67-508: Aintree Motor Racing Circuit is a 3.000 mi (4.828 km) motor racing circuit in the village of Aintree , Metropolitan Borough of Sefton , Merseyside , England . The circuit is located within the Aintree Racecourse and used the same grandstands as horse racing. It was built in 1954 as the " Goodwood of the North", hence the fact the two venues had so many things in common. The track
134-513: A British car, the Vanwall . The 1957 Grand Prix was also given the honorific " European Grand Prix " title and was the premier Formula One event of the season, attracting 150,000 spectators. The full Grand Prix circuit was last raced on in 1964, but part of it – the 1.535 mi (2.470 km) Club Circuit – is still open, having been operated by the Aintree Circuit Club from the mid-1960s to
201-554: A bus every 20 minutes to Liverpool runs through the village, while various other routes to Liverpool and destinations to the north—including Maghull , Ormskirk, and Southport —stop near the Old Roan. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs through the village. Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree , Merseyside, England. First run in 1839 , it
268-414: A consultant for Randox. The 2020 race was not run owing to the coronavirus pandemic ; in its place, a virtual race was produced using CGI technology and based on algorithms of the 40 horses most likely to have competed. The virtual race was won by Potters Corner, winner of the 2019 Welsh Grand National . (Another computer-generated virtual race was made also, whose runners were many horses who had won
335-476: A distance of 4 miles 514 yards (6.907 km), the longest of any National Hunt race in Britain. As part of a review of safety following the 2012 running of the event, from 2013 to 2015 the start was moved 90 yards (82 m) forward away from the crowds and grandstands, reducing the race distance by 110 yards (100 m) from the historical 4 miles 856 yards (7.220 km). The course has one of
402-470: A flexible plastic material which is more forgiving than the traditional wooden core fences. They are still topped with at least 14 inches (36 cm) of spruce for the horses to knock off. Some of the jumps carry names from the history of the race. All 16 are jumped on the first lap, but on the final lap, the runners bear to the right onto the run-in for home, avoiding The Chair and the Water Jump. The following
469-510: A length of winning the 1963 National . The last Seagram-sponsored Grand National was in 1991. Coincidentally, the race was won by a horse named Seagram. Martell , then a Seagram subsidiary, took over sponsorship of the Aintree meeting for an initial seven years from 1992, in a £4 million deal. The result of the 1993 Grand National was declared void after a series of incidents commentator Peter O'Sullevan later called "the greatest disaster in
536-498: A poor start, the pair went on to win 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 lengths ahead of the much-fancied Spartan Missile, ridden by amateur jockey and 54-year-old grandfather John Thorne. Champion and Aldaniti were instantly propelled to celebrity status, and within two years, their story had been re-created in the film Champions , starring John Hurt . From 1984 to 1991, Seagram sponsored the Grand National. The Canadian distiller provided
603-399: A railway station in the village. The village also had a public library (now closed). A retail park along Ormskirk Road on former industrial land has brought a significant number of major out-of-town shops to the area. Aintree Davenhill Primary School has a large field with a metal building that was built in the 1950s (since been rebuilt). The building was going to be a hospital building, but
670-485: A right pile-up... And now, with all this mayhem, Foinavon has gone off on his own! He's about 50, 100 yards in front of everything else! Commentator Michael O'Hehir describes the chaotic scene at the 23rd fence in 1967 In the 1967 Grand National , most of the field were hampered or dismounted in a mêlée at the 23rd fence, allowing a rank-outsider, Foinavon , to become a surprise winner at odds of 100/1. A loose horse named Popham Down, who had unseated his rider at
737-533: A second. Many explanations have been offered for Devon Loch's behaviour on the run-in, but the incident remains inexplicable. The incident became part of the folklore of the event, and by extension British sporting culture. In modern language, the phrase "to do a Devon Loch" is often used to describe a last-minute failure to achieve an expected victory. Rutherfords has been hampered, and so has Castle Falls; Rondetto has fallen, Princeful has fallen, Norther has fallen, Kirtle Lad has fallen, The Fossa has fallen, there's
