A History of Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is one of the most famous racecourses in the world and is located on the A59 at Ormskirk Road, Aintree (Anglo-Saxon for ‘one tree’), in the northern suburbs of Liverpool, just 6 miles from the city centre. The racecourse occupies 250 acres and has two left-handed chasing circuits. The first, the Mildmay Course is rectangular and opened in 1953.
It is nearly one and a half miles in length, with sharp turns and steeplechase fences. The Grand National course isn’t as sharp as the Mildmay course but is much more demanding which is why it is known as one of the toughest races in the world – one which all horse trainers would aspire to gain entry to. The Grand National course is far longer than the Mildmay at almost two and a quarter miles, and is completely flat, with fences that have a drop on the landing side lower than the take-off side.
William Lynn is the man responsible for bringing racing to the village of Aintree. Lynn was the landlord of the Waterloo Hotel, and started racing on the land which he leased from the Earl of Sefton. The grandstand started being built in 1829 and after five months the first meeting for flat races was held. They didn’t start hurdle racing until 1836, when the first Liverpool Grand Steeplechase was held at Aintree on February 29th.
This race was recognised by some as being the first ever Grand National and was won by The Duke, ridden by Captain Martin Becher. However, the more documented Liverpool Grand Steeplechase of 1839 is identified as the first, and was won by Lottery, ridden by Jem Mason. The race of 1839 was a four miler, across country, and the rule was that ‘no rider to open a gate or ride through a gateway, or more than 100 yards along any road, footpath or driftway’.
The racecourse was handed over to the War Office in 1915, and after the 1940 National it was again requisitioned by the military. Racing resumed in 1946 and in 1949 the racecourse was bought by Messrs Topham Ltd; who had leased the land for almost a century; from the Earl of Sefton for £275,000. Mirabel Topham, an enterprising soul, went on to create the Mildmay course and a motor-racing circuit which held the European Grand Prix and five British Grand Prix.
Bill Davies bought the racecourse in 1973 for £3 million and in 1975 Ladbrokes saved the Grand National, which was in danger of dying out, by managing and administering it for seven years at a yearly rent of £250,000. In 1983 the racecourse was deemed secure when the Jockey Club bought it.
Aintree is now more fit for purpose with transport links highly improved. In the beginning it had been accessed by rail and paddleboat, but now it is reached by car, coach or air. There is a six acre enclosure for landing by helicopter or the John Lennon airport 20 minutes drive away, meaning that those both home and abroad can come share in the festivities.
