Welcome to our complete guide to Aintree Racecourse, home of the Grand National. The first official Grand National took place in 1839 with victory going to the appropriately named Lottery. It soon became established as the world’s greatest steeplechase with many of the winners becoming household names.
Red Rum (1973, 1974 and 1977) remains the only horse to win the race three times and his name is synonymous with the Grand National. The remarkable story of Aldaniti and jockey Bob Champion in 1981 touched many hearts and was later made into a film.
Other notable winners include Foinavon (1967), L’Escargot (1975), West Tip (1986) and Don’t Push It (2010). The race continues to create headlines beyond the racing pages with Tiger Roll (2018, 2019) recording back-to-back victories and Rachael Blackmore’s famous victory aboard Minella Times (2021).
Other top Aintree races include the Betway Bowl, the Aintree Hurdle and Liverpool Hurdle. Notable past winners to grace the Aintree turf include Desert Orchid, Morley Street and Big Buck’s.
General information about the Aintree racecourse
Aintree racecourse was originally owned by Lord Sefton before it was sold to the Topham Family in 1949. Mirabel Topham was one of the colourful and controversial characters in UK racing, eventually parting with the racecourse to property developer Bill Davies in 1973. Planning permission was never granted and the Grand National survived. Today, the course is one of fifteen tracks owned and managed by the Jockey Club Racecourses.
The Aintree racecourse capacity of 75,000 is second only to Epsom (120,000) in British racecourses. Aintree Race track is located on the A59 on the outskirts of Liverpool, just one mile from the M57 and M58. It is easily accessible by road and rail.
| Aintree Racecourse Address | Ormskirk Road, Aintree, Merseyside L9 5AS |
|---|---|
| Website | thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/ |
| Aintree racecourse map | thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/plan-your-day/racecourse-map/ |
| Ticket Office | 0344 579 3001 |
| Hospitality | 0151 522 2911 |
| General Enquiries | 0151 523 2600 |
| Email Address | aintree.racecourse@thejockeyclub.co.uk |
History of the Aintree racecourse
Aintree racecourse was officially opened in 1829 when staging only flat racing. The first jumps race at Aintree was the Liverpool Grand Steeplechase in 1836 with the inaugural Grand National taking place three years’ later. Victory went to Lottery in front of a crowd of 50,000 spectators.
Aintree race track is one of the flattest in the country for National Hunt racing. Most chases are held on the tighter Aintree circuit known as the Mildmay course which has regular birch fences. It also stages the Grade 1 Betway Bowl and Melling Chase.
The Grand National course is famous for its big spruce fences but only hosts five steeplechases each season. The National is over two circuits of the triangular course including notorious obstacles like The Chair and Becher’s Brook. Besides the Grand National, the festival meeting also features the Topham Chase and the Foxhunter Chase over the National fences. The other races over the Grand National course are the Grand Sefton Chase and the Becher Chase at the December meeting.
The Grand National was temporarily moved to Gatwick Racecourse during the First World War between 1916 and 1918. Aintree racecourse was requisitioned by the military during the Second World War between 1941 and 1945. The last flat race was held at Aintree in 1976 with the course now second only to Cheltenham racecourse as a leading jumps venue.
Aintree racecourse faced a financial crisis in the 1970’s. The course had been on the market for eight years when Bill Davies bought it from Mirabel Topham in 1973. The attendance figures plummeted after Davies tripled the admission prices. For a while it seemed as though The Grand National was under threat to property developers. Ladbrokes eventually secured an agreement with Davies permitting them to manage the big race. There have been numerous race sponsors since with the current agreement to be run as the Randox Grand National until 2026.
The Grand National would continue uninterrupted until 1993 when a false start led to chaos on the track. Esha Ness and jockey John White completed the course ahead of only six rivals but the race was declared void. There was more drama in 1997 when a bomb threat forced the evacuation of the racecourse.
The Grand National was re-arranged for the following Monday with victory going to Lord Gyllene and Tony Dobbin. Unfortunately, there was no reprieve in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic forced the abandonment of the meeting, denying Tiger Roll a possible hat-trick of victories.
Aintree Racecourse Events and Famous Races
The highlight of the year for Aintree races is the Grand National Festival in April. The feature event is the richest steeplechase in Europe with prize money of £1 million. It is also the biggest betting race of the year. Only the top races at Cheltenham Festival in March compares with the National in terms of betting turnover.
