Exercise Fitness

Posts Tagged ‘racing’

Aintree Racecourse is one of the most famous racecourses in the United Kingdom and is situated on the A59 at Ormskirk Road, Aintree (Anglo-Saxon for one tree), in the northern periphery of Liverpool, just 6 miles from the town centre. The racecourse occupies 250 acres and has two left-handed chasing tracks. The first, the Mildmay Course is rectangular and created in 1953. It is nearly one and a half miles in length, with sharp turns and chase fences. The John Smiths Grand National race isn’t as sharp as the Mildmay course but is much more taxing which is why it is known as one of the hardest races in the world – one which all horse trainers would aspire to secure entry to. The
John Smiths Grand National course is far longer than the Mildmay at not quite two and a quarter miles, and is completely flat, with fences that have a decline on the landing side lesser than the take-off side.

William Lynn is the guy accountable for bringing racing to the town of Aintree. Lynn was the landholder of the Waterloo Lodge, and created racing on the land which he leased from the Earl of Sefton. The main stand started being built in 1829 and after five months the first appointment 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 race was recognised by some as being the first ever John Smiths Grand National and was won by The Duke, ridden by Captain Martin Becher. However, the more renowned Liverpool Grand Steeplechase of 1839 is celebrated as the original, and was won by Lottery, ridden by Jem Mason. The event of 1839 was a four miler, across country, and the directive was that ‘no rider to open a gate or ride through a opening, or more than 100 yards along any street, track or driftway’.

The racecourse was handed over to the War Office in 1915, and after the 1940 National it was again used by the war office. Steeple chase racing resumed in 1946 and in 1949 the racecourse was bought by Messrs Topham Ltd; who had leased the property for almost a century; from the Earl of Sefton for 275,000. Mirabel Topham, an inventive soul, went on to create the Mildmay course and a racing car circuit which held the European Grand Prix and five English Grand Prix.

Bill Davies bought the racecourse in 1973 for 3 million and in 1975 Ladbrokes saved the John Smiths Grand National, which was in jeopardy of disappearing, by running and administering it for 7 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 greatly enhanced. In the start it could only be reached by rail, but now it is reached by car, coach or air. There is a 6 acre field for landing by copter or the John Lennon airfield 20 minutes drive away, meaning that those both home and abroad can share in the festivities. Meaning visitors to Aintree have a improved experience. Meaning everyone enjoys the John Smiths Grand National festival even more.

The Grand National 2010 is Britains most prestigious steeple chase festival in the country. Once a year about 40 runners get ready to tackle the difficult Aintree race course. The race course is four and half miles , with 30 fence jumps, the Grand National is maybe the most difficult test of horse stamina in the United Kingdom.

Much of the Grand Nationals attraction lies in the challenging conditions of the race. With such a difficult race course the odds of a favourite doing well are slim! This just makes it more fun for those who watch on TV. In the last 100 years only eleven favourites have managed won the Grand National. Recently the jumps have been made smaller to stop the horses and jockeys from getting injured but, it is still one of the most open races in the United Kingdom.

Sea The Stars Signs Off

Following Sea The Stars’ captivating victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, it has been questioned whether he is the greatest Flat racehorse ever to have existed. The horse bred from Cape Cross and mare Urban Sea has provided horseracing with one of the greatest horses to ever grace the turf. So it has come as a bit of a shock to hear that he is going to be retired. Some, although well able to admit his brilliance refuse to believe that he is one of the three greatest racehorses of all time. Joe Mercer, a former champion jockey who rode Brigadier Gerard in the early 1970s, is one voice of skepticism. He fears that we are in danger of being swept up in the momentary hype, but he remembers horses such as Galileo who won the King George in 2001. Back then everyone thought that Galileo was the best horse that had ever been seen – and as Mercer affirms: you can’t have a best horse you’ve ever seen every other year! He points out that the horse he rode, Brigadier Gerard won thirteen Group Ones, whereas Sea The Stars has only won six.

Others though have been less hesitant to vilify Sea The Stars. Pat Eddery who rode Dancing Brave to victory in the Prix de l’Arc in 1986 has said that Sea The Stars is ‘up there with the best’, and laughed at the suggestion that he might resent the current champion being regarded by many as a better horse than the one he rode.