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#1732851092908804-455: A solid foundation on which the race's revival could be built, firstly enabling the course to be bought from Davies and to be run and managed by the Jockey Club . It is said that Ivan Straker, Seagram's UK chairman, became interested in the potential opportunity after reading a passionate newspaper article written by journalist Lord Oaksey, who, in his riding days, had come within three-quarters of
871-523: Is a handicap steeplechase over an official distance of about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs (4 miles 514 yards (6.907 km)), with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. It is the most valuable jump race in Europe, with a prize fund of £1 million in 2017. An event that is prominent in British culture , the race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of
938-407: Is a summary of all 16 fences on the course: Height: 4 feet 6 inches (1.37 m) Often met at great speed, which can lead to several falls, the highest being 12 runners in 1951. The drop on the landing side was reduced after the 2011 Grand National . It was bypassed in both 2019 and 2023 on the final lap, after equine casualties. The fence was moved 60 yards nearer to the start from
1005-600: Is closer to Old Roan railway station . Both are on the Merseyrail Northern Line 's Ormskirk branch, with regular service between Liverpool Central and Ormskirk . In the past, it was also served by Aintree Central railway station on the North Liverpool Extension Line , located behind Aintree railway station. The North Mersey Branch also ran through, close to the station, and had Aintree Racecourse railway station . Bus services are regular:
1072-472: Is first recorded in 1226, also as Ayntre (the usual mediaeval spelling) in 1292. Eyntre occurs; Ayntree and Ayntrie, 16th century. Local legend held that an oak tree on Bull Bridge Lane (removed in 2004) was "the Ain tree" though the antiquity of the name excludes the possibility. The historic core of the village was a small linear settlement near the junction of School Lane, Bull Bridge Lane and Wango Lane. Much of
1139-687: Is situated within the Aintree Grand National Course, and in turn, contains a public nine-hole golf course operated by Aintree Racecourse. The fastest official race lap records at the Aintree Motor Racing Circuit are listed as: Aintree Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton , Merseyside , England. Historically in Lancashire , it lies between Walton and Maghull on
1206-504: The A59 road , 6 miles (10 kilometres) northeast of Liverpool city centre . In 2011 the parish had a population of 6689. It is best known as the site of Aintree Racecourse , which since the 19th century has staged the Grand National horserace. In the 1950s and 1960s, there was also a three-mile-long international Grand Prix motor racing circuit on the site, which used the same grandstands as
1273-505: The John Smith's People's Race which gave ten members of the public the chance to ride in a flat race at Aintree on Grand National day. In total, thirty members of the public took part in the event before it was discontinued in 2010. In 2009 , Mon Mome became the longest-priced winner of the National for 42 years when he defied outside odds of 100/1 to win by 12 lengths. The victory was also
1340-545: The Provisional Irish Republican Army . The course was secured by police who then evacuated jockeys, race personnel, and local residents along with 60,000 spectators. Cars and coaches were locked in the course grounds, leaving some 20,000 people without their vehicles over the weekend. With limited accommodation available in the city, local residents opened their doors and took in many of those stranded. This prompted tabloid headlines such as " We'll fight them on
1407-453: The BBC and Talksport currently broadcast the race in full. The Grand National had suffered three major disruptions in post-war history. The 1993 Grand National was not held due to a series of false starts, the postponement of the 1997 Grand National to a Monday because of an IRA bomb threat and the 2023 Grand National being delayed due to Animal Rising protesters. The most recent running of
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#17328510929081474-551: The Becher's ", in reference to Winston Churchill's war-time speech . The race was run 48 hours later on the Monday, with the meeting organisers offering 20,000 tickets with free admission. Red Rum's trainer Ginger McCain returned to the Grand National in 2004 , 31 years after Red Rum's epic run-in defeat of Crisp to secure his first of three wins. McCain's Amberleigh House came home first, ridden by Graham Lee , overtaking Clan Royal on
