Tag Archive for: History

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Broadcasting History Of The Grand National

The Grand National has been a fixture of British culture for nearly 200 years. The first race was run in 1836, and every year it has gotten better and better. The 2023 Grand National will be just as exciting as we wait to see if Noble Yeats…
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When Did The Grand National Begin?

The Grand National steeplechase is such an iconic part of British history that often we forget that it had to start somewhere. So where, when and how did the Grand National come about? William Lynn The Grand National at Aintree is all…

The Concise History of Horse Racing

Horse racing is a sport with long-lasting traditions. Its history dates back many centuries and has gone through several waves of development. The traditions ingrained in horse racing are among its most appealing qualities. Here’s a brief…

The Soldier Who Saved The 1946 Grand National

A nostalgic Grand National story came to our attention after it was published by Biggleswade Today. The article told of Bill Wilson, who was involved in saving the 1946 Grand National race. What is notable about that Grand National is that it…

The Hairdresser Who Won The National Twice

Aintree always has a story to tell. This one’s about a camp hairdresser with a fake French accent who went on to become Britain’s first celebrity crimper and the owner of not one, but two Grand National winners. During the early fifties…

The Story After The Glory

Where Are The Grand National Winners Now? The Grand National has produced some of the greatest horseracing winners of all time, horses whose names live on in the minds of once-a-year punters long after the race has been run and the betting…
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Who Will Replace John Smith’s?

Last week the news broke about the ending of the John Smith's sponsorship of the annual Aintree Grand National and unsurprisingly it came as a shock to many in light of the fact that they've had such a successful partnership since 2005. Whether…

Grand National 1840 – 1849

By the 1840's the founder of the race, William Lynn (who was the proprietor of the Waterloo Hotel and Head of a syndicate who had leased the land for Aintree, from William Molyneux 2nd Earl of Sefton.) was suffering from ill-health. He found…

Grand National 1836 – 1839

The true start date for the Grand National Race is open to debate, while some believe that the race was first run in 1836 and won by The Duke who also won the following year in 1837 and the 1838 race being won by Sir William, many historians…