The Grand National traces its origins to the early 1800s. The first race, the Liverpool Grand Steeplechase, was held in 1836 and won by The Duke, ridden by Captain Martin Becher. In 1839, Lottery became the first official winner of what would become the Grand National, featuring challenging obstacles like stone walls, ploughed land and hurdles. In 1843, Edward William Topham transformed the race into a handicap event. The Topham family, long associated with Aintree, later purchased the racecourse in 1949 from Lord Sefton.
After a difficult post-war period, Aintree Racecourse faced an uncertain future and was sold to a property developer. Ladbrokes stepped in to manage the race until 1984, when Seagram Distillers became sponsors, helping secure Aintree’s revival. Today, the course is owned and run by The Jockey Club.
The Legendary Red Rum
Red Rum is widely regarded as the greatest horse in the history of the Grand National, thanks to his extraordinary record of three wins and two second-place finishes in five consecutive appearances between 1973 and 1977. His most famous victory came in 1973, when he staged a dramatic late comeback to catch Crisp in one of the most thrilling finishes ever seen in the race.
He went on to win again in 1974 and, after finishing second in both 1975 and 1976, returned triumphantly in 1977 to secure his third title. Red Rum’s consistency, resilience and ability to handle the demanding Aintree course made him a national hero, and his achievements remain unmatched in Grand National history.
A Double Victory for Tiger Roll
Tiger Roll cemented his place in horseracing history through his remarkable success at the Grand National, winning the iconic race back to back. His first victory in 2018 was especially dramatic, as he edged out Pleasant Company in a thrilling photo finish. Returning the following year as the favourite, Tiger Roll delivered an even more commanding performance, winning by several lengths and becoming the first horse since the legendary Red Rum in the 1970’s to secure back to back Grand National victories.
These achievements not only highlighted his stamina, agility and determination, but also elevated him to legendary status within the sport, making him one of the most celebrated horses in modern National Hunt racing.
The Famous National Fences
In total there are 16 fences on the Grand National course, 14 of which are jumped twice along the 4 mile, 2 1/2 furlong distance, making this the longest jump racing distance in the UK. The fences used to be constructed from natural thorn hedges and were known as ‘thorn fences’. They are now created from Sitka and Norway spruce, brought down from the Lake District specifically to create these fences and woven into plastic burch structure.
The most famous fence in the Grand National race is named after Captain Martin Becher, who landed in the ditch after being unseated by Conrad in the first official Grand National in 1839.
The First Female Winning Jockey
Rachel Blackmore made history in 2021 by becoming the first female jockey to win the Grand National, riding Minella Times to a famous victory at Aintree. Her achievement was widely celebrated as a landmark moment in horseracing, inspiring a new generation of riders and fans alike.
Two Famous Wins in One Year
Golden Miller achieved a remarkable feat by winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup multiple times and famously securing both the Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same year, 1934, a rare double in horseracing history.
