The Grand National - The Greatest Steeplechase in the World

• What:A three day race meet that culminates in the world's most famous steeplechase.
• When: early to mid April
• Where:Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool
• Admission:Various prices
• Website

A young and dewy-eyed Elizabeth Taylor dreamed of riding Velvet in the Grand National in the 1944 movie National Velvet. One of the world's greatest horses, Red Rum, won the race three times and placed twice. The list of historic facts and trivia about this legendary race probably fills volumes. In 1913, suffragette Emily Davidson, threw herself in the path of the race, bringing down the King's horse and getting killed while protesting to get women the vote. In 1993, a false start had millions of people watching a confused field of horses starting, stopping, winning and losing in a race that was nullified in the end.

No other race arouses so much interest worldwide. At least 600 million people are said to watch on TV. And in England, people who never bet on anything have "a flutter" on the Grand National. Plan ahead and you could be one of almost 200,000 who attend the three-day race meet. Friday is Ladies Day, a great social event with smart attire and big hats. The Grand National itself is run on Saturday and, after the build-up, the four and a half mile race, over 30 fences, is finished in minutes. Seventy thousand are there on the day and the atmosphere is electric.