Aintree Racecourse facts for kids
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The racecourse in 2006
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| Location | Aintree, Merseyside, England |
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| Owned by | Jockey Club Racecourses |
| Date opened | 7 July 1829 |
| Screened on | Racing TV |
| Course type | National Hunt |
| Notable races | Grand National |
Aintree Racecourse is a famous place for horse racing in Aintree, Merseyside, England. It's very close to the city of Liverpool. This racecourse is most famous for hosting the Grand National, a very challenging horse race called a steeplechase. This big event happens every April over three days. Aintree also has other race meetings in May, October, November, and December.
The Aintree Racecourse has faced a few big challenges in recent times. The 1993 Grand National had problems with false starts, so no winner was announced. In 1997 Grand National, the race was moved to Monday because of a bomb threat. More recently, the 2023 Grand National was delayed by Animal Rights protesters.
Contents
History of Aintree Racecourse
Horse racing has been popular in Liverpool for a very long time, even back in the Tudor period. In the 1700s, a man named Nicholas Blundell organized races on the sandy beaches at Crosby.
How Aintree Started
In 1829, William Lynn, who owned a hotel in Liverpool, talked to the Earl of Sefton, William Philip Molyneux. The Earl, who loved racing, agreed to let Lynn use his land for flat racing.
The first meeting at Aintree Racecourse happened on 7 July 1829. Lynn built a grandstand for spectators. The very first race was won by a horse named Mufti. In 1835, Lynn started organizing hurdle races, which were very popular. A famous rider, Captain Martin Becher, even took part and won two races.
The First Grand National Race
Captain Becher told Lynn about a long, cross-country race called the Great St. Albans Steeplechase. This gave Lynn the idea to create a similar race at Aintree.
With Becher's help, Lynn organized the Liverpool Grand Steeplechase. It was first run on 29 February 1836. Ten horses competed, ridden by gentlemen. Captain Becher himself won the race on a horse called The Duke. Some people think this 1836 race was the first Grand National. However, most historians agree that the 1839 race was the official start.
The Grand National Becomes Famous
By 1839, important people like Lords Derby and Sefton supported a national racing event at Aintree. The race was called the 'Grand Liverpool Steeplechase'. It was advertised as "four miles across country." It had 29 obstacles, including a five-foot stone wall.
During this race, Captain Becher fell into a brook. This brook is now famously known as Becher's Brook. A horse named Lottery won the race. About 50,000 people came to watch this first 'National' race.
Over the next few years, the race became very popular. Edward William Topham took over the main role at Aintree. In 1843, he changed the race to a "handicap" race. This means horses carried different weights based on their past performance. The race officially became the 'Grand National' in 1847.
Aintree During the Wars
The Grand National continued to grow in popularity throughout the late 1800s. It became the most important race in the national hunt calendar.
During the First World War, Aintree was used by the army. So, a different race was held at Gatwick Racecourse from 1916 to 1918. The Grand National returned to Aintree in 1919.
In the Second World War, Aintree was again used as a storage place for soldiers. The racecourse reopened in 1946. The Grand National was first run on a Saturday in 1947.
Changes and Improvements
In 1949, the Topham family bought the racecourse completely. To celebrate, they started a new race called the Topham Trophy. In 1953, the Mildmay steeplechase course opened. It had smaller versions of the Grand National fences.
In the 1960s and 70s, there was worry that Aintree might be sold for housing. This led to talks about the Grand National moving to another location. In 1973, Bill Davies, a property developer, bought Aintree. Attendance at the Grand National dropped in 1975 because ticket prices went up.
However, the race meeting was improved in 1976 under new management. Finally, in 1983, the Jockey Club bought the course. This secured Aintree's future.
Most of Aintree's old stands were taken down in 1985. New, modern stands were built over the years. The Queen Mother opened a new permanent stand in 1991. In 1998, a new stand named after the Princess Royal was opened.
In 1995, Red Rum, the only horse to win the Grand National three times, passed away. He was buried near the winning post at the course.
More big changes happened in 2006. A new parade ring, weighing room, and winners' enclosure were built. In 2007, two more grandstands were opened, named after the Earl of Derby and Lord Sefton. In 2015, the old weighing room was named 'McCoys' to honor the famous jockey A. P. McCoy.
