2011 Grand National stewards for excessive use of the whip on Ballabriggs. The horse's trainer, Donald McCain, Jr., indicated that he will likely return to Aintree for the 2012 National seeking the first back-to-back wins since Red Rum in 1974: "I'd have thought next season will revolve around the National and he may well go to the Becher Chase [in December] as well." 2011 Grand National The 2011 Grand National (known as the John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 164th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race held at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase began at
Saratoga Race Course seating capacity. In 1999, Saratoga Race Course was rated as "Sports Illustrated's" #10 sports venue of the 20th Century. Saratoga Race Course has several nicknames: "The Spa" (for the nearby mineral springs), the "House of Upsets", and the "Graveyard of Champions". Famous race horses to lose at the track: As is the case with the other two tracks operated by the New York Racing Association – Aqueduct and Belmont Park – there are three separate tracks in the main course at Saratoga Race Course: Steeplechase races are also run at Saratoga Race Course and take place on the inner turf