1541-431: The Grand National in past years, each shown with its performance as at its racing prime. Its winner was Red Rum by less than a length, having just passed Manifesto .) In December 2020 Randox Health announced they had extended their sponsorship for a further 5 years which will make them sponsors to 2026. In 2021, Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the race, on the horse Minella Times . In 2023,
1608-502: The Grand National. They're willing him home now! The 12-year-old Red Rum, being preceded only by loose horses, being chased by Churchtown Boy... They're coming to the elbow, just a furlong now between Red Rum and his third Grand National triumph! It's hats off and a tremendous reception, you've never heard one like it at Liverpool... and Red Rum wins the National! Commentator Peter O'Sullevan describes Red Rum's record third Grand National win in 1977 During this period, Red Rum
1675-433: The Grand National. In 1973, eight years after Mrs. Mirabel Topham announced she was seeking a buyer, the racecourse was finally sold to property developer Bill Davies. Davies tripled the admission prices, and consequently, the attendance at the 1975 race , won by L'Escargot , was the smallest in living memory. It was after this that bookmaker Ladbrokes made an offer, signing an agreement with Davies allowing them to manage
1742-539: The Irish trainer's hat-trick in 1955 . Oh, that's racing! The Queen Mother on Devon Loch 's collapse moments from certain victory The running of the 1956 Grand National witnessed one of the chase's most bizarre incidents. Devon Loch , owned by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother , had cleared the final fence in the leading position, five lengths clear of E.S.B. Forty yards from what seemed like certain victory, Devon Loch suddenly, and inexplicably, half-jumped into
1809-470: The National which had been set in 1935 by Reynoldstown. His record was to stand for the next seventeen years. Two years before the 1981 Grand National , jockey Bob Champion had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and given only months to live by doctors. But by 1981 he had recovered and was passed fit to ride in the Grand National. He rode Aldaniti , a horse deprived in its youth and which had only recently recovered from chronic leg problems. Despite
1876-519: The National. He turned the chase into a handicap in 1843 after it had been a weight-for-age race for the first four years, and took over the land lease in 1848. One century later, the Topham family bought the course outright. Later in the century, the race was the setting of a thriller by the popular novelist Henry Hawley Smart . For three years during the First World War , while Aintree Racecourse
1943-562: The United Kingdom since 1960 . From then until 2012 it was broadcast by the BBC . Channel 4 broadcast the event between 2013 and 2016 : UK broadcasting rights were transferred to ITV from 2017 . An estimated 500 to 600 million people watch the Grand National in over 140 countries. The race has also been broadcast on radio since 1927 ; BBC Radio held exclusive rights until 2013. Talksport acquired radio commentary rights in 2014: Both
2010-698: The Valentine end of the village in the Oriel Drive site. After substantial building work to extend the Oriel Drive school, the Aintree Lane/Altway site was closed as a school at the beginning of the 2008–09 academic year, was taken over by Old Roan Baptist Church and is now called the Hope Centre, providing various services for the local community. The school has a large field used for events such as their sports day and an all-weather sports pitch. The original building
2077-494: The air and collapsed in a belly-flop on the turf. Despite efforts by jockey Dick Francis , Devon Loch was unable to complete the race, leaving E.S.B. to cross the finishing line first. Responding to the commiserations of E.S.B.’s owner, the Queen Mother famously commented: "Oh, that's racing!" Had Devon Loch completed the race he might have set a new record for the fastest finishing time, which E.S.B. missed by only four-fifths of
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2144-401: The country for the first time. Finally, a committee was formed to better organise the event. These factors led to a more highly publicised race in 1839 which attracted a larger field of top quality horses and riders, greater press coverage, and increased attendance on race day. Over time the first three runnings of the event were quickly forgotten to secure the 1839 race its place in history as
2211-486: The course earlier), while Peter Scudamore only stopped because he saw his trainer, Martin Pipe , waving frantically at him. Seven horses completed the course, meaning the result was void. The first past the post was Esha Ness (in the second-fastest time ever), ridden by John White, trained by Jenny Pitman and owned by Patrick Bancroft. The 1997 Grand National was postponed after two coded bomb threats were received from
