Aintree Racecourse (formerly known as Liverpool) sits on the northern edge of Liverpool at Aintree, Merseyside, and has been one of the defining homes of British jump racing since it opened in 1829. It was founded by William Lynn, who leased land from the Earl of Sefton and built the first grandstand in time for the inaugural meeting that July. Early racing included flat events and later hurdle races, but the course's identity was shaped in the 1830s when Lynn, inspired by cross‑country steeplechasing, staged the Liverpool Grand Steeplechase. That race evolved into the Grand National, first run in its recognised form in 1839, and it has remained the centrepiece of the venue ever since.

The Grand National course is unlike any other in Britain: roughly four miles and two and a half furlongs, run over two circuits with thirty fences, many of them larger and more demanding than standard National Hunt obstacles. Famous fences such as Becher's Brook, the Canal Turn and The Chair have become part of racing folklore, and the combination of distance, pace and jumping difficulty has long given the race its reputation as the ultimate test of horse and rider. Recent safety‑driven changes have adjusted fence positions and reduced the maximum field size, but the character of the challenge remains.

Aintree's history has included moments of disruption and drama, from the void 1993 National caused by false starts to the 1997 postponement following an IRA bomb threat, and more recently the 2023 delay due to protests. Ownership passed fully to the Topham family in 1949 before the Jockey Club took over management, and the course now hosts several fixtures beyond the National meeting, including racedays in May, October, November and December.

Aintree Racecourse
Ormskirk Road
Aintree
Liverpool
L9 5AS

Winners at Aintree (14)