There’s nothing more exciting than setting off for the races. The excitement of winning at the track. The buzz. The booze. The chips and sausages. With Aintree’s Grand National Racing Festival just around the corner, it’s time to prepare! Book yourself in, pack your best clothes for Ladies Day and brim your purses and wallets for the racing extravaganza of the year. Anyone reading this who is totally new to the racing scene, read on to learn some more about the Grand National Festival.
When is the National on?
The racing festival runs over three days in April from Thursday 12th until Saturday 14th. The Gold Cup is the grand finale race on Saturday, ending the 21 race meeting.
Aintree Racecourse. Where is it?
The famous race kicked off way back in 1839, with Aintree Racecourse hosting it. Aintree is 6 miles outside of Liverpool in England. It is a pretty direct road route from John Lennon Airport in Liverpool or from Manchester either.
Betting on the Grand National
If you’re off to the races, surely you will make a little bet! There’s nothing more exciting than watching a race and cheering on your chosen horse, eying up the finishers, as they cross the line. Will it be a photo finish? Who’ll come around the outside on the second to last? The final furlong is where it all happens, with many wins coming in at the last few seconds right in front of the crowd. It’s spot exciting! Looking for where to bet on Grand National? It’s pretty straightforward to make a bet. You simply pick out a horse, check for the odds, lay down your money and state whether you think the horse will win or be placed in the top positions. This just means if your horse wins, you will be paid for your bet, depending on the amount of money you put down and the odds of the horse at the time, or when it wins. Alternatively, if your horse finishes in the top 3/4/5 places, the bookie may pay out for that place, usually at 1/4 of the odds the horse was at. This is a safer bet but will cost you a bit more in order to win back a larger amount. If the horse wins and is backed each-way then you will win back money for the win and also for the placing of being 1st, so your winnings will be more.
Impress With Your Dress
Fashion, fun and frantic betting are all dishes on the menu for any race meeting, especially the big festivals like Aintree and Cheltenham. Ladies Day always attracts the fashionistas, from the media, boutiques and enthusiasts alike. Whether it’s a quirky hat, fur scarf or an audacious colourful dress to get you standing out from the crowd, the fashion police will be on the lookout for the best dressed, offering theme the Style Award, with the lucky winner taking home the fabulous prize of a car.
Remember, don’t bet what you can’t afford to lose. Don’t drink beyond what you can handle. Bring a nice warm jacket as the track may be cold. So if you’re into your fashion and lover dressing up (I mean, what girl isn’t!?), then dress to impress at the Grand National this year. You might just end up driving home in a new car!