2278-465: The day of the 1928 Grand National , before the race had begun, Tipperary Tim 's jockey William Dutton heard a friend call out to him: "Billy boy, you'll only win if all the others fall down!" These words turned out to be true, as 41 of the 42 starters fell during the race. That year's National was run during misty weather conditions with the going very heavy. As the field approached the Canal Turn on
2345-410: The final straight. Hedgehunter , who would go on to win in 2005 , fell at the last while leading. McCain had equalled George Dockeray and Fred Rimell 's record feat of training four Grand National winners. In 2005 John Smith's took over from Martell as main sponsors of the Grand National and many of the other races at the three-day Aintree meeting for the first time. In 2006 John Smith's launched
2412-582: The finish line speed trap was 172 mph (277 km/h), although he did manage a speed of 176 mph (283 km/h) on an earlier run that day. His record still stands despite several drivers attempting to beat it. In addition, the Club Circuit sees occasional use by visiting events such as the Greenpower Electric Car Races for Schools, Sporting Bears Motor Club giving Dream Rides for charity, and also bicycle racing. The Club Circuit itself
2479-434: The first circuit, Easter Hero fell, causing a pile-up from which only seven horses emerged with seated jockeys. By the penultimate fence, this number had reduced to three, with Great Span looking most likely to win ahead of Billy Barton and Tipperary Tim. Great Span's saddle then slipped, leaving Billy Barton in the lead until he too then fell. Although Billy Barton's jockey Tommy Cullinan managed to remount and complete
2546-485: The first for trainer Venetia Williams , the first female trainer to triumph since Jenny Pitman in 1995 . The race was also the first National ride for Liam Treadwell . In 2010 the National became the first horse race to be televised in high-definition in the UK. In August 2013 Crabbie's was announced as the new sponsor of the Grand National. The three-year deal between the alcoholic ginger beer producer and Aintree saw
2613-501: The first jump, suddenly veered across the leading group at the 23rd, causing them to either stop, refuse or unseat their riders. Racing journalist Lord Oaksey described the resulting pile-up by saying that Popham Down had "cut down the leaders like a row of thistles". Some horses even started running in the wrong direction, back the way they had come. Foinavon, whose owner had such little faith in him that he had travelled to Worcester that day instead, had been lagging some 100 yards behind
2680-424: The first official Grand National. The 1839 race was won by rider Jem Mason on the aptly named, Lottery . The Duke was ridden by Martin Becher . The fence Becher's Brook is named after him and is where he fell in the race. By the 1840s, Lynn's ill-health blunted his enthusiasm for Aintree. Edward Topham, a respected handicapper and prominent member of Lynn's syndicate, began to exert greater influence over
2747-524: The form of three sprints, in May, June and September, and two track days in April and August on the Club Circuit. Nick Algar, the 2010 British Sprint Champion, set a new course record of 35.82 seconds on the 1.148 mi (1.847 km) sprint course on 26 June 2010 in a Gould GR55 3500cc. The record was previously set by Roy Dawson on 8 September 2007 in the same car, in a time of 36.03 seconds. Nick Algar's speed through
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2814-569: The former site of Holy Rosary Infants School) and Aintree Village Family Church (a Baptist church, meeting at Old Roan Methodist Church Hall, Altway); two small local shopping areas (on Altway and at the Old Roan); and three public houses, the Blue Anchor (which backs onto the Leeds and Liverpool Canal ), The Valentine, named after a fence on the racecourse, and the Old Roan (now closed), which gives its name to
2881-559: 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 suggests those three races were run over
2948-465: The history of the Grand National." While under starter's orders, one jockey was tangled in the starting tape which had failed to rise correctly. A false start was declared, but due to a lack of communication between course officials, 30 of the 39 jockeys did not realise this and began the race. Course officials tried to stop the runners by waving red flags, but many jockeys continued to race, believing that they were protesters (a group of whom had invaded
3015-440: The horserace. A shorter form of the racing circuit is still used for various motorsport events. The northern terminus of the Aintree district is commonly referred to by the local populace as "Old Roan." This nomenclature is a colloquial moniker employed by residents and lacks formal legal recognition as a distinct geographical location. The name Aintree, thought to be of Saxon origin, means "one tree" or "tree standing alone." It
