Grand National and the 1976 winner Rag Trade were both part-owned by celebrity hairdresser Raymond Bessone. 1994 winner Miinnehoma was owned by comedian Freddie Starr. What A Friend ran in 2011 and 2013 when part-owned by Alex Ferguson, the former manager of Manchester United. Notes Sources Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap steeplechase over with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. It is the most valuable jump race in Europe, with a prize fund of £1 million in 2017. An
National Steeplechase Association National Steeplechase Association The National Steeplechase Association is the official sanctioning body of American steeplechase horse racing. The National Steeplechase Association was founded on February 15, 1895 by August Belmont, Jr., the first president of The Jockey Club and chairman of the New York State Racing Commission, along with Alexander Cassatt, John G. Follansbee, H. DeCourcy Forbes, Frederick Gebhard, James O. Green, Samuel S. Howland, Foxhall P. Keene, and Frederick H. Prince. The governing authority for the sport of steeplechase racing, their National Steeplechase Association held, promoted, and documented steeplechase races and events throughout the United States and granted licenses