The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase over a distance of four miles and 856 yards (7,242 m), with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree’s National Course.
The steeplechase is the centrepiece of a three-day meeting, one of only four run at Aintree in the racing season. It is the most valuable National Hunt event in Britain, offering a total prize fund of £950,000 in 2011. The race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year. Thousands of people dress up and come out to enjoy the sunshine – UK weather permitting of course – the food, the drink, the racing and the betting.
This year’s big race was won by the horse Ballabriggs ridden by jason Maguire.
01. Ballabriggs, ridden by Jason Maguire, jumps the last fence on the way to win the Grand National Steeple Chase on the final day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, northern England April 9, 2010. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
02. A racegoer poses for photographers during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
03. Racegoers pose for photographers during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
04. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
05. Racegoers leave after the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
06. Racegoers pose for photographers during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
07. Racegoers pose for photographers during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
08. Baby Run ridden by Willie Twiston-Davies (C) jumps over the chair fence on the way to winning the Fox Hunters steeple chase at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
09. Big Buck's ridden by Ruby Walsh (L) jump the last hurdle on the way to winning the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle race ahead of Grands Crus ridden by Tom Scudamore at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
10. Baby Run (L), ridden by Willy Twiston-Davies, jumps Bechers Brook on the way to winning the Fox Hunters' steeple chase at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
11. Baby Run ridden by Willie Twiston-Davies jumps the last fence on the way to winning the Fox Hunters steeple chase at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
12. Nacarat ridden by Paddy Brennan jumps over the last fence on the way to winning the Totesport Bowl Steeple Chase at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
13. Nacarat ridden by Paddy Brennan (R) jumps over the last fence the first time round on the way to winning the Totesport Bowl Steeple Chase at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
14. Ballabriggs ridden by Jason Maguire (front L) jumps Becher's Brook on his way to winning the Grand National Steeplechase on the final day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, northern England April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
15. Racegoers react to the action during the first day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
16. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
17. Kanesh ridden by J Codd jumps the last fence during the Fox Hunters steeple chase at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
18. Quito de la Roque (L) ridden by Davy Russell on his way to winning the Mildmay Novices' Steeple Chase, is followed closely by Sarando ridden by Will Kennedy on Ladies' Day at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England, April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
19. Race-goers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
20. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
21. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
22. Coleen Rooney (2nd L), wife of soccer player Wayne Rooney, watches the races on Ladies' Day at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England, April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
23. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
24. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
25. Racegoers react during the Topham Steeple chase race during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
26. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
28. Racegoers cheer as Topolski (R) wins the Top Novices hurdle race during the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
29. Master Minded ridden by Ruby Walsh jumps the last fence on his way to winning The John Smith's Melling Steeple Chase on Ladies' Day at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England, April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
30. Quito de la Roque (L) ridden by Davy Russell on his way to winning the Mildmay Novices' Steeple Chase, is chased by Sarando ridden by Will Kennedy, on Ladies' Day at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England, April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
31. Made in Taipan ridden by Robbie Power jumps the last in The John Smith's Melling Steeple Chase on Ladies' Day at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England, April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
32. Racegoers are seen during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
33. Racegoers sit as they eat during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
34. Ballabriggs, ridden by Jason Maguire (L), clears the Chair during the Grand National Steeple Chase at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree in Liverpool, northern England, April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
35. Race-goers react to the action during the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
36. Racegoers react during the Aintree hurdle race on the final day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, northern England April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
37. Ballabriggs, ridden by Jason Maguire, comes across the line to win the Grand National Steeple Chase during the Grand National Meeting at Aintree in Liverpool, northern England, April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
38. Ballabriggs, ridden by Jason Maguire, comes across the line to win the Grand National Steeple Chase during the Grand National Meeting at Aintree in Liverpool, northern England, April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
39. Jason Maguire dismounts Ballabriggs after they won the Grand National Steeple Chase during the Grand National Meeting at Aintree in Liverpool, northern England April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
40. Ballabriggs' jockey Jason Maguire (L), the winner of the Grand National Steeplechase, walks to the winners' enclosure during the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
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