The world's greatest steeplechase

Half a billion people around the globe turn towards Liverpool on one Saturday each Spring, to watch one of the greatest spectacles in sport. Aintree is a magnet for the racing world: the Grand National is one of the most coveted prizes for owners, trainers and jockeys, and to be on the rails when 60,000 throats roar the name of their fancy is to be part of history, every year.
All the millions of once-a-year punters – who put their shirts (or at least £1 each way) on the prettiest colours, or the horse with the same name as their daughter's cat – are caught up in the magic along with the racing fraternity.
The Grand National is a dream factory, legends are created in the space of ten minutes and last many lifetimes.

A publishing sprint over hurdles

This first ever Grand National Quiz Book has its own little part of Aintree history, having come to life in something of a race against the clock. From the getting the green light on 10th March 2003 to publication on the opening day of the Aintree meeting on 3rd April 2003, this has been the publishing equivalent of the great race: daunting, but what a thrill!

Are you an Aintree expert?

So you think you know all about the Grand National? Dick Francis (above) could tell you a thing or two....
Test yourself, test your chums, your fellow rcegoers and the experts with over 200 questions from the most obvious to the cunningly cryptic, from the origins of this great institution right up to the start of this year's race.