Places of Interest

Aintree race track is one of the most renowned racecourses in the world and is positioned on the A59 at Ormskirk Road, Aintree (Liverpool) in the northern suburbs of Liverpool, just 6 miles from the town centre. The race track occupies 250 acres and has two left-handed chasing circuits. The first, the Mildmay Course is rectangular and created in 1953. It is nearly one and a half miles in distance end to end, with sharp corners and steeplechase fences. The English Grand National course isn’t as sharp as the Mildmay course but is much more hard which is why it is known as one of the toughest races in the united kingdom – one which all horse owners would seek to gain entrance to. The
English Grand National course is far longer than the Mildmay at very nearly two and a quarter miles, and is totally flat, with fences that have a decline on the landing side lesser than the take-off side.

William Lynn is the man responsible for bringing horse racing to the parish of Aintree. Lynn was the owner of the Waterloo Hotel, and started horse racing on the land which he rented from the Earl of Sefton. The main stand started being built in 1829 and after 5 months the first meeting for Flat races was held. They didn’t start hurdle steeple chase racing until 1836, when the original Liverpool Grand Steeplechase was held at Aintree on February 29th. This competition was claimed by some as being the earliest ever English Grand National and was won by The Duke, ridden by Captain Martin Becher. However, the more well-known Liverpool Grand Steeplechase of 1839 is identified as the original, and was won by Lottery, ridden by Jem Mason. The battle of 1839 was a four miler, across country, and the law was that no rider to open a gate or ride through a gateway, or more than 100 yards along any highway, walkway or driftway.

The race track , and after the 1940 National it was again taken over by the army. Horse racing resumed in 1946 and in 1949 the race track was purchased by Messrs Topham Ltd; who had rented the land for more or less a 100 years; from the Earl of Sefton for 275,000. Mirabel Topham, an enterprising soul, went on to create the Mildmay course and a car circuit which held the Euro Grand Prix and five British Grand Prix.

Bill Davies purchased the race track in 1973 for 3 million and in 1975 Ladbrokes saved the English Grand National, which was in peril of becoming extinct, by managing and administering it for 7 years at a yearly charge of 250,000. In 1983 the race track was deemed safe and sound when the Jockey Club purchased it.

Aintree is now more suitable for purpose with vehicle links vastly improved. In the start it had been accessed by rail and paddleboat, but now it is reached by car, coach or air. There is a 6 acre area for landing by helicopter or the John Lennon airstrip 20 minutes drive away, meaning everyone enjoys the Grand National festival even more.