2011 Grand National: Aintree Racecourse History
The Grand National is horse racing’s premier event; it is not only the most eagerly awaited event in horse racing, but in the entire of the Great British sporting calendar – every year sees unprecedented amounts of Grand National Betting, with the 2011 Grand National expected to be no exception to this trend.
As you would expect from an event of such grandeur and magnitude, the racecourse which it is staged on has to be up to such a massive job. Expectations are always high, yet the Aintree Racecourse has never failed to deliver its top-class racing action. In order to complete this mammoth course, runners are required to jump a total of 30 Grand National fences (although there are only 16 individual fences, the first 14 of these must be jumped twice – once on each circuit of the course), with only the infamous ‘Chair’ and ‘Water Jump’ being jumped once. The course is absolutely steeped in obstacles, with many being famous throughout steeplechase racing as the hardest a jockey or horse is ever likely to encounter; among these is the formidable Becher’s Brook – it is the sixth jump on the track and had to be modified in 1989 for safety reasons; despite this, it is still one of the most feared challenges that a runner can expect to face and has ended the Grand National campaigns of many promising contenders.
The first official races held at Aintree Racecourse were established by a Mr William Lynn, owner of Liverpool’s Waterloo Hotel, way back in 1829. The first official Aintree Grand National was not ran until 1839, where its first ever victory was claimed by ‘Lottery’, who came in at 5-1 odds (an aptly named favourite, if ever there was one). Since its humble beginnings, the Aintree Grand National has continued to go from strength to strength, pulling more crowds and spectators from around the world than ever before. Together with the illustrious Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National represents the pinnacle of horse racing, with every jockey and trainer looking to make their own mark by becoming part of Grand National history.
Don’t forget to visit Ladbrokes for the latest odds on the Grand National, as well as some great free bets.