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Aintree Grand National

The Grand National is the premier horse-race over fences in the United Kingdom and is usually held in early April at the Aintree race course near Liverpool. The current race is run over two circuits of the Aintree course. The race covers approximately four and half miles and 30 fences, some of which have acquired near-legendary status for their severity, particularly Becher's Brook and The Chair, although in recent years due to pressure from various agencies this severity has been much reduced.

The only horse to ever win the Grand National three times was Red Rum who won in 1973, 1974, and in 1977.

A fictional account of a young girl training the winner of the Grand National by Edith Bagnold was made into a film National Velvet starring the young Elizabeth Taylor as the heroine, Velvet Brown.

There is much debate among historians regarding the first official race held at Aintree and most who have trawled the newspaper libraries of the United Kingdom now prefer the idea that the first running was in 1836 and was won by The Duke. This same horse triumphed again in 1837 while Sir William was the winner in 1838.

Winning horses

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