Hosted at Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside since its official 1839 inauguration, this horse race has become a sporting institution in British popular culture.
Wealthier events have sprung up in distant corners of the world, although when it comes to history and prestige, nothing can top the history and prestige boasted by the annual Grand National. Hosted at Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside since its official 1839 inauguration, this horse race has become a sporting institution in British popular culture.
The suggestion of Captain Becher
Competitive equestrian events in the Liverpool area date back to Tudor times, while Blundell Sands in Crosby were named after an organiser of horse races on the beach, Nicholas Blundell. But it was in 1829 that the origins of the Grand National began, when William Lynn, owner of the iconic Waterloo Hotel in Ranelagh Street, approached the Second Earl of Sefton, about leasing land for horse races.
The Second Earl of Sefton, William Philip Molyneux, was also known as ‘Lord Dashalong’ by friends for his love of riding. Enamoured by the idea, he agreed and laid the foundation stone at Aintree on 7th February 1829, placing a container full of sovereigns within the footings. Lynn funded the building of a grandstand for the first meeting at Aintree Racecourse on 7th July 1829, which was the Croxteth Stakes run over 1 mile and 2 furlongs.
Photo by Martin Damboldt from Pexels
By 1835, Lynn began to organise steeplechase races at the venue to great success, attracting famed riders of the time including Captain Martin Becher. According to local folklore, it was Becher who regaled Lynn with tales of the Great St. Albans Steeplechace, prompting the idea of a similar event at Aintree. This was organised as the Liverpool Grand Steeplechase, run on 29 February 1836 and won by Becher himself, riding The Duke to victory.
To this very day, many historians continue to contest that in fact, this was the first actual running of the Grand National, given the racecourse, the distance, and the jumps were very similar to the race in its modern format. However, the general consensus of opinion maintains that it was the 1839 running at Aintree, per this detailed exploration of Grand National history: https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/aintree-racecourse-profile-story-grand-national/
Boon for local business
For the duration of the entire Grand National festival weekend, the whole of Merseyside will be buzzing with activity, meaning that hotels in the nearby will be enjoying bumper bookings. Likewise, the estimated arrival of more than 150,000 spectators is a valuable boon for the local economy, given that every kind of business will undoubtedly benefit, from eateries to hairdressers and beyond.
This annual extravaganza of horse racing fills pubs and restaurants, brings valuable additional awareness and interest to the region, plus an important injection of cash. Indeed, according to ClickLiverpool estimates in 2019, running the Grand National at Aintree accounted for £10 million generated by the hospitality industry alone, while the wider tourism industry generated a further £30 million. The report they produced looking at the influx in revenues is available here: https://www.clickliverpool.com/features/32370-how-the-grand-national-benefits-the-local-economy/
The biggest day of the year for bookies
Even if they know absolutely nothing about horse racing, the Grand National is the one racing event the vast majority of the British public has heard about. It has become such an institution in popular culture, in the weeks and days leading up to the big race, millions of people participate in workplace sweepstakes, hoping to be the lucky winners, even if they have no idea who their drawn horses and jockeys are.
Such popularity means that whenever the Grand National rolls around each year, betting shops and bookmakers around the United Kingdom can also expect bumper takings. Some people never bet on horse racing or any sports, yet make a rare exception when it comes to the Grand National, simply because there are so many people getting involved. While it would be remiss to say this is possibly out of a sense of national pride, there is a strong sense of patriotism associated with the event held at Aintree.
Most impressive is the fact that according to recent estimates, the Grand National is watched by more than 500 million viewers each year, hailing from over 140 different countries around the world. Just imagine how many of those people will be tempted to have a flutter, looking for horse racing tips, along with the best odds and offers available. Thankfully, SBO has provided us with a head start with a comprehensive list of the best horse racing betting sites, accompanied by detailed reviews and available here: https://www.sbo.net/horse-racing/
Don’t forget to bookmark the site, before browsing through the tips and advice available, then deciding which thoroughbred horses to back in the 2022 Grand National. It will undoubtedly be another thrilling race, filled with heart stopping moments before the winner thunders past the final post. Bookmakers in the UK and around the world will certainly be hoping so, as the Grand National is often one of their singularly most lucrative events of the year. If you’re backing any of the runners, don’t forget to bet responsibly and keep it entertaining.
