1919 Grand National 1919 Grand National The 1919 Grand National was the 78th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England on 28 March 1919. It was the first true Aintree Grand National since 1915, with the intermittent races being cancelled due to World War I and substituted by a 'Racecourse Association Steeplechase' and later a 'War National Steeplechase' at Gatwick Racecourse. The 1919 National was won by the Poethlyn, ridden by Ernest Piggott. The pair had won an unofficial National at Gatwick in 1918 and on the back of this started 11/4 favourites,
Steeplechase (horse racing) on the mile long course, and the race was run in three heats. The first recognised English National Steeplechase took place on Monday 8 March 1830. The race, organised by Thomas Coleman of St Albans, was run from Bury Orchard, Harlington in Bedfordshire to the Obelisk in Wrest Park, Bedfordshire. The winner was Captain Macdowall on "The Wonder", owned by Lord Ranelagh, who won in a time of 16 minutes 25 seconds. Report of the event appeared in the May and July editions of "Sporting Magazine" in 1830. In Great Britain and Ireland, "steeplechase" only refers to one branch of