Thinking of attending the Grand National for the first time this year? Well, whether you’re attending the Festival on Ladies’ Day or heading to Aintree Racecourse to watch the big race itself, we’ve put together this beginner’s guide to the Grand National that teaches you everything you need to know.
Beginner’s Guide to the Grand National
When is the Grand National?
The 2024 Randox Grand National will be held at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday 13th April. The race is scheduled to begin at 4pm.
If you’re unable to make it to Aintree, then the race will also be shown live on ITV in the UK.
Where is the Grand National Held?
The Grand National is held at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. This has been the designated Grand National venue since the first official running of the race in 1839.
The race is run over the Grand National Course and consists of two laps of 16 fences (only the first 14 are jumped twice, meaning a total of 30 fences must be cleared). Horses must cover a distance of 4 miles 514 yards (6.907 km). This makes the Grand National the longest of any National Hunt race in Britain.
Many of the fences on the Grand National Course are much larger than those on conventional National Hunt tracks. Some are also now famous in their own right, including Becher’s Brook and The Chair.
Due to the distances the horses must cover as well as the size and number of the fences on the course, the Grand National is thought to be “the ultimate test of horse and rider”.
Are Tickets Still Available for the Grand National?
Yes, tickets are still available for all three days of the Festival at Aintree. This includes Grand National Day.
A number of stands and zones have sold out completely, but tickets are still available in both the Festival Zone (£85+) and The Embankment (£45+).
How Can I Bet on the Grand National?
No matter whether you’re watching at home or attending the race in person, betting on the Grand National is simple.
When you’re at Aintree Racecourse, you’ll have the option to bet via the on-course bookmakers, at the betting shops, via the Tote or by using your betting apps.
Meanwhile, if you’re watching the race from home, you can either use your apps or visit your local bookmaker on the high street.
For more information about betting on the Grand National, take a look at our in-depth betting guide. But, before you place any bets, make sure you check out our tips and all of the latest bookmaker offers.
What’s the Grand National Dress Code?
Got a ticket and wondering what to wear? Well, you may be pleased to hear that there’s no official Grand National dress code on any day of the Festival. Instead, Aintree Racecourse encourages anyone attending the Festival to ‘come dressed to feel your best’.
Overall, the racecourse recommends that you use the trip as an opportunity to showcase your favourite race day looks. As a result, most male racegoers do choose to wear suits or trousers with a blazer, while many female attendees do wear dresses and hats. That said, the Grand National is a largely outdoor event, so you should also dress for the weather.
The only things you should be aware of are:
- Inappropriate and offensive outfits/fancy dress are banned
- Anything deemed vulgar or derogatory will be refused
- You should avoid wearing team colours or sports kits
- Hospitality areas may have their own dress codes
How Many Horses Run in the Grand National?
In 2024, 34 horses will take part in the Grand National. This has been reduced from 40 runners to improve safety.
The highest number of runners in a single race was 66, in 1929. The race has also featured as few as 10 horses, back in 1883.
How Long Does the Grand National Last?
The Grand National takes place over a distance of more than four miles. As a result, it’s one of the longest races on the National Hunt calendar and usually lasts for around 10 minutes.
For context, the fastest Grand National winning time is 8 minutes and 47.8 seconds (Mr Frisk in 1990). The slowest was 14 minutes and 53 seconds (Lottery in the inaugural official running of the race in 1839).
What’s the Distance of the Grand National?
The Grand National is held over a distance of about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs (4 miles 514 yards or 6.907 km). As well as covering this distance, the horses running the race must also successfully navigate 30 fences. Many of these, such as Becher's Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn are much larger than those on conventional National Hunt tracks.
How Many Horses Finished the Grand National Last Year?
In 2023, 17 of the 39 runners completed the race. There was one fatality, Hill Sixteen.