| Aintree is the home of the Grand National which is | | | | Property developer Davies was unimpressed by |
| arguably the greatest horse race in the world. No | | | | the swift chances in fortune and still seemed |
| other race comes close to matching the | | | | determined to sell the Aintree course. Finally the |
| excitement at Aintree Grand National day and the | | | | general public realised that this may be the last |
| April 5th 2008 race will be no different. | | | | chance for the Grand National to be saved and a |
| The story of the Aintree race course is also the | | | | huge campaign was launched to rescue the race |
| story of the Grand National. It's inconceivable now | | | | once and for all. Generous donations from the |
| to imagine the Grand National being held at any | | | | public allowed the Jockey Club to purchase Aintree |
| other race course in England but this looked a | | | | from Davies. In 1984 distillers Seagram stepped in |
| distinct possibility in the early post war years. In | | | | to provide the solid foundation on which Aintree's |
| 1965 the Aintree course looked likely to be sold | | | | revival has been built. The last Seagram |
| to a property developer and every year the | | | | sponsored National was in 1991 when the race |
| press warned this could be "The Last Grand | | | | was won by a horse which chairman Straker |
| National". | | | | twice had the opportunity to buy; the horse's |
| In 1973 the course was eventually sold to | | | | name was Seagram. |
| property developer Bill Davies who gave a | | | | A subsidiary of the Seagram company, Martell |
| commitment to keep the race going but his heart | | | | Cognac, took over sponsorship in 1992. During this |
| never quite seemed in it. Attendance at the 1975 | | | | time the National experienced a big boom. In 2004 |
| Grand National was the lowest in living memory | | | | around 150,000 people were at Aintree to witness |
| (admission prices had been tripled by Davies) and | | | | the last Martell backed race. Aintree racecourse |
| the Grand National had reached its lowest point | | | | now enjoys its most successful period ever. |
| and it looked like the end for the great race. | | | | There is much debate among historians regarding |
| In 1975 a campaign was started by Ladbrokes | | | | the first official Grand National race held and most |
| Bookmakers to revive the ailing Grand National | | | | who have trawled the newspaper libraries and |
| race. Ladbrokes had a deep love for the National | | | | archives of the United Kingdom now prefer the |
| and when they took control of managing it they | | | | idea that the first was in 1836 and was won by |
| were determined to keep it going. After 8 years | | | | The Duke. This same horse triumphed again in |
| of management by Ladbrokes the future of the | | | | 1837 while Sir William was the winner in 1838. |
| Grand National and Aintree seemed secure. | | | | |