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John Smith's Grand National Meeting
Aintree
The John Smith's Grand National is the world’s most famous steeplechase thanks to a history packed with drama, romance and misfortune.
Since the inaugural race in 1839 – won by the appropriately named Lottery – the National has captured the imagination of the British public. Millions watch on TV as the runners and riders tackle 30 challenging fences over the marathon four-and-a-half-mile trip.
But there is nothing to beat a day at the National – the roar as the tapes go up, the gasps of astonishment and awe as the big field tackles the mighty fences and the hero’s welcome accorded the winner as he is led back through the crowd to the unsaddling enclosure.
Another must for any racing enthusiast is to walk the course before racing to check out the famous fences - Becher’s Brook (named after the captain who was catapulted over the fence into the brook on the other side in the first National), The Chair (the biggest obstacle on the course) and Foinavon (the smallest fence but scene of the famous pile-up that allowed 100-1 outsider Foinavon to steal glory in 1967).
This is the course where history was made – from Red Rum’s hat-trick in 1977 and Bob Champion’s comeback from cancer to triumph on Aldaniti (1981), to near-misses such as Devon Loch spreadeagling within sight of the winning post in 1956 and brave, front-running Crisp being passed in the closing stages by Red Rum in 1973.
Of course, the National meeting has much more to offer
than the big race. The three-day meeting is packed with
top-quality races, including the John Smiths Liverpool
Hurdle Race, on the opening day, the Aintree Melling Chase
on day two and the John Smiths Aintree Hurdle as the main
supporting feature on the big day.
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