Aintree Review

What Is Aintree ?

Aintree is a popular racecourse in England; the most popular to be exact. It is situated in the outskirts of Liverpool and is best known for holding the annual Grand National steeplechase.

Situated in the amazing city of Liverpool, the Aintree Racecourse is just a mile from M57 and M58 linking to M62 and M6. Plenty of races are held at Aintree, the most anticipated of which is the world-famous Grand National.

Aintree Explained

Aintree Racecourse is widely known for annually staging the Grand National Race. This race is renowned across the globe since it’s the biggest steeplechase. The race will run over four miles and 514 yards making it among the most physically demanding of horse races.

Steeplechasing at Aintree Racecourse was introduced way back in 1863, and even flat racing had taken the course for several years. All fences which bar the water, are known to be covered with spruce, which is different from other courses in the British National Hunting racing. Thus, the fences are specially made of traditional National Hunt material. The Midway and National courses used to share the water jump.

Many of the fences used in different races are as popular as the race itself. Some of these fences are named after the former winners of the race similar to Foinavon. There was once a horse that famously went on to win during the Grand National after the leading bunch of horses who all crushed out at that fence. Now, that fence is named ‘Foinavon fence’.
Apart from Foinavon fence, other famous fences found on the Aintree are the Canal Turn (a left-handed 90-degree turn after a jump at the edge of the course, The Chair (over five feet high), and Becher’s Brook (named after Captain Martin Becher who fell during the first Grand National).

Aintree Racecourse is not only intended to host Grand National, however, the course also hosts important meetings during Winter with the Becher Chase. Other sports take place at Aintree like the British Grand Prix. Also, the F1 was held at this course in the years 1995, 1957, 1959, 1961, and 1962, as well as other races below the F1.
More than 125,000 people have attended some of the most prominent musical concerts that have been performed there. These include Michael Jackson in 1988, as well as McFly, Kaiser Chiefs, Pink, and other artists that have performanced at Aintree.