Aintree Racecourse

Aintree

Aintree Racecourse Logo
Location	Aintree, Merseyside, England
Owned by	Jockey Club Racecourses
Date opened	7 July 1829
Screened on	Racing UK
Course type	National Hunt
Notable races	Grand National
Official website

Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. The racecourse is best known for annually holding the world-famous Grand National steeplechase.

The course is home of the Grand National steeplechase, one of the most famous races in the world. Prior to the event being held at Aintree, the race was run in the nearby district of Maghull. Steeplechasing at Aintree was introduced in 1839, though flat racing had taken place there for many years prior to this. 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. These are so infamous that even their names strike fear into the most professional of jockeys. 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 November 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 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 but fewer than ten may in fact complete the course. In 1928, 42 horses started and only two finished the course. 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.