Courses at Aintree
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Aintree has three different courses for horse racing: the Grand National course, the Mildmay steeplechase course, and the Hurdles' course.
Grand National Course
The Grand National course is shaped like a triangle and is about 2 miles and 2 furlongs long. It has 16 fences, including three open ditches and a water jump. The fences are quite tall, ranging from 4 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 2 inches. 'The Chair' is the biggest fence.
Some fences have a "drop," meaning the landing side is lower than the take-off side. Becher's Brook is one of these, known for its drop. The fences on this course are covered with spruce, which is unique in British National Hunt racing.
This course is known as one of the most difficult to complete. Famous fences include the Chair, Foinavon, Valentine's, Canal Turn, and Becher's Brook.
The fences have been changed over the years to make them safer. For example, the brooks at Becher's and Valentine's were filled in. The drop at Becher's has also been reduced.
Mildmay Course
The Mildmay Course is named after Lord Anthony Mildmay. He was a champion amateur jockey who thought Aintree needed a "nursery" course. This course would have smaller versions of the Grand National fences. It would help horses get used to Aintree's unique obstacles.
The Mildmay course opened in December 1953. It allowed Aintree to host only National Hunt races for the first time. Before this, Aintree could only have flat races or mixed meetings. The course is an oval shape, a little over 1 mile 2 furlongs long. It has eight fences.
Over time, the Mildmay course was changed. In 1975, its spruce fences were replaced with standard birch fences. In 1990, the water jump was no longer used.
Hurdles' Course
The Hurdles' Course is the oldest of Aintree's three courses. It used to be the flat course. It's a left-handed oval, about 1 mile 3 furlongs long, with sharp turns. It has six hurdles: three on the back straight and three on the home straight.
The last flat race at Aintree took place in 1976. Interestingly, the famous horse Red Rum ran his first race at Aintree on this course in 1967. He dead-heated (finished in a tie) in a five-furlong race.
The Grand National Race
The Grand National is a very long and challenging race. It used to be about 4 miles 856 yards long. In 2013, the start line was moved to reduce noise from the crowd. The race is now about 4 miles and 514 yards long. It is considered one of the toughest steeplechases in the world.
Usually, 40 horses take part in the race. This has been the maximum number since 1984. However, often fewer than ten horses actually finish the course. For example, in 1928, 42 horses started, but only two finished! The horse with the most wins in the Grand National is Red Rum. He won three times in the 1970s and also came in second twice.
Recent Disruptions at Aintree
Aintree Racecourse has faced a few disruptions during the Grand National:
- In 1993 Grand National, the race was not held. This was because of several false starts, which caused confusion.
- The 1997 Grand National was postponed to Monday. This happened because of an IRA bomb threat, which led to 60,000 people being evacuated from the course.
- In 2023 Grand National, the race was delayed. This was due to protests by the Animal Rising group.
Other Events at Aintree
Aintree is not just for horse racing! It has also hosted other exciting events.
Motor Racing
Aintree has also been used for motor racing. The British Grand Prix, a major Formula 1 race, was held here five times between 1955 and 1962. The circuit also hosted other Formula 1 races that were not part of the championship.
One interesting fact is that Alfonso de Portago is the only person to have competed in both horse races and motor races at Aintree. He rode in the Grand National in 1950 and 1952. He also drove a Ferrari in a motor race in 1955.
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Music Concerts
Aintree has also been a venue for big music concerts:
- Michael Jackson finished the European part of his 1987–1989 Bad World Tour here on 11 September 1988. More than 125,000 people came to see him!
- P!nk performed at Aintree in 2007 during her I'm Not Dead Tour.
- Bands like Kaiser Chiefs and the Chemical Brothers have also performed concerts at Aintree.
Golf
The racecourse also has a 9-hole golf course and a driving range inside its boundaries. Some features of the racecourse, like Becher's Brook, are even part of the golf course! The golf facilities are closed when horse or motor races are happening.
Transport Links
Aintree Racecourse used to have two railway stations. One was called Aintree Racecourse railway station, which opened around 1890. The other was Aintree Sefton Arms, which opened in 1849. The racecourse station closed in 1962. Aintree Sefton Arms became simply Aintree in 1968 and is still open today.
