Aintree Races

Aintree is the home of the Grand National which is arguably the greatest race horses in the world. No other race is far from matching the excitement at Aintree Grand National day, April the 5th 2008 race will be no different.

The history of the Aintree race is also the story of the Grand National. It is inconceivable today to imagine the Grand National which is held at any other race in England, but it seemed quite possible in the early post-war. By 1965 the Aintree course looked likely to be sold to a developer and every year the press warned that this could be "the last Grand National".

In 1973 the course was eventually sold to property developer Bill Davies who gave a commitment to keep the race went on but the heart seems never quite in it. Participation in the 1975 Grand National was the lowest in living memory (entry fee has been tripled by Davies) and the Grand National had reached its lowest point and it looked like the end of the big race.

In 1975, a campaign was launched by bookmakers Ladbrokes to revive the patient Grand National race. Ladbrokes had a deep love for the National and when they took control of its management that they were determined to maintain. After 8 years of management by Ladbrokes the future of the Grand National and Aintree seemed secure.

Property developer Davies was impressed by the chances of a quick fortune and still seemed determined to sell the Aintree course. Finally, the public realized that this may be the last chance for the Grand National to be saved and a campaign was launched to rescue the race once and for all. generous donations from the public allowed the Jockey Club for the purchase of Aintree Davies. In 1984, the distillers Seagram stepped in to provide the solid foundation on which Aintree revival has been built. The latest national Seagram was sponsored in 1991, when the race was won by a horse which chairman Straker twice had the opportunity to buy the horse's name was Seagram.

A subsidiary of the Seagram company, Martell Cognac, took over the sponsorship in 1992. Meanwhile, the National has blossomed. In 2004, approximately 150,000 people were at Aintree to watch the last race Martell supported. Aintree racecourse now enjoys its most successful period.

There is much debate among historians regarding the first official Grand National race held and most who trawl libraries and newspaper archives of the United Kingdom now prefer the idea that the first was in 1836 and was won by the Duke. This same horse triumphed again in 1837 when Sir William was the winner in 1838.