3082-540: The last winner being Jack Brabham , in April 1964 (Brabham had made his Formula One debut at the circuit in the 1955 British GP). Aintree was the location for the famous race in 1955 in which Moss won his first British Grand Prix, driving a Mercedes. Two years later, he and Tony Brooks became the first British drivers to win the British Grand Prix and a round of the Formula One World Championship in
3149-487: The late 1990s. In the 1980s the 108 Car Club ( St. Helens ) brought rallying back to Aintree Circuit revitalising the circuit's use with new and innovative ideas. A limited amount of motorsport continues today in the form of car sprints, track days and motorcycle racing on the Club Circuit. The motorcycle events have been organised by Aintree Motor Cycle Racing Club since 1982, which runs six events at Aintree each year. The car events are organised by Liverpool Motor Club in
3216-448: The leading pack, giving his jockey, John Buckingham , time to steer his mount wide of the havoc and make a clean jump of the fence on the outside. Although 17 jockeys remounted and some made up considerable ground, particularly Josh Gifford on 15/2 favourite Honey End, none had time to catch Foinavon before he crossed the finishing line. The 7th/23rd fence was officially named the 'Foinavon fence' in 1984. The 1970s were mixed years for
3283-405: The longest run-ins from the final fence of any steeplechase, at 494 yards (452 m). The Grand National was designed as a cross-country steeplechase when it was first officially run in 1839. The runners started at a lane on the edge of the racecourse and raced away from the course out over open countryside towards the Leeds and Liverpool Canal . The gates, hedges, and ditches that they met along
3350-532: The nearby flat, wet and boggy land was reclaimed for agriculture following the Alt Drainage Act of 1779. The village itself has two primary schools , Aintree Davenhill and Holy Rosary and a Music School ; five churches, St. Giles ( Anglican ), Holy Rosary ( Roman Catholic ), Old Roan Methodist Church, Old Roan Baptist Church (which met in Davenhill Primary School until recently and now meets at
3417-512: The race from a small local affair to a national event. Firstly, the Great St. Albans Chase, which had clashed with the steeplechase at Aintree, was not renewed after 1838, leaving a major hole in the chasing calendar. Secondly, the railway, opened from Manchester to Liverpool in 1830, was linked to a line from London and Birmingham in 1839 enabling rail transport to the Liverpool area from large parts of
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#17328510929083484-415: The race run for a record purse of £1 million in 2014 . In March 2016 it was announced that Randox Health would take over from Crabbie's as official partners of the Grand National festival from 2017 , for at least five years. The sponsorship award was controversial as Aintree's chairwoman, Rose Paterson , was married to Owen Paterson , a Member of Parliament (MP) who also earns a £50,000 annual fee as
3551-559: The race was disrupted by the Animal Rising protests, the first such disruptions since the cancellation of the 1993 Grand National due to a series of false starts and the 1997 Grand National due to the IRA bomb threat. The Grand National is run over the National Course at Aintree and consists of two laps of 16 fences, the first 14 of which are jumped twice. Horses completing the race cover
3618-488: The race, in 2024 , was won by I Am Maximus. Since 2017, the race and accompanying festival have been sponsored by Randox . The next meeting will take place from 3–5 April 2025. 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 Lord Sefton laid
3685-483: The race, it was Tipperary Tim who came in first at outside odds of 100/1. With only two riders completing the course, this remains a record for the lowest number of finishers. Although the Grand National was run as normal in 1940 and most other major horse races around the world were able to be held throughout the war , the commandeering of Aintree Racecourse for defence use in 1941 meant no Grand National could be held from 1941 to 1945. It recommenced in 1946, when it
3752-456: The same course at Aintree and were regarded as having been Grand Nationals up until the mid-1860s. Contemporary newspaper reports place all the 1836–38 races at Aintree although the 1839 race is the first described as "national". However, calls for the Nationals of 1836–1838 to be restored to the record books have been unsuccessful. In 1838 and 1839 three significant events occurred to transform
