Aintree Racecourse
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Aintree Racecourse is a British horse racing venue in Aintree, near Liverpool, on Merseyside.
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[edit] The Course
The course is home to the world-renowned Grand National steeplechase. It is regarded as one of the most difficult of all courses to successfully complete, with 30 steeplechase fences including The Chair, Canal Turn and Becher's Brook; these being so infamous that even the names of these fences strike fear into even the most professional of jockeys.
[edit] The Grand National
The Grand National is run over four and a half miles, often on soft ground, which makes the race all the more demanding on stamina and jumping. The race is the most demanding steeplechase in the world. There are usually 40 horses taking part in the race but fewer than 10 may in fact complete the course. In one year, 69 horses started and only one finished the course. The record for the most victories in the Grand National is held by Red Rum, who won three times in the 1970s.
On March 25, 1950, David "Bobber" Thomas of Melbourne became the first Australian to ride in the race. He rode an Irish horse named Stockman, however Stockman fell and did not recover at the 13th fence. Thomas was not injured.
[edit] Other Events
[edit] Motor Racing
Aintree has also been used as a venue for motor racing. The British Grand Prix was staged there on five occasions, in 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961 and 1962. Aintree was the location for the famous race in 1955 in which Stirling Moss won his first British Grand Prix, driving a Mercedes. Two years later, he became the first British driver to win a British Grand Prix whilst driving a British car, a Vanwall. The full Grand Prix circuit was last raced on in 1964, but part of it (the 1.64-mile Club Circuit) is still open and was used for racing until the early 1980s. A limited amount of motor sport continues today in the form of car sprints, track days and motorcycle racing. A Festival of Historic Motorsport was held in November 2004 but building work on the Grand Prix side of the circuit has made future events unlikely. Liverpool Motor club continue to use the circuit for Sprints and Track Days.
[edit] Music
Michael Jackson performed in concert to 125,000 fans on September 11, 1988, as part of his Bad World Tour.
[edit] Golf
The racecourse contains a 9-hole golf course and driving range within its bounaries. Golfers have the chance to see the famous track from a different perspective and famous features such as Becher's Brook are incorporated into the course. It is accessed from Melling Road, which bisects the racecourse. Because of this, the golf facilities are closed when the course is used for horse or motor racing.
[edit] In the News
On 8 April 2006 security officials began investigating a reported security breach at the Aintree Racecourse, a day before the Grand National. According to initial reports, a newspaper journalist gained access to the horse box belonging to Hedgehunter, a former winner of the Grand National, and posed for a photograph.
