How the Grand National Became Racing’s Number One Event

Although the likes of football might frequently grab the world’s sporting headlines, it’s horse racing that offers sports fans a much more inclusive experience with the carnival atmosphere by the track and online betting opportunities providing a truly exhilarating spectacle.

The Grand National in particular has helped make this the ‘sport of the kings’. And the prestigious racing event not only attracts huge numbers of enthusiasts to the racecourse, but it also offers fans the opportunity to check out some enticing Grand National tips courtesy of a huge number of betting websites that cover this prestigious sporting event.

From the first race in 1839, the Grand National has gradually become the most valuable jump race in the whole of Europe. In order to become a victor of this coveted competition, both jockey and horse must complete two laps of the historic Aintree racecourse in Liverpool that features a number of notorious fences such as Becher’s Brook and The Chair for the racers to successfully jump.

There have been many legendary horses that have made their names at the Aintree racecourse, with the likes of Red Rum earning their fame with an incredible three Grand National wins.

However, last year’s Grand National proved that having a short price doesn’t necessarily guarantee racing success, as the winning horse Many Clouds delivered the second fastest racing time ever with odds of 25/1.

Such unlikely events have led bookmakers such as Coral to earn prestige through allowing racing fans to view a range of odds (more here) that could provide a discerning punter with some particularly lucrative winnings.

Alongside the money earned through betting activity, the prestige of the Grand National has also helped elevate the prize funds to over £1 million in recent years. And with this year’s race time being moved back one hour so as to maximise the television audience, it’s expected that attention for this racing event will only grow and grow.

But of course, it is not just the events on the track that have led this racing event to become one of the world’s biggest sporting occasions, as the inclusion of Ladies’ Day events has meant that it’s become something of a nexus for the nation’s fashion and celebrity elite too.

So from increased TV exposure to online betting options, it seems that the Grand National will continue to play an increasingly important role in the world’s sporting calendar.