3819-469: The stands. The majority of the race, therefore, took place not on the actual Aintree Racecourse but instead in the adjoining countryside. That countryside was incorporated into the modern course but commentators still often refer to it as "the country". There are 16 fences on the National Course topped with spruce from the Lake District . The cores of 12 fences were rebuilt in 2012 and they are now made of
3886-413: The way were flagged to provide them with the obstacles to be jumped along the way with posts and rails erected at the two points where the runners jumped a brook. The runners returned towards the racecourse by running along the edge of the canal before re-entering the course at the opposite end. The runners then ran the length of the racecourse before embarking on a second circuit before finishing in front of
3953-462: The year. The course over which the race is run features much larger fences than those found on conventional National Hunt tracks. Many of these fences, particularly Becher's Brook , The Chair and the Canal Turn , have become famous in their own right and, combined with the distance of the event, create what has been called "the ultimate test of horse and rider". The Grand National has been broadcast live on free-to-air terrestrial television in
4020-420: Was breaking all records to become the most successful racehorse in Grand National history. Originally bought as a yearling in 1966 for 400 guineas (£420), he passed through various training yards before being bought for 6,000 guineas (£6,300) by Ginger McCain on behalf of Noel le Mare. Two days after the purchase while trotting the horse on Southport beach, McCain noticed that Red Rum appeared lame. The horse
4087-409: Was built in the 1970s and 1980s. The main road from Liverpool to Aintree is the A59 (known as Ormskirk Road as it passes through Aintree) - with the road passing through Aintree's retail parks. The M57 , M58 , A59, and A5036 meet at a complex junction called Switch Island , between Aintree and Maghull . Although Aintree railway station is convenient for the racecourse, the village itself
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#17328510929084154-417: Was in second place at the last fence, 15 lengths behind champion horse Crisp , who was carrying 23 lbs more. Red Rum made up the ground on the run-in and, two strides from the finishing post, he pipped the tiring Crisp to win by three-quarters of a length in what is arguably the most memorable Grand National of all time. Red Rum finished in 9 minutes 1.9 seconds, taking 18.3 seconds off the previous record for
4221-581: Was run on a Friday, and from 1947 was moved to a Saturday, at the urging of the Home Secretary James Chuter Ede , who thought this would make it more accessible to working people. It has normally been run on a Saturday ever since. During the 1950s the Grand National was dominated by Vincent O'Brien , who trained different winners of the race for three consecutive years between 1953 and 1955. Early Mist secured O'Brien's first victory in 1953 ; Royal Tan won in 1954 , and Quare Times completed
4288-448: Was suffering from pedal osteitis , an inflammatory bone disorder. McCain had witnessed many lame carthorses reconditioned by being galloped in sea-water. He successfully used this treatment on his newly acquired racehorse. Red Rum became, and remains as of 2018, the only horse to have won the Grand National three times, in 1973 , 1974 , and 1977 . He also finished second in the two intervening years, 1975 and 1976 . In 1973, he
4355-640: Was taken over by the War Office , an alternative race was run at Gatwick Racecourse , a now disused course on land now occupied by Gatwick Airport . The first of these races, in 1916, was called the Racecourse Association Steeplechase, and in 1917 and 1918 the race was called the War National Steeplechase. The races at Gatwick are not always recognised as "Grand Nationals" and their results are often omitted from winners' lists. On
4422-403: Was turned into a school. The classrooms were along corridors that were originally going to be hospital wards. Holy Rosary Primary School was a split-site school until 2008 with an approximate 1 ⁄ 2 mile (800 metres) between the schools. The reception and infant classes were based at a site at the Old Roan end of the village between Altway and Aintree Lane, and the junior classes based at
4489-646: Was well surfaced and relatively flat – ranging from 49–98 ft (15–30 m) in elevation. The circuit has hosted the Formula One British Grand Prix five times, in 1955 , 1957 , 1959 , 1961 and 1962 . In addition to the Grands Prix, which were organised by the British Automobile Racing Club , the circuit also held eleven non-championship Formula One races, known as the Aintree 200 , first won by Stirling Moss in 1954 with
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