Liverpool Grand National
A true myth, the Grand National of Liverpool is an unmissable equestrian event which, every year, arouses great enthusiasm, especially among the English public. This breathtaking moment of spectacle relayed by the English press brings together no less than 70,000 spectators at the Aintree racecourse, located in the suburbs of Liverpool. For the occasion, journalists specializing in horse racing took up the challenge of making predictions and bookmakers boosted their odds. In the context of this great horse raid, the latter achieve sales of up to 60 million pounds in this competition.
The importance of this horse race is such that it is almost considered a religion. The event takes place throughout a week of festivities, with the highlight being a big jumping weekend, characterized since its origins by the greatest uncertainty. Many Britons do not hesitate to place one or two books on the competitor of their choice, based on criteria that are random to say the least.
Characteristics of the tournament
Inaugurated in 1839, LNG runs over long distances of 6,900 meters, littered with 30 obstacles. The profiles of the obstacles are very varied, making this race, watched by no less than 600 million television viewers worldwide each year, a moment rich in adrenaline.
The great uncertainty surrounding LNG is proportional to its level of risk, both for the horses and for their jockey. Since its creation, this equestrian event has recorded the death of twenty horses. However, since 2012, the organizers, under pressure from numerous animal protection associations, have significantly increased the level of safety.
At the start of the Grand National in Liverpool, forty horses - a number that has evolved over time - set off on an endless grass track and try to cross the finish line. On the way, obstacles stand up and give them the same probability of exhaustion, abandonment or even a fall. Among the most spectacular are: Becher's Brook, the Turn Canal, but also The Chair, considered the most difficult of the course.
At the finish, it is under the deafening clamor of the public that the best are welcomed. The stakes are worth the candle, since in the end a total prize money of £1,000,000 is shared, with half going to the winner alone. This is the world's largest allocation for an obstacle course. In comparison, its French counterpart, the great Steeple-Chase, involves a prize pool of around €850,000, which is shared by the best riders, with almost half going to the winner.
