The Grand National is a horse race in Liverpool, England that appeal to a wide span of people more than any other race in the sport. It is described as “the world’s most famous steeplechase”, with over 70,000 spectators traveling to the Aintree Racecourse event each year and millions watching on television.
A trip to Liverpool for the Grand National Meeting is something many sports fans and travel enthusiasts have on their bucket lists. Here are some of the reasons the race is so popular.
Strong Field Set to Compete In 2023
Noble Yeats and @swaleycohen win the 2022 Grand National! pic.twitter.com/Bm1y9qcV54
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 9, 2022
40 runners are set to line up in the Grand National this year and it will include many of the leading chasers in the sport. 2022 winner Noble Yeats is bidding to defend his crown and he is the +800 second favorite for those looking to place racing bets on the three-day meeting.
The full list of horses set to feature, and their weight allocation, has already been announced, and it includes Cheltenham Festival winner Corach Rambler, last year’s runner-up Any Second Now, highly-rated Irish horse Delta Work and former Grade One winner Galvin.
Unique Aspect to The Race
As well as being the largest field of runners for any race under Rules around the world, the fences the horses jump are much bigger than you will find at any other National Hunt course. Many of these obstacles are unique in their size and shape.
This race is the toughest test any jumps horse can face in their career. That is why only a handful of horses have won the race more than once, with Tiger Roll being the latest to do when he prevailed in 2019.
Liverpool Opens Its Arms to The World
The city of Liverpool opens its arms to the world every April for the Grand National. It is a city that is used to hosting major sporting events. It includes two of the biggest soccer clubs in the world, Liverpool and Everton, while it is a city that stages major music events.
Travel into Liverpool is easy as the city has an airport and a major train station. Transport to and from the racecourse can be made by bus or train. Once racing finishes, racegoers tend to head back into the city to enjoy the nightlife there.
History And Tradition
Like all great sporting events, the Grand National has a lot of history and tradition to it. The race was first run in 1839 when Lottery was successful. Since then, there have been 173 more renewals of the steeplechase.
Some of the highlights in history include Red Rum’s third success in 1977. When he passed away, he was buried next to the winning line at Aintree. There is also a statue at the racecourse today in his honor.
A history maker💚💛
Happy retirement to 2021 Grand National winner, Minella Times! pic.twitter.com/dxWOI5p9gQ
— Great British Racing (@GBRacing) February 21, 2023
In 2021, Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the race when she partnered Minella Times to victory. That was a big moment as her achievement picked up a lot of news coverage around the world.
The Grand National is sure to continue to thrive as one of the sporting highlights of the year, so try and book your ticket there if you get the chance.
