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
1836 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase present course record. The race was a selling race and its status as an official Grand National was revoked some time between 1862 and 1873. The race was started at 2pm over a course almost identical to the modern Grand National course, although the fences were all no more than high earth banks with the exceptions of two brooks and a water jump in front of the stands. Despite this at least three of the runners had to be put at the first fence for a second time after refusing. None of the ten riders are known to have been