Aintree Racecourse

Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England, bordering the city of Liverpool. The racecourse is best known for annually holding the world-famous Grand National steeplechase.

Aintree
The racecourse in 2006
LocationAintree, Merseyside, England
Owned byJockey Club Racecourses
Date opened7 July 1829
Screened onRacing TV
Course typeNational Hunt
Notable racesGrand National
Official website

The Grand National meeting takes place in April over 3 days. Aintree also holds meetings in May and June (both on Friday evenings), October (Sunday), November and December (both Saturdays).

The course
Traditional entrance
The Lord Sefton and Earl of Derby stands

The course is home of the Grand National steeplechase, one of the most famous races in the world.[1] Steeplechasing at Aintree was introduced in 1836, though flat racing had taken place there for many years prior to this.[1] It is regarded as the most difficult of all courses to complete successfully, with 16 steeplechase fences including renowned obstacles the Chair, Foinavon, Valentine's, Canal Turn and Becher's Brook. All fences bar the water jump are covered with spruce, unlike at any other course in British National Hunt racing.

Four other races take place over the National fences. These are the Topham Chase (formerly known as the John Hughes Trophy Chase) and the Fox Hunters' Chase at the Grand National meeting, and the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase and Becher Chase in the December meeting. Within the large National course there is also the smaller Mildmay course containing hurdles and fences. These fences are made of traditional National Hunt material. The National and Mildmay courses used to share the water jump, but the water jump is no longer used on the Mildmay course.

The Grand National
Main article: Grand National

The Grand National race is run over 4 miles 514 yards (6.907 km) after being re-measured by the BHA in 2015. The race is considered among the most demanding steeplechases in the world. The lead has often changed hands during the 494-yard (452 m) run-in after the final fence. There are usually 40 horses taking part in the race (this has been the maximum since 1984) but fewer than ten may actually complete the course: for example, 42 horses started in 1928, and only two reached the finishing post.[2] The record for the most victories in the Grand National is held by Red Rum, who won three times in the 1970s, in addition to coming second twice.

Notable races
Month Meeting DOW Race Name Type Grade Distance Age/Sex
April Grand National Thursday Manifesto Novices' Chase Chase Grade 1 2m 4f 5yo +
April Grand National Thursday Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 2m 1f 4yo only
April Grand National Thursday Betway Bowl Chase Grade 1 3m 1f 5yo +
April Grand National Thursday Aintree Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 2m 4f 4yo +
April Grand National Thursday Red Rum Handicap Chase Chase Grade 3 2m 5yo +
April Grand National Friday Top Novices' Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 2m 110y 4yo +
April Grand National Friday Mildmay Novices' Chase Chase Grade 1 3m 1f 5yo +
April Grand National Friday Melling Chase Chase Grade 1 2m 4f 5yo +
April Grand National Friday Topham Chase Chase Grade 3 2m 5f 110y 5yo +
April Grand National Friday Sefton Novices' Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 3m 110y 4yo +
April Grand National Friday Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race N H Flat Grade 2 2m 1f 4yo-6yo
April Grand National Saturday Gaskells Handicap Hurdle Hurdle Grade 3 3m 110y 4yo +
April Grand National Saturday Mersey Novices' Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 2m 4f 4yo +
April Grand National Saturday Maghull Novices' Chase Chase Grade 1 2m 5yo +
April Grand National Saturday Liverpool Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 3m 110y 4yo +
April Grand National Saturday Grand National Chase Grade 3 4m 2f 74y 7yo +
October October Meeting Sunday Old Roan Chase Chase Grade 2 2m 4f 4yo +
December December Meeting Saturday Grand Sefton Steeplechase Chase Handicap 2m 5f 110y 6yo +
December December Meeting Saturday Becher Chase Chase Grade 3 3m 2f 6yo +
December December Meeting Saturday Many Clouds Chase Chase Grade 2 3m 1f 4yo +

Other events

Motor racing
Main article: Aintree Motor Racing Circuit
The 3 mile Aintree motor racing circuit

Aintree has also been used as a venue for motor racing. The British Grand Prix was staged there on five occasions, in 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961 and 1962. In addition to the Grand Prix, the circuit also held 11 non-championship Formula 1 races, known as the Aintree 200, first won by Stirling Moss in 1954 with the last winner being Jack Brabham, in April 1964.

The only driver to have competed in both horse and motor race is Alfonso de Portago, who competed at the Grand National in his early days as well as in a sportscar race. He was to compete at the 1957 British Grand Prix at Aintree, but he was killed in the Mille Miglia.

The Princess Royal Stand

Music

Golf

The racecourse contains a 9-hole golf course and driving range within its boundaries. Golfers have the chance to see the famous track from a different perspective and famous features such as Becher's Brook are incorporated into the course. It is accessed from Melling Road, which bisects the racecourse. Because of this, the golf facilities are closed when the course is used for horse or motor racing.

It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in 1962; it is now served by Aintree railway station, which is situated outside the racecourse.

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References
  1. British Racing and Racecourses (ISBN 978-0-9501397-2-2) by Marion Rose Halpenny - Page 167
  2. Ian Thomsen (3 April 1993). "The 150th Grand National: 40 Horses and a Great British Tradition". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 21 April 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  3. Wright, Jade (3 September 2015). "Michael Jackson at Aintree, September 11 1988". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  4. Wright, Jade (3 September 2015). "Michael Jackson at Aintree: 27 years on can you spot yourself?". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  5. Liverpool, Old Photographs of. "Aintree, a history". www.liverpoolpicturebook.com. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  6. "P!nk Setlist at Liverpool Summer Pops 2007". setlist.fm. Retrieved 28 August 2018.

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