There are eleven Grade 1 races at the Grand National festival including the Aintree Hurdle and the Betway Bowl, targets for Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup horses respectively. Other top grade races include the Melling Chase and the Liverpool Hurdle, attracting Cheltenham horses from the Ryanair Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle.
The October meeting features the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase over two and a half miles. The title includes the name of popular three-time winner Monet’s Garden (2007, 2009 and 2010).
The Grand Sefton Handicap Chase was moved from December to the early November meeting in 2021 to raise its profile. The highlight of the December meeting is the Becher Chase, a recognised trial for the Grand National. No horse has won the Becher and the Grand National in the same season, although Earth Summit (1998), Amberleigh House (2001) and Silver Birch (2004) all won here after winning the big race.
The Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase was introduced in 2011 over the Mildmay Course and is named after the 2015 National winner. Many Clouds won this race in 2016 and the race now serves as a trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Randox Grand National
Red Rum is only horse to win three Grand Nationals and remains a household name. His first victory in 1973 will always been remembered as much for the agonising defeat of the front-running Crisp as for Red Rum’s relentless run to the line. Richard Pitman rode top weight Crisp who had been clear of the field until tiring and being caught on the run-in.
Red Rum defeated L’Escargot in 1974 but the placings were reversed the following season. Ginger McCain’s popular gelding finished second again in 1976 before achieving a record third victory at the age of 12 in 1977. Red Rum died in 1995 at the age of thirty and was buried adjacent to the Aintree winning post.
The unluckiest loser in the history of the Grand National was Her Majesty The Queen Mother’s Devon Loch in 1956. He looked certain to provide a famous Royal victory but appeared to spook at something on the run-in and sprawled on the turf, allowing E.S.B. to steal the prize. Another fortunate winner was 100-1 outsider Foinavon in 1967. He escaped a huge pile-up at the 23rd fence and galloped on to victory. The fence now carries the winner’s name.
Bob Champion’s win on Aldaniti in 1981 was one of the most heart-warming sporting stories in history. Champion had recovered from cancer to ride in the race while his mount had returned from a career-threatening injury. The race inspired the movie “Champions” which starred John Hurt and Edward Woodward.
In 2010 Don’t Push It provided Champion jockey Tony McCoy with a long awaited Grand National win after fifteen previous attempts. In 2021 the Grand National made headlines around the world when Rachael Blackmore became the first female rider to win the race. She stormed to victory on Minella Times, just weeks after becoming the leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival.
Aintree Ladies Day
The second day of the Grand National Festival is known as Ladies’ Day and is renowned for the fashion as much as for the racing action. The Style Awards and entertainment have helped to raise the profile of Ladies Day to new heights in recent years.
On the track, the highlight of Aintree Ladies day is the Grade 1 Melling Chase over two and a half miles. This race attracts runners from the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. Other key races include the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle, the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle and the Mildmay Novices’ Chase. The Topham Chase provides the day’s action over the big Grand National fences.
The Grade 1 Melling Chase is over two and a half miles. In 2019, Min defeated Politologue with the two horses winning the 2020 Ryanair Chase and Champion Chase respectively. There have been five dual winners including Viking Flagship (1995, 1996) and Moscow Flyer (2004, 2005).
Aintree Music, Motors and other events
Form at the Cheltenham Festival dominates the big races at Aintree throughout the Grand National meeting. Day one features four Grade 1 races; The Manifesto Novices’ Chase, Doom Bar Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle, Aintree Hurdle and Betway Bowl.
Silviniaco Conti (2014, 2015) became the fourth dual winner of the Bowl with other notable winners including Desert Orchid (1988), See More Business (2000) and Cue Card (2016). Morley Street who won the Aintree Hurdle for four successive seasons from 1990 to 1993. The opening day also includes the Foxhunters’ Chase, the first race of the year over the Grand National fences.
The second day of the Grand National Festival is known as Ladies’ Day and features the Grade 1 Melling Chase over two and a half miles. This race regularly attracts runners from the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. The other key Grade 1 races on day 2 are the Top Novices’ Hurdle, the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle and the Mildmay Novices’ Chase. The Topham Chase is the second event to be staged over the big Grand National fences.
