The Grand National 2009
The John Smith's Grand National is the most prestigious horse race in the United Kingdom. Run annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool on a wintry Saturday in early April, the grade 3 handicap features top racehorses taking on the most challenging racecourse in the world of National Hunt racing.
The Grand National race is immensely popular amongst sports fans and punters alike. As the single largest betting event in the United Kingdom, the race attracts the interest of millions of punters intent on taking advantage of the excellent Grand National odds on offer in this thrilling horse race.
The Grand National 2009 race will be broadcast live on the BBC, and in recent years viewing figures have peaked over the 500 million viewer mark. Tens of thousands of racing fans also make the pilgrimage to Aintree each year to participate in the unparalleled spectacle of the finest talent in racing taking on the most severe of challenges.
Aintree Grand National Race Heritage
The tradition and heritage of the Grand National stretches back into the early 19th century when the first flat races were organised at Aintree by innkeeper William Lynn. Within a few short years Lynn had established the race that would become known as the greatest in horseracing.
Even in its earliest years the Grand National offered horseracing fans something special. The Grand National at Aintree had a knack of drawing the most heroic of performances from the most unlikely champions. Great racehorses including Manifesto, The Lamb and the legendary Red Rum all built their reputations in the Grand National.
Despite its popularity, the Grand National was nearly rendered obsolete in the 1980s when the property developer who owned the land threatened to sell the course for redevelopment and thereby destroy the Grand National heritage.
Fortunately the Grand National was so loved by the British public that they dug deep into their pockets and helped the Jockey Club purchase Aintree. Soon afterwards the race attracted corporate sponsorship, and at present is stronger than ever, with Aintree offering some of the finest facilities in world horseracing.
2009 Aintree Grand National Betting Guide
As the second leg of the Spring Double, the 2009 Aintree Grand National betting will offer one of the richest betting markets in horseracing. Punters follow the hunt racing season carefully to determine which horses are likely to withstand the punishing Aintree racecourse and claim Grand National 2009 glory.
