Aintree Grand National

Aintree Grand National

The first races at Aintree were run in 1829 and were organised by a syndicate that leased the land from Lord Sefton and set out a course with a grandstand. The first races were flat races and it was some years later in 1835 that the first jump races were held.

On Tuesday 26th February 1839 the first Grand Liverpool Steeplechase was run over 2 circuits and 20 fences including a stone wall and was won by a horse called Lottery ridden by Jem Mason, trained by George Dockeray and owned by John Elmore.

Mr Edward William Topham, a member of the original syndicate and a respected handicapper, was responsible for turning the race into a handicap race in 1843 and The Grand Liverpool Steeplechase was renamed the Liverpool and National Steeplechase in the same year. The race was renamed again in 1847 to The Grand National.

The Aintree Grand National course is now 4 miles and 4 furlongs and the race is run over 30 fences, all of which, with the exception of the water jump, are 4ft 6in or more in height.