The Grand National provides the climax of the week on Saturday’s third and final day with 40 runners tackling 30 fences over an extended four and a quarter miles. There are also three Grade 1 races on the final day; The Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, the Maghull Novices’ Chase and the Liverpool Hurdle. Big Buck’s dominated the Liverpool Hurdle with four consecutive victories between 2009 and 2012. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding had previously won the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on all four occasions.
Aintree Racehorse also plays host to music events with full information and tickets available on the website. It also has a rich history of motor racing. Between 1955 and 1962 Aintree hosted five British and one European Grand Prix, notably the 1955 British Grand Prix won by Stirling Moss. The last Aintree Grand Prix took place in 1962, although club events continued until 1982.
Famous Aintree Jockeys
While Grand National glory has been the pinnacle of their career for some jockeys, the prize has eluded many more including some of the finest jump jockeys in history. The likes of Terry Biddlecombe, John Francome, Josh Gifford, Stan Mellor, Jonjo O’Neill and Richard Johnson never managed to win the National.
For many years it seemed that the Grand National was destined to elude Tony McCoy before his famous victory aboard Don’t Push It in 2010 at the fifteenth attempt. The most successful rider in the history of the race was George Stevens who registered a record fifth victory in 1870 aboard The Colonel. Rachael Blackmore rode in racing folklore when becoming the first female rider to win the Grand National in 2021.
Aintree Dress Code – Grand National, Ladies Days and other races outfits
Officially there is no Grand National dress code for Aintree racecourse but smart is preferred. The only exception is the wearing of sports clothing and fancy dress which are not permitted for the Festival meeting. Smart dress is encouraged for all enclosures which helps to add to the colour, style and fashion, particularly at Aintree events such as Ladies day.
Fancy dress is permitted at other Aintree horse racing meetings but remains at the discretion of the racecourse. The outfit must be deemed not to be offensive and fancy dress is not allowed in course hospitality or restaurant facilities.
Aintree Hospitality – Get there, Stay and Eat around the Racecourse
Aintree is on the outskirts of Liverpool, just one mile from the M57 and M58. Motorists should follow the A59 to Liverpool and the racecourse is clearly sign-posted on all race days.
Rail passengers arriving at Liverpool Lime Street should make the short walk to Liverpool Central Station for trains direct to Aintree Station. The station is directly opposite the racecourse with trains running every 15 minutes on race days. The nearest airport is Liverpool John Lennon Airport, just 20 minutes’ drive away. Manchester Airport is about 45 minutes away by car.
Aintree racecourse hospitality packages range from restaurants to private boxes. Every raceday offers fine dining at either the Golden Miller Restaurant or the Princess Royal Restaurant. Hospitality is available from the heart of the racecourse to stunning views over the winning line. The Aintree racecourse map can be viewed online together with a jockey club app for an interactive view with access to tickets, racecards, exclusive content and competitions.
FAQs
Is the West Tip Enclosure covered over?
Yes, a ticket for the West Tip Enclosure provides you with a reserved covered seat at Aintree racecourse. It also has a private bar, toilet facilities and access to the Red Rum Garden with live entertainment. There are excellent views of the home straight as well as the parade ring and winners’ enclosure.
What is the capacity of the Aintree racecourse?
The Aintree racecourse capacity is 75,000 spectators. An estimated 150,000 spectators attended the three-day Grand National Festival in 2022. The big race was cancelled in 2020 and staged behind closed doors in 2021 due to the pandemic.
How many fences are on the Grand National race?
There are thirty fences in total to be jumped in the Grand National. There are sixteen fences on the course, fourteen of them being jumped twice during the race. The Chair and the Water Jump are situated near the finishing line so are only jumped on the first circuit.
What is the Aintree Ladies Day dress code?
There is no official dress code for Aintree Racecourse. However, sports clothes and fancy dress are not permitted for the Randox Grand National Festival. Hats are optional but are often worn, particularly on Aintree Ladies Day.
What are the main Aintree racecourse events?
The Grand National is the big event of the year in April, the climax of the three-day spring meeting. There are eleven Grade 1 races during the Grand National Festival including the Betway Bowl, Aintree Hurdle, Liverpool Hurdle and Melling Chase. Other big Aintree racecourse events include the Old Roan Chase in October and the Becher Chase in December.