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Apart from the
two Football Clubs, Liverpool is world famous for the Aintree Grand National.
The three day festival is held in the first week of April each year. The
race itself is broadcast to over 84 countries world-wide. | |
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Sponsored by Martell until 2004 the race did not take place in 1993 when two false starts led to a void race being declared. In 1997 the race was postponed after an IRA bomb alert caused Aintree to mount the biggest evacuation seen in the UK since World War II. |
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Becher’s Brook (right) is named after Captain Martin Becher. In the
first Grand National in 1839, he was leading the race but was unseated
at the sixth fence from his horse, Conrad. Becher stayed in the brook
to protect himself from the following horses.
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Aintree
racecourse is no longer used solely for horse racing. Since the opening
of the Queen Mother Stand (left) in 1991, the venue hosts conferences,
exhibitions and weddings.
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Further development plans are imminent, a new grandstand is planned as is a Heritage Centre. The complex already boasts the longest nine-hole golf course in the UK. Located in the centre of the racecourse it also includes a driving range. |
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Red Rum won the Grand National three times: 1973, 1974 and 1977. He was also runner-up in 1975 and 1976 - an unparalleled record. Red Rum died in 1995 at the age of 30. Known affectionately as "Rummy", he is buried near the winning post at Aintree. A statue commemorates his achievements. |
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Images reproduced with kind permission from the official Aintree Website. |
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For further reading, see P. Connor's - The Grand National: 150 Years of Aintree's Steeplechase - Order on-line here..... |
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©2002 Timbo's Liverpool - copyright notice |
