Keep the Grand National

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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. It is currently scheduled to take place each year on a Saturday afternoon in early April. The next Grand National will be held on 14 April 2012.

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.

The racecourse is triangular in shape and contains sixteen fences, all except The Chair and the Water Jump are jumped twice. Some fences are notorious for their severity, particularly Becher's Brook and The Chair. In recent years, Aintree authorities have worked in conjunction with animal welfare organisations to improve veterinary facilities and minimise the danger of the jumps while still preserving them as formidable obstacles.

Source: Wiki