Grand National in front of the stands. The majority of the race therefore took place not on the actual Aintree Racecourse but instead in the adjoining countryside. That countryside was incorporated into the modern course but commentators still often refer to it as "the country". There are 16 fences on the National Course topped with spruce from the Lake District. The cores of 12 fences were rebuilt in 2012 and they are now made of a flexible plastic material which is more forgiving compared to the traditional wooden core fences. They are still topped with at least of spruce for the horses
Grand National Hurdle Stakes close second in the 1987 Champion Hurdle), Zaccio, Café Prince, Bon Nouvel, Neji, Oedipus, Elkridge, Bushranger, Battleship (in 1938 became the only winner of this race and the Aintree Grand National), Jolly Roger and Good and Plenty. The race has also been held at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course as well as the steeplechase meets at Fair Hill, Maryland and Charlottesville, Virginia. The Grand National (sometimes called the American Grand National to distinguish it from the race held at Aintree in England) is one of the oldest races in steeplechasing and one of the most important outside Europe. The