. Every year in April, forty horses line up for the gruelling steeplechase, run over four miles and two and half furlongs. Contenders face 16 unique spruce fences, 14 of which are jumped twice and the race tests the ultimate stamina and bravery of both horses and jockeys. Five other Jumps meetings are run throughout the year.
The Grand National course is triangular in shape and the course is a flat, galloping track playing to the strengths of horses who travel and race prominently. On its inside is the Milmay Course which is a sharp, flat track comprising stiff fences.
The first meeting at Aintree racecourse was run in 1829 after William Lynn leased land in Aintree from Lord Sefton. A grandstand was built and the first race, named the Croxteth Stakes, was staged over one mile and four furlongs.
In 1835, Lynn experimented with hurdle racing which became a big success with Captain Martin Becher winning two hurdle races aboard Vivian. It was Becher who approached Lynn about setting up the Liverpool Grand Steeplechase over a marathon distance.
In 1836 the Liverpool Grand Steeplechase was staged with ten runners carrying twelve stones. In 1843, Mr Edward William Topham converted the race into a handicap and in 1949 bought the course from Lord Sefton. The Liverpool Grand Steeplechase became known as the Grand National and remains the world?